PFO

have you ever heard of a "PFO'? well... i have heard alot about it in the past 2 months. apparently, because i have a 'PFO', is the reason for my stroke. so... i will tell you a little about it.

"after birth, right to left blood flow is no longer needed. the two dividers of the right and left atria fuse to form a solid wall (septum). the septum is fused in 90% of people by 18 months of age. however, the dividers which form the septum do not fuse in 10% of people leaving a flap or tunnel which may open and close as right heart pressure changes. this opening (flap or tunnel) is the Patent Foramen Ovale or PFO. with a PFO present, blood from the body can bypass the lungs and travel to the left side of the heart. in the normal heart (no PFO), a blood clot from the body would be stopped in the lungs. but if a clot crosses the PFO, it can go to the brain causing a stroke."

these 2 central pin (umbrella) devices (below) are available for PFO closure. the closure device is delivered to the heart through a small catheter or tube. the ICE (echo) catheter is placed in the same vein. these catheters are introduced into the body through a major vein in the groin. within 3-6 months, the normal lining cells of the heart grow over the device, completely covering the artificial materials. the occluder device becomes part of the atrial septum and blood flows normally and clots cannot form or pass through the septum.'

there you go... now you know just as much as i know about it. a neighbor had this procedure done in november of this past year. i talked to him about it at church today. (he's not a very good coach!) i think i'm more nervous now than i was before. (only 10 more days of worry) hopefully everything will go good and i will be able to get rid of the migraines that i have had for years. (which they say are one of the four risk factors which indicate a higher risk for stroke due to PFO.) then maybe my life can get back to normal ~ whatever NORMAL is.