[marie]

Hi all I was just browsing the posts and was looking at the returning to work section and noticed Colin has had a PFO closed (patent foraman Ovale or something like that) I have one which is still open - the cardiologist left it to me with regards to closing it - he says it is small and also didn't recieve all my mri scans etc from the hospital who treated me for the stroke I take daily asprin on his advice - he also advised on my care during pregnancy and afterwards

I have just let this ride as a year after the stroke I found out I was pregnant so haven't had time to think about me. Just wondered if Colin or anyone else who has a pfo would like to share their experiences of having a pfo.

[Colin]

Hi Marie
I had mine closed and will write about it in my story when I eventually compile it

Colin

[marie]

Thanks Colin, they are really common 1 in 4 but usually only discovered after something happens. My friend Rachel on FB had hers closed last year and would say do it so ????

[Colin]

Hi Marie, I would say :- weigh up the situation very carefully before you make a decision and talk to both the cardiologist and neurologist and their opinions, then find out the pros and cons and then make your decision. I had mine made for me and suffered the consequences.

Hope this helps.

You could always do a search for pfo closure on google and there is plenty information out there for you to browse both positive and negative.

Colin

[marie]

Thanks Colin I do look and I have read up on the procedure but when they say there are small risks I'm of a mind that mine is small and the cardio doc didn't see it as whoa get this thing shut and is quite happy for me to live on the asprin.

My only concern is having another stroke I think it is around 1% of people with pfo's who have strokes although statistics bother me cause many people don't know they have a pfo until they stroke??? I certainly didn't.

I sometimes feel like a cheat when I visit these pages and other groups as I feel I got off lightly as to look at me you wouldn't think I had a disability I get on ok and there are so many people who get hit far harder but I suppose disability comes in all sorts of guises. I wouldn't want to make things worse than they are - much better now though 4 years on.

I think I will google to see if any info exists on people whose pfo's remain unshut who go onto have further stokes - being that they would be on medication etc I presume the risk would therefore be less sods law I was in the 1% though!!

I dont know about other people on here but sometimes I think my body is against me?? I had a breast lump removed in my 20's was begnin fibro something or other ??, In my early 30's I have a stroke then discover I have a heart defect and then go onto have a coil baby lol!! So I am wary of chancing something that i can live with relatively ok??

It is ok telling people of the risks but until you are hit by being in that group you don't think it will be you but sadly it has to be someone??? Although the flip side maybe we will win the lottery???

Thank you Colin it is nice to talk to someone who has had similar dilemmas etc

[Colin]

Hi Marie,

When I had mine closed there was a survey being run about whether closure out weighed the risks and benefits of medication or not, these results were collated by neurologists in geneva over a 5year period. I was to be part of that group but for whatever reason my name disappeared out the window lol.

Just because you don't have a sign on your forehead saying STROKE it doesn't matter what other people think it's your business and problems associated with having the brain invasion affect people differently depending where the damage was. It was 5 years after my brain invasion they closed the pfo because the risks were too high to do it earlier.

Hope this helps

Colin