Skip to main content

My heart condition

I know I have briefly mentioned my heart condition in my blog before. I told how with my pregnancies there was a very small chance of it being passed down genetically. Fortunately that didn't happen. I am the only one in my family that has this or any type of structural heart defect. It's called Transposition of the Great Arteries, now referred to as Transposition of the Great Vessels. It's a congenital defect and there is no explanation for why it happens at this time. The defect happens while the heart is developing in the very early stages of life. The abnormality is very severe and is not compatible with life. So shortly after the baby is born he/she will need open heart surgery to correct the abnormality.


This is a normal heart. This picture shows the circulation of blood. Below I have a picture of a normal heart compared to a heart with Transposition of the Great Arteries.


Here you can see the structural differences. This defect does not allow the oxygenated blood to be carried out into the body. The heart keeps circulating the oxygenated blood towards the heart and the de-oxygenated blood away from the heart. 

Today they do a procedure called the Atrial Switch operation. It is very effective and has great long-term results.  But, I was born in 1984 and during that time they were using a procedure called the "Mustard" procedure. The Atrial Switch procedure came along a couple years later, so I'm one of the last to have the Mustard procedure. Now, don't get me wrong, the Mustard procedure saved my life and was a great "fix" for it's time, but it just doesn't withstand time and the wear and tear on the heart. 

This is a picture of what the heart looks like after the Mustard procedure. Now, the left side of the heart is doing the work that the right side of the heart was created to do and the right side of the heart is doing the work that the left side of the heart was created to do. Not really ideal, but hey, it works and I'm 30! 

Over time these areas that have been surgically altered get leaks and become obstructed from scar tissue and another heart surgery is necessary to rebuild these areas. I have come to that point in my life. The doctors say that since the onset of these symptoms caused by this deterioration is slow that I really don't notice how bad I feel. That I have adapted to the changes in my health overtime and once I have the surgery and recover I will realize just how bad I was feeling. This makes me excited. I can't wait to see what they are talking about. It's just what I have to go through to get there is frightening. But, I am optimistic and know I am in great hands. 


Comments

  1. Brent & KristieMarch 17, 2016 at 12:27 PM

    My brother, born in 1980, has this same exact heart condition. xo

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 month have gone by...

Four months ago I lost my baby girl. That’s what has been on my mind all day today. If all had went the way a pregnancy is suppose to go, she would have been born this month. But, I can’t keep thinking of all of that. The days, weeks, and now months are marching on and I must too. Of course that doesn’t mean forgetting or pushing it away, but to not dwell on the “what if I did this” or “what if this had happened” or “if I just had been here”. I can’t change what happened. So, to start looking forward and honoring my daughter, I’ve thought about the up and coming March of Dimes in my area. My friend, just yesterday, invited me to join her hospital’s team. I thought that was an excellent idea and I am planning on joining her and her teammates. I would like to honor my daughter in other ways too. If anyone has any unique ideas, please feel free to share them with me. I recently took a huge step forward. It may not seem like one to others, but to me it’s a huge advance. A little back story
Post a Comment
Read more

Two of a kind

Like my pregnancy with Darcy, I do not have any morning sickness. It's actually the opposite. If I don't eat, I get nauseated and I get a headache. I won't feel like eating, but I force myself to cause I know it will make me feel better. So, I just eat often to prevent that from happening! I do consider myself pretty lucky in that aspect. If it wasn't for the positive pregnancy test and all the appointments I'm going to I wouldn't know I was pregnant. Oh yeah, and the constant trips to the bathroom. How could I forget those? I'm craving sub sandwiches . Turkey and cheese subs with lettuce and mayo is what I'm usually asking for. Unfortunately, I am craving sweets. Halloween was a killer. I ate way too much candy! Darcy didn't like sweets. I never craved them with her. I so wish I could turn away sugar now. But, I've been able to control myself a little more...even though I just devoured fried ice cream from the Mexican restaurant in town. Bad m
1 comment
Read more

More on March of Dimes

I am so excited about the March of Dimes walk next month! I love doing this because it makes me feel even closer to my daughter. It lets people know that she was someone that was here and they acknowledge her more. I just want everyone to realize and be aware of the things that can go wrong during pregnancy. For example, when I was pregnant with Darcy I never in a million years knew something like this could happen. That could be my own ignorance or lack of education, but I'm sure I'm not the only one unaware of a woman having a weak cervix. The night I went into the hospital before giving birth to Darcy I was in a lot of pain, but I never dreamed that I was in labor. I just thought I'd go in and get checked out and come home happy and still pregnant. The thought of coming home without my baby never crossed my mind. The March of Dimes gives mothers a chance to honor their babies that they have lost and let other know about them. I expect that day will be filled with many te
1 comment
Read more