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

The Shake

When I signed up to be a coach I didn't really plan to use Shakeology.  I had never tried it before and I really was just so sold by the workouts that I didn't think buying the shakes would really add that much more to my new lifestyle.  But it all kind of came with the territory and I thought I may as well give them a try to see what they were like.  I ordered the cafe latte, because according to research I had done that flavor along with chocolate was their biggest sellers.  And I like coffee. It came quicker than expected and I was super excited to try it.  It was a little strong on flavor.  The first mixture I tried was using just unsweetened almond milk and I've now been adding water along with that to cut down the strong flavor.  I sometimes add oats, frozen bananas, mint extract (careful with this one, a drop or two will do.  I learned that the hard way) or peanut butter.  But there are loads of recipes if you search around.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Will update soon!

So, you all are probably wondering where I have been. Taking care of a baby, that's where I've been! I will tell the long version of the story when I have more time and am not so tired. The short, short version is our daughter came early at 33 1/2 weeks. We are home now and doing just fine.
1 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