Comments on: Tedy Bruschi update: The stroke and now a hole in the heart http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:15:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-83746 Anonymous Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:08:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-83746 Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. is now engaged in two clinical research trials for PFO closure. One is for stroke patients; the other is for migraine sufferers. To be eligible, you must either have had a PFO-caused stroke or suffer from 4 to 14 migraine headaches per month and have failed two migraine preventative medications. <br/><br/>I am a 51-year-old female in excellent health who was diagnosed with PFO this month after suffering dizzyness, extreme fatigue and chest pain. I have long suffered from migraines with aura. My PFO is approx. the diameter of a pencil (how many mm is that?)<br/><br/>I have not had a stroke (yet) so I am hoping to qualify for the migraine group. I have just been started on a Beta blocker, Lipitor and an anti-platelet. <br/><br/>To be evaluated for the study, contact Dr. Petros, the director of research at Washington Hospital Center, office phone (202)877-2146.<br/><br/>Good luck and God Bless all on this forum. Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. is now engaged in two clinical research trials for PFO closure. One is for stroke patients; the other is for migraine sufferers. To be eligible, you must either have had a PFO-caused stroke or suffer from 4 to 14 migraine headaches per month and have failed two migraine preventative medications.

I am a 51-year-old female in excellent health who was diagnosed with PFO this month after suffering dizzyness, extreme fatigue and chest pain. I have long suffered from migraines with aura. My PFO is approx. the diameter of a pencil (how many mm is that?)

I have not had a stroke (yet) so I am hoping to qualify for the migraine group. I have just been started on a Beta blocker, Lipitor and an anti-platelet.

To be evaluated for the study, contact Dr. Petros, the director of research at Washington Hospital Center, office phone (202)877-2146.

Good luck and God Bless all on this forum.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-72112 Anonymous Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:03:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-72112 Please tell me how to get PFO fixed without being in a trial via cath method. I am 35 and had stroke two weeks ago. They say it's not FDA approved. HELP!!!! sweet0allie@yahoo.com Please tell me how to get PFO fixed without being in a trial via cath method. I am 35 and had stroke two weeks ago. They say it’s not FDA approved. HELP!!!! sweet0allie@yahoo.com

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-67966 Anonymous Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:47:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-67966 I had a PFO with aneurysm. The hole was 8 mm. No doctor ever heard a heart murmer. I was in a foreign country at the time of my stroke (age 42) and had the hole fixed via catheter with amplatzer. It's been six months and I'm doing great! I lost about 50 percent of my vision from the stroke, but other than that am doing well. I'm so thankful that I didn't have to have open heart surgery. I had a PFO with aneurysm. The hole was 8 mm. No doctor ever heard a heart murmer. I was in a foreign country at the time of my stroke (age 42) and had the hole fixed via catheter with amplatzer. It’s been six months and I’m doing great! I lost about 50 percent of my vision from the stroke, but other than that am doing well. I’m so thankful that I didn’t have to have open heart surgery.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-64343 Anonymous Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:15:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-64343 I am 20. I suffered a TIA while working, and have no permanent damage. They found a PFO, and now my family and I are looking at options to have it closed. The catheter procedure seems so simple against the open heart surgery. I am still looking for options. I am 20. I suffered a TIA while working, and have no permanent damage. They found a PFO, and now my family and I are looking at options to have it closed. The catheter procedure seems so simple against the open heart surgery. I am still looking for options.

]]> By: getalife http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-60373 getalife Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-60373 Tedy Bruschi showed me if he could come back and play NFL football, I could do more for my rehab.<br/><br/>I had endocarditis, like Coach Mike Martz but a severe case. The infection attached to my aortic valve, broke off and spread to my brain (106 temp. and stroke), lungs , liver and heart. The stroke left a large dead spot on my brain and the left side of my body numb and weak. I had my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve in open heart surgery.<br/><br/>Thanks to Tedy for the inspiration to move forward. Tedy Bruschi showed me if he could come back and play NFL football, I could do more for my rehab.

