I just found out yesterday that the valve on the right side of my heart is now leaking. I had the mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve almost 19 years ago. It was a horrendous surgery that took months to get over. I do not plan on another surgery like that. In fact the doctor said it wasn't a good idea. I guess I will just have to adjust my life around it. I had severe depression following the first surgery and still have bouts of PTS, anxiety and panic attacks. If you have any good suggestions to help me I sure could use some. Thanks.

It's hard to be uplifted in times of distress.  I used to have panic attacks when I was first diagnosed with epilepsy.  What if I had sieizure in pulbic?  What if, what if what if ruled my world until I made myself stop it.  By worrying and thinking that way, I was going to trigger a seizure myself.  From then on whenever I felt scared, I turned it over to God.  And I left it there.  The more I did it, the easier it got until it's second nature now.

I'd tell myself, "okay God, you're going to handle this.  Take the fear from me."  And the feeling of peace that I get!  Words can't describe it.

Even if you're not religious you can still turn it over to God and He'll take care of it.  If you prefer not to do that, as I don't know what you're faith is like, then try being as positive as you can.  The reason for this is because what you believe is what will manifest, so try thinking good thoughts.  When you get down, think of what you have going in your life instead of what's bad.  Things can always be worse.  It's going to take some time, as an attitude ajustment doesn't happen over night.  Worry is the mode of the world so we all come by it naturally.  But you don;t have to let it beat you. 

For me Faith worked wonders, and I'm not talking about religious faith so much as my faith in God to answer my request to help me overcome my panic attacks.  I did it and I also take medicine wise, way below what a normal epileptic would take and I've been seizure free for years!

I hope this helps.

Hi dear Eileen,

I am so sorry to hear you news of the things you are going through at the moment.  It must have been devastating to hear the doctor say what he did.  The memories of your previous surgery are obviously still very raw.

I don't have words to help you, just love and prayers to impart, I feel for you deeply.

How does this condition affect your daily living, I ask as I don't know anything about the effects it has on you.

Will be thinking of you and I'm sorry I don't have answers.  I do know all about depression and have found that keeping busy and having hobbies and interests have helped me. 

 With love Elaine

Hi Eileen,

I can certainly understand your worry and concern and know what it is to live with stress. I am just heading off to bed so will revisit this page soon and leave a comment. May not happen quickly since I still deal with my own PTSD issues and don't always feel like writing. I just wanted you to know that I hear your pain and will send healing energy your way.

With a big hug and much concern and support. Tutte

Hi Eileen, I think the key here is to put your illness in the hands of a higher power. This will certainly give you peace. I do this alot and just give it to the Lord. I tell Him I'm giving this to you. Of course you can certainly learn all you can to manage your condition. You will certainly be in our prayers here...

Hugs, Rita

Hi Eileen,

You have found out already that you are not alone.  Many of your NOTH friends will be thinking of you and praying for you.  I too know what depression is and what it can do.  I venture to give you a link to Byron Katie's website.  Katie travels the world armed with only four questions.  By trying to answer these four questions, you will discover that you cannot argue with reality.  It often gives  people a sense of peace, because these questions make them question their often false beliefs in respect of how they should respond to experiences.  Here is the link and you will find many videos on YouTube too.  Just type in: Byron Katie.

http://www.thework.com/index.asp

In addition, I agree with the other comments so far that this is too hard for you to handle by yourself.  Hand it over to God.

Thank you all for  your comments. I am doing better at the moment. I am trying to let God sort it all out. Some days I am better at it than others. I have been through some more testing in the last week and have to wait a while for the results so that is difficult. I am determined I am not going to get depression again. It is great to have friends who have been through this too. They know how it is. It just seems to take forever sometimes. I have to be more patient.  Thanks again.  Hugs, Eileen

Hello Eileen

I am new to the hill and have only just started to read and get familiar with things.i felt I had to write you because I know exactly where you are coming from as nine years ago I had both the Aortic & Mitral heart valves replaced with the metal ones before this I had twenty three years on heart drugs until the valves became just to worn out.

Your heart surgery was ten years before mine and so would have been early days for such things.I must admit I sailed through the surgery  and have had no trouble with the valves since. I did however have heart muscle trouble as well and two years ago had to have a pace maker added to the rest of the metal in my body.I am so glad that all these things are now possible as I certainly would not be here other wise.

The thing is we mere mortals have to place our trust in the doctors I had a top Cardiologist who would not operate on me until he knew my quality of life would be better with the valves replaced.

There is nothing I can't do I am a seventy one year old,retired now to a life style village who walks and swims every day and I shop till I drop when ever I get the chance.Each day I wake up I am thankful for yet another day for I know if medical science had not progressed as it did & when it did & I was able to have the valves replaced I for one would not be here writing this.

Yes I need to take warferin [rat poisen] every day for the rest of my life but what a small price to pay for living.

I know some one here who is about to have the metal Mitral valve he has had for fourteen years replaced along with his newly leaking Aortic valve and he is having pig valves put in so there will be no need for blood thinners and he is seventy eight years old.

Are you in touch with a heart support group these are a great source of help and have all kinds of people with different heart problems within these groups.I joined  one such group and used to visit and talk to people having this kind  of surgery here in Perth Australia and I know first hand the fears people have.

Hard though this may be try to keep positive and I do hope things go good for you

Lucywill

Hi Lucywill, I appreciate your input on my topic. I have a good friend too that had a Mitral Valve replacement. She also has a pacemaker and is on warfarin. Fortunately we both do our own blood test with a home machine. Another friend has a porcine aortic valve replacement so we kind of help each other out when we can. It is the shortness of breath that really bothers me now. It is possible that I have a blockage and may have to have a stent put in. Will find out more next week. I hate this waiting around though. I had the testing done 2 weeks ago. I thought when I got the new valve everything would be fine but the good effects didn't last only for about a year, then I started puffing again climbing stairs and hills. Apparently the upper chambers of the heart were stretched before the valve replacement and they don't have the power to pump the way they should. It was quite a let down. Innocent that I was I believed the surgery would make everything back to normal. Then atrial fibrillation started and that has been a blast. More pills. Thanks again for writing. Bless You, Eileen

Hello Eileen

I can relate to your breathlessness and it does restrict one from getting on with life at the pace we want.ai do envy you beinng able to do your home testing for the warferin I had read about  people having the home kit.Afraid Australia is a bit behind the times.Our Doctors surgery has the finger prick machine but so far America is the only place I have read about that provide these things for home testing  to patients on life long Warferin I am pushing for this here.I think I will have an uphill battle though.

I was over in England last year and they are further behind than us they were still drawing blood from the arms there and one had to wait a few hours to get results.One score to the US on this you are ahead of us.

I have my Cardiologist on side with this but the privare health firms won't pay out much towards the machine I could buy one but would have a problem getting the strips must look into it further though.

I also understand what you mean about the waiting for results, and I do feel for you as unless you have been through this it is hard for others to understand it.

I know the years I had of feeling overwhelmingly tired it was a completely different thing to sleep tiredness and  I just couldn't get through to people that I wasn't tired for sleep.When I came across someone else with these problems it was almost like I had found a soulmate.

Medical science has come on in leaps & bounds so I do hope there is a good solution to your problems.

Try to keep possitive and don't go over doing things.

Lucy

Hi Eileen

Hope this finds you feeling better.I have a few pending Doctor visits  this week.Plus I have found out this new super duper pacemaker I had put in three years back has developed a fault in the battery so it looks like it willl have to be replaced.I wouldn't have known this if not for my check ups they will just wait for it to slow down and I certainly don't feel any different. life goes on at ninety miles an hour for me.

Take care Lucy