Patent Foramen Ovale question

[Rae229]

I am 29 years old, 1 pregnancy (2 years old now)  Last week I was diagnosed with PFO - ekg reading was a little strange as well - having stress test on the 12 of this month for further information.  I have random chest pains with my case, that are pretty intense (followed by numbing of arm, shoulder and neck from time to time).  Cardiologist states my pains are not related to the PFO?  any ideas on that?  Also, we were planning our second child - but were told that pregnancy would put me at the highest risk of stroke - she indicated that I could get pregnant, but my risk would be at it's highest.  Does anyone have statistics on the stroke risk rate and pregnancy or could you share your "opinion" on this matter.  It would really help.  I am fine with only having 1 child - especially if my risk of stroke is even greater.  Thanks for anyones thoughts on this!

[momtofourboys]

I have a PFO also my 4 year old son has a PFO, don't think it is genetic or anything. I just found out 18 months ago Ihad one. they didn't say how big it was I have had PVC's during my last pregnancy. I have had 5 prgenancys(4 live births) my youngest son does get chest pain at times, but I don't think it is realted to his PFO (he has a lengthy history, I have posted here before and you can go back to read what his history is) the only sign that it might might mean for him to have his PFO closed is that his is excerise intolerance. They did a sedated echo on him and the 2 cardiac doctors said that the size of his hole is very small. to put him through a cardiac cath to make sure is not an option that he is a high risk, he could stroke out on us. if they go in to try to repair it then it could make the hole even bigger. (they would repair via cardiac cath. or they could go through his chest since he already had open heart surgery. Cree Cree nor I have had any headaches. the only thing about the PFO we were was if you have to have an IV then you need to make sure you have a filter on it to keep the air bubbles from going into your line.
Cree Cree's issues are not from his PFO they think it is from other heart issues going on.
It NEVER hurts to get a second opinion. Good luck
Michelle

[ireneo]

Sorry - I meant to say that's not a chance I would want to take. I misread my own note and "corrected" it just to mess it up anyway. LOL I'm sure you understood the gist of it. Aspirin therapy is fine if your stomach can handle it long-term. I hope you get clearer answers and risk percentages soon. Take care.

[Rae229]

My husband and I thought that this was a strange statement as well and we also exchanged quite a look to each other when this was said in her office - I did follow up with the question of "Sooooo, I have to stroke in order to have this repaired?"  She said yes, but the odds of me having a stroke are very low, especially right now while factoring my age and current health.  This medical world is all too new to me - I will most likely have a second opinion - she did start me on asprin therapy for the time being to avoid clots/stroke.  She did state that now they have put repair as a last case -- unless stroke or other serious symptoms have already occurred.  Again, my biggest thing right now is just finding more about how risky it really is :-}   Thanks for the advice!

[ireneo]

I would get a second opinion about this. The idea that they won't repair the heart until you have a stroke is amazing. Strokes can cause long-lasting damage. If a person is lucky, they'll have a small stroke and recover. If not, well, that's not a chance I wouldn't want to take. It just seems like an odd way to handle this situation.

[Rae229]

Thanks for the advice.    This cardiologist has suggested that we not repair the hole until/if/when I actually have a stroke.  She stated that my chances of this are unlikely, but no promises of course.  I still would like to find some statistics on this condition in pregnancy.  I would feel better about making my decision knowing what others experienced.  My first pregnancy went pre-term at 26 weeks and I was on bed rest from that point on, but this condition was undiganosed at that point in time.  I wonder if it was related?  Who knows.  If you or anyone else has a link of two of websites to better educate me on the pregnancy side of things I would appreciate it!  Good luck to you tomorrow!  I wish you the very best with your surgery and thank you for your posting.

[tj825]

you need to go get a second opinion from a cardiologist I too was diagnosed with a PFO at the age of 28 and i am now 35 and it took me 6 mths to convince them something was wrong due to me having a heart rate of 200 beats per minute they kept saying its my lungs not my heart i finally convinced them by colapsing on the tredmil during a stress test within 10 seconds they then began to do a echo cardiogram and it clearly showed the hole inthe heart and at that point i also begansuffering from severe migraines and there is also a afiliation with migraines and holes in the heart also so I dont know if you have suffered from migraines they have been knowen to be linked.  I was going to get my hole fixed at the end of this month through a program that the FDA was putting on where there is a new patch out there and if you were one of the 50% you whould get the patch but you whould not know for a year if you were the one who got the patch but the FDA cut the program two weeks ago so my cardiologist talked to my insurance company and i am getting my PFO closed 2-12-08 so my suggestion to you is dont give up and find yourself a good caring cardiologist like i did and see if they can get your heart fixed and dont ever give up on having another baby until he or she tells you the reason i was not able to have any kids was due to the heart meds for all the extra heart beats and all the seizure meds for the migraines which in turn is starting to kill the kidneys I just wish they whould have found this out when we were babies and taken care of our hearts instead of now when weve gotten older. you hang in there once you find the best doctor dont take no for an answer if you dont feel your getting the best care move on sometimes your insurance company can be great allies for you if you tell them your not getting the best care for your heart they will help you find someone who will.