Well the surgery is finally done and I am getting back to normal. I had surgery on December 21st up in Murray and can I just say thank goodness it is over.
We went up to Salina the day before surgery and of course all that night it snowed and we had 20 inches of snow. Luckily my procedure wasn't until 3 so we had plenty of time to get up there. Can I just say how much I love my amazing in- laws? They drove all the way up from Kanab that morning in all that snow to come up and be there for me. I love them so much, I am so lucky to have such great in-laws. They truly are a blessing.
I got up there checked in, got my cute robe on, I've started and I was just ready to get it over with. They took me back about 5 or so and the procedure took an hour. I remember talking to the guys wheeling my bed back and I kept telling him, " Please make sure I am out" I was so nervous. I got in the room and my heart started racing. They sterilized me, covered me with all blue sterile sheets and started pushin the drugs haha! The man said I am going to give you the Sedatives and I told him please give me a lot. Well I wasn't going down with out a fight. Ten minutes later he asked so are you feeling the medicine, and to be honest I wasn't so I remember him putting more in my IV and that's about it. I love it!! I swear I remember waking up and asking it was done and seeing everything, but all very blurry. Then the next thing I remember was waking up in the room and it was all over.
So I guess the problem all along was called an Atrial Septal Defect. We thought it was a PFO, but they couldn't tell until they got it there. An Atrial septal defect is a congenital birth defect and is very uncommon. My cardiologist said he doesn't know how I did sports and never passed out. He said I was running with oxygen stats of 70's when they should be higher 90's. So I guess i got lucky there!!! :) He also said that about 1/3 of my blood was flowing through the opening unoxygenized. So he said we were very lucky to find it. So instead of there being a hole all that all of us have and closes, my actual septum in my atrium never grew. So it was wide open. They had never detected it because he said they wouldn't hear a murmur because the opening was too big and to much blood was going through the opened septum so you wouldn't be able to hear it. So I had a wonderful stay overnight up in the hospital and the longest ride home the next day to Salina.
It took me about 4-5 days to finally feel like myself and get back to normal. My leg where they went in was the worse part, just sore and very bruised! I am now on Plavix, a blood thinner, and 2 aspirin a day for 3 months. So I am getting better!! I am just so blessed for technology, they said 6 years ago it was open heart surgery, so if they would have found it when I was born I would have had open heart surgery. So I feel so blessed to have the amazing technology we have now.
Nate and I went down to Kanab on the 29th and of course when I was down there I had a complication. On New Years Eve I got up and was in the shower I all of a sudden I got dizzy and my aura I get when I get my normal migraines. I went a laid down and thinking I could rest, but I was wrong. I layed there a few hours and it was only getting worse. I finally got 1/2 a loratab in me and that usually fixes it with a good nap, but nope!! I finally got to the point I could barley say the right words, my head was hurting worse than ever, and sick to my stomach. After calling my cardiologist and primary physician we headed to the Kanab ER. We got in there did some blood work, CAT scan, and tons of morphine and nausea medicine and 3 hours later I was feeling better. I went back home and slept 6 hours!! I am so grateful for medicine and once again my in-laws and my wonderful husband for helping me. I had never been so sick. It was horrible.
So we had to go back up to my cardiologist because of this uncommon migraine, get more blood work and an echo. But I am ok. He thinks a platelet got attached to the device in my heart and it triggered the migraine. My body is not use to it yet. I was on shots twice a day for 5 days in my stomach, but everything is looking good and we are all hoping I don't get another migraine!! Now I just have monthly check ups up north! Lots of driving, but so worth not having a stroke. I am just being careful, no lifting over 30lbs, and no sports, but only for a month.
I am so thankful for Nate, he has helped me so much through all this. I am so lucky to have him and and so grateful for everything he does. :) Also my wonderful parents and all their help. They are truly so good to Nate and I. My mom worries a lot now and rides my back about my pills, but I can't help, but love that motherly love. Also mom and dad thanks for the insurance!! haha :)