I had endocarditis, like Coach Mike Martz but a severe case. The infection attached to my aortic valve, broke off and spread to my brain (106 temp. and stroke), lungs , liver and heart. The stroke left a large dead spot on my brain and the left side of my body numb and weak. I had my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve in open heart surgery.

Thanks to Tedy for the inspiration to move forward.

]]> By: freddiefokker http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-58597 freddiefokker Sat, 21 Jan 2006 17:44:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-58597 I suffered a mild stroke 3 years ago when I was 34. I was in excellent physical condition with no known pre-existing medical conditions. I am a commercial pilot and experienced the event while flying an airplane for a major airline. During the descent, I experienced numbness in my right arm and hand, with loss of dexterity with my hand and fingers, numbness of the right side of my face, and slightly slurred speech. I was not physically flying the airplane at the time (the other pilot was), so I was able to function as the non-flying pilot (talking on the radio, running checklists, etc.) with moderate difficulty.<br/><br/>The airplane had a malfunctioning automatic cabin pressure controller, so I was manually descending the cabin. Because I was experiencing the last remnants of a cold, the fluctuating cabin pressure caused my ears and sinuses some discomfort. To clear my ears, I performed several valsalva maneuvers. After the last valsalva, I suffered the stroke.<br/><br/>At first, I thought I had a pinched nerve in my neck or shoulder from working out the night before. Because my symptoms somewhat diminished after landing, I went to my hotel room for the night to "sleep it off." 4-5 hours later, I noticed the right side of my face drooping and decided to go to the hospital. I was admitted, placed on blood thinners, and went through the gamut of CAT scans and MRIs. It was determined that I suffered a 1mm infarct on the left side of my brain due to a blockage.<br/><br/>After subsequent discussion with my family doctor two days later, I was referred to a neurologist. He was a former Army flight surgeon, and after hearing my explanation of events, decided to have me submit to a transcranial doppler bubble study with a simultaneous echocardiogram to check for a PFO. It was determined that I had a PFO with right-to-left shunting with valsalva.<br/><br/>I had the PFO closed with a CardioSeal placed with a cath. I regained my pilot medical within a year and am now back flying commercial airplanes, as well as obtaining a medical waiver to fly Air Force aircraft in the reserves.<br/><br/>It sounds like Tedy Bruschi and I experienced exactly the same thing. I wish him and his family good fortune and I hope he can continue to perform at the high level he has maintained after recovering from his stroke. I suffered a mild stroke 3 years ago when I was 34. I was in excellent physical condition with no known pre-existing medical conditions. I am a commercial pilot and experienced the event while flying an airplane for a major airline. During the descent, I experienced numbness in my right arm and hand, with loss of dexterity with my hand and fingers, numbness of the right side of my face, and slightly slurred speech. I was not physically flying the airplane at the time (the other pilot was), so I was able to function as the non-flying pilot (talking on the radio, running checklists, etc.) with moderate difficulty.

The airplane had a malfunctioning automatic cabin pressure controller, so I was manually descending the cabin. Because I was experiencing the last remnants of a cold, the fluctuating cabin pressure caused my ears and sinuses some discomfort. To clear my ears, I performed several valsalva maneuvers. After the last valsalva, I suffered the stroke.

At first, I thought I had a pinched nerve in my neck or shoulder from working out the night before. Because my symptoms somewhat diminished after landing, I went to my hotel room for the night to “sleep it off.” 4-5 hours later, I noticed the right side of my face drooping and decided to go to the hospital. I was admitted, placed on blood thinners, and went through the gamut of CAT scans and MRIs. It was determined that I suffered a 1mm infarct on the left side of my brain due to a blockage.

After subsequent discussion with my family doctor two days later, I was referred to a neurologist. He was a former Army flight surgeon, and after hearing my explanation of events, decided to have me submit to a transcranial doppler bubble study with a simultaneous echocardiogram to check for a PFO. It was determined that I had a PFO with right-to-left shunting with valsalva.

