Kathryn's Story : Stroke due to patent foramen ovale (PFO)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Kathryn recalls the early, nerve-racking days after her stroke and diagnosis. Learn more about her journey, her decision to close her PFO, and life after stroke.
This film was produced for Gore by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions and presented by MedTech Europe
I suffered a massive stroke on June 27th of 2022. My PfO was 30mm in size. My recovery from the stroke has been a miracle. Best of luck to everyone that has to go through this, it's hard.
Thanks for sharing. I am so glad recovery is going well for you.
Did you have the hole closed?
My husband found out in 2004 that he had a PFO after he had a TIA on his way from work. He was 33 at the time. He began taking Plavix and was regularly seen by doctors to keep him from having a stroke that would be worse. In June 2017 he had numbness and tingling in his left side and even though the hospital didn't think he had a stroke they followed protocol and we found out the next day that it was a true stroke. The scary thing was finding out that it wasn't his first! It seems he had several small strokes in an unknown time period (they found several brain scars from previous strokes). His medication was changed from Plavix to Warfarin to prevent any future clots. He hasn't shown many physical defects but has memory issues, tremors, and central sleep apnea (his brain forgets to send the signal to breath sometimes when he is sleeping). He is a very physically active guy as he is a landscaper and groundskeeper. It wasn't until this past year that his newest cardiologist began to wonder why closure has not been considered yet. We told her it had been discussed many years ago, before 2017, but no one had discussed it since. After being sent to a stroke neurologist and hematology the different departments have finally agreed that closure is the beat choice. My husband has been refered to a hospital that can do the procedure and will be having his closed on the 16th of this month! We were told by the doctor there that the hole was not as small as we were originally led to believe by others (I wish I knew the size but maybe they will tell us after surgery in Friday). I am happy to see a story about someone who has had the closure done and how it has improved their life.
Thanks for sharing - hope all goes well tomorrow. Lots of people from the stroke community have found the closure to be a great relief and I hope it does the same for your husband.
I'm 45 (so young by stroke standards) and recently had a stroke.
I'm fit and healthy, so it seemed really weird. They just conducted a test yesterday and confirmed I have a PFO. it's good we finally found a reason! I should.have surgery soon.
Just found out my 4 year old has pfo. Doctor said it’s a none concern for most people but I worry.
@@urdailyguy9211 The more I read on the PFOs which I have one and have had 3 strokes and a pulmonary embolism, migraines with aura, the more I am concerned about the size and saying I have nothing to worry about.
I've had 3 cryptogenic strokes and a pulmonary embolism and suffer from migraines with aura. I first found out about my hole in the heart about 30 years ago. I'm now 74 and so far no doctor has ever told me that my PFO was the cause, in fact they have told me I don't have to worry about it with no explanation why I don't have to worry about it. I am on the blood thinner Apixaban. I have had brain scans years ago to find out why I was having so many migraines as well as one migraine that lasted for over a week with numbness, and aura. They had said there was scar tissue on my brain but did not know what was causing it. I had been told that the hole is not that large, but hell I've had these strokes and many blood clots and the pulmonary embolism so something is going on. I have never been referred to a cardiologist. BTW I was in the hospital at the time they noticed the pulmonary embolism and was on my way down for a CT scan when I had a cardiac arrest. If I had not been in the hospital, I would not have survived.
My husband had a stroke in February 2023, and they believe to have been caused by the PFO they found. He followed up with the Cardiologist and was informed that insurance does not cover the PFO procedure if he's only had one stroke and that is disheartening. It's as if you have to play Russian roulette with your life, and if you survive the next one then you're a candidate for the surgery. Currently, he's on the Eliguis blood thinner, but that makes him feel unwell all the time. I'm hoping someone can point us on the right direction. Thank you.
Hello, so sorry to hear this. We are based in the UK so our healthcare service is quite different. Where are you based? - Lauren
I had a TIA on May 30th, 2023. Last week I was diagnosed with a large PFO😢. I am only 34 and feel the same way, betrayed by my body. I have researched PFO closure and found out that the device is made of Nitinol which is 55% nickel. I am allergic to nickel! This is so discouraging and terrifying, I really dont want to have open heart surgery. I have an 11 year old that needs me here.
Hi Christina,
I, also I’m allergic to nickel and found out about the high nickel content in the device for the PFO. I’m having my surgery tomorrow and I’m curious if you were able to find out any answers and if you will be having your surgery!
Pam
@@pamgrant4926 hope the surgery goes well and that you get the answers that you need from the medical professionals treating you. 💕
I recently had a stroke too, I'm 45. They also confirmed I had a PFO yesterday. I think they will suggest surgery soon. So I guess we are in the same boat.
Don't worry it will all be fine! 😊
It's ruining my life 🥺🥺🥺🥺. I'm so athletic I love my body my body betrayed me. I'm on medicine I'm waiting to see a surgeon. I'm so tired
I am so sorry to hear this Krystin, it sounds like you're having a really tough time. There is lots of information on our website www.differentstrokes.co.uk that we hope you may find helpful.
Why are you having to wait on a surgeon? In America we get the surgery the next day after stroke from a PFO. Best of luck to you.
@@Eman1900O because of records from hospitals and Drs not sending images on time. I'm in a hospital now. Where I found a cardiac surgeon I'm hoping I get it closed this week I told them I'm weak he told me to head to nearest hospital due to my history.. I don't think I was heard by many I was getting a lot of backlash run around. A lot of tests done two times hospital detected the pfo. No closure. I'm just glad I'm at the place where the closure should take place.
@@DifferentStrokesUK thank you soooo much just hoping it's closed. I'm in the hospital again 4th TIA
@@krystingrant6292 very true. My wife had hers closed and it was so simple. They didn’t even give her sedation