Hi long story short I’m 27 and had a heart attack 3 months ago, found out yesterday that it’s due to a hole in the heart and I’m being referred to Brighton hospital for a cardiac catheter and fixing the hole through the artery in my groin..... fun, I know.
Was just wondering if anyone else has had this procedure and what they can tell me about it?
Or if they have had this done in Brighton and how long did it take from referral to operation?
Hi RussellBowen , really sorry to hear about your heart attack. The BHF has some information on this which might be helpful, you can learn more about what to expect: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
You might find this thread useful too: healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...
Really hope this helps 
The son of one of my father's friends had a hole-in-the-heart repair in, I think, the early sixties. He had no further problems for over 40 years. Sadly he died from cancer but his heart remained strong to the end.
With advances over the last fifty years you should be fine.
Ok I wasn’t told about that I would go privately but I was quoted 3 grand and insurance wouldn’t cover it because it’s classes as a pre existing condition
I find myself in the same position as yourself at the age of 31. it's been 9 months since my heart attack and I'm still waiting for the referral for closure.. it's definately not a quick process! I didn't realise they had stopped funding though???
What hospital are you being referred for the closure? I’m hoping Brighton hospital is quicker with these kinds of things but I’m not holding my breath (mainly because I can’t now)
Leeds which is a specialist hospital. I just had the camera down my throat to get measurement. before that was a bubble echo which confirmed the blood flow through the hole.
I haven’t had the camera yet so I’m pretty far behind by the looks of things but I’m hopeful things might get sorted quicker because of my age and risk factors, I’m in some passing discomfort too, the odd chest pain and a bit of laboured breathing every now and again, are you having it done through catheter or open heart?
I'm hoping catheter, however until I get to leeds I won't know. I have similar symptoms.. short sharp pains In the chest area and very fatigued and breathless at times. I'm hoping the op with improve things but I'm also conscious that the heart attack itself might leave me with some lasting symptoms such as breathlessness. I have found it quite a lovely place to be a young heart patient. much of the support is around older patients who have had bypass or a stent. I don't really like the American online support groups and the only uk group I found is the somerville foundation .. I don't know if this is any use to you.
It helps a lot thank you, it’s nice to know that their is someone similar to my age that is going through this, to top it all off I’m back to work Monday as my paid leave has ran out and I’m getting married in December, so for me time and speed is essential to getting my life back on track
I went back to work in May and I have really struggled. I have been pushing myself too hard to return to normal and it's just not like it was before. take it easy and accept where you are at. hopefully work will ease you in gently! it sounds like you have lots to look forward to!
Hi Russell I discovered I had a hole in my heart last October and looking like it's getting sorted with the catheter next month. Getting my surgery date later this month. Have you had the T.O.E done yet? (Camera down your throat) to have a closer look?
No I had an angiogram then I had the bubble test, which was meant to last an hour but found the hole in around 3 minutes, I can’t believe it takes to long after my cardiologist told me basically to stop normal life because of risk of further heart attacks, stokes and other horrible things, you would have thought a hole in the thing that keeps you alive would be an NHS priority
I was told I've lived with it for 44 years I can live with it 44 more but I'm at the right age for the chance of a full recovery. Mine is 22mm x12 mm so it's an ovel shape and the catheter might not be big enough to cover and if my heart rejects it then it's full OHS.
I can see where you're coming from but up here in Scotland only one hospital in Glasgow has the surgeons capable for keyhole and OHS so the wait is long but it's not classed as an emergency! I feel your frustration
What is a bubble test? Not heard of it before
It’s where they inject saline with bubbles in it into your body to see how it travels through the heart, it let you know if there is a hole that is not meant to be there
Thank you - I had never heard of it before. Is it painful and done as a day case in a cath lab?
It’s an outpatient thing, takes about an hour door to door and is pretty straightforward, probably easiest test I’ve had done
Oh right - always s.thing new to learn!
i had my hole repaired though open Heart surgery as a baby but have had other ops keyhole and had ops though the groin and it’s sore for about 6 weeks after.
Interested in your post. I am waiting to find
out when
they will do a bubble echo for the hole in my heart.
This was found after a heart attack two months ago.
I had a clot in my subclavian artery diagnosed in Feb. I am under the care of vascular, stroke and cardiology teams. I had a standard echo which showed nothing. Then I had a bubble echo which showed I have a hole in my heart. Today I have had the transosophageal echocardiogram - or TOE - with the probe down my throat. This different consultant said that the top right of the heart looked. normal - which goes