I had the PFO closed with a CardioSeal placed with a cath. I regained my pilot medical within a year and am now back flying commercial airplanes, as well as obtaining a medical waiver to fly Air Force aircraft in the reserves.

It sounds like Tedy Bruschi and I experienced exactly the same thing. I wish him and his family good fortune and I hope he can continue to perform at the high level he has maintained after recovering from his stroke.

]]> By: claudia100175 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-56694 claudia100175 Thu, 10 Nov 2005 16:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-56694 Also, how big is everyone's PFO hole? Trying to see if there's a change in the type of closure recommended based on size.<br/>Thanks,<br/>Claudia Also, how big is everyone’s PFO hole? Trying to see if there’s a change in the type of closure recommended based on size.
Thanks,
Claudia

]]> By: claudia100175 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-56693 claudia100175 Thu, 10 Nov 2005 15:58:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-56693 I've got a few comments to share with everyone. <br/>To the 40-year old who opted for open-heart: I too wanted open heart for the same reasons as you! 100% closure and 100% certainty. Unfortunately, my PFO is only 2-3mm and no one will recommend it since it's so small. Glad to know I'm not the only one who actually heard themselves say "I want open heart"! Thanks for making me feel somewhat sane there! :)<br/>To Paul's partner: I'm furiously typing my blog to post (it's going to be long) but I had a stroke and suffered vision loss in my right eye. I'm still allowed to drive but it's tricky. My depth perception sucks!!! I'll post again when my blog is done, hopefully tomorrow at the latest. <br/>Also, how old is everyone who has PFO and/or a stroke? I'm 30.<br/>Thanks!<br/>Claudia I’ve got a few comments to share with everyone.
To the 40-year old who opted for open-heart: I too wanted open heart for the same reasons as you! 100% closure and 100% certainty. Unfortunately, my PFO is only 2-3mm and no one will recommend it since it’s so small. Glad to know I’m not the only one who actually heard themselves say “I want open heart”! Thanks for making me feel somewhat sane there! :)
To Paul’s partner: I’m furiously typing my blog to post (it’s going to be long) but I had a stroke and suffered vision loss in my right eye. I’m still allowed to drive but it’s tricky. My depth perception sucks!!! I’ll post again when my blog is done, hopefully tomorrow at the latest.
Also, how old is everyone who has PFO and/or a stroke? I’m 30.
Thanks!
Claudia

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-56546 Anonymous Sun, 06 Nov 2005 17:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-56546 My partner paul, age 29, has recently suffered a stroke due to a hole in his heart. He is now classed as visually impaired due to the stroke, and cannot drive. He is going for open heart surgery at the beggining of next year. If anyone has any information regarding vision loss due to strokes, please advise. My partner paul, age 29, has recently suffered a stroke due to a hole in his heart. He is now classed as visually impaired due to the stroke, and cannot drive. He is going for open heart surgery at the beggining of next year. If anyone has any information regarding vision loss due to strokes, please advise.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-stroke-and-now.html/comment-page-1#comment-55817 Anonymous Wed, 12 Oct 2005 18:17:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2005/03/tedy-bruschi-update-the-stroke-and-now-a-hole-in-the-heart.html#comment-55817 I am having a heart cath this Friday (10-14-05) and open heart the following Tuesday to close my PFO which was the cause of a mild stroke in June. Have been on Coumadin while researching my closure options. I am very apprehensive about the Cardio Seal for reasons unknown except that I want 100% assurance it is 100% closed. I was wondering how big your PFO was and if you had a right to left shunt. I am trying to rid myself of the idea that I am "taking out the engine to repair a spark plug". Please reply ASAP. Thank you. I am having a heart cath this Friday (10-14-05) and open heart the following Tuesday to close my PFO which was the cause of a mild stroke in June. Have been on Coumadin while researching my closure options. I am very apprehensive about the Cardio Seal for reasons unknown except that I want 100% assurance it is 100% closed. I was wondering how big your PFO was and if you had a right to left shunt. I am trying to rid myself of the idea that I am “taking out the engine to repair a spark plug”. Please reply ASAP. Thank you.

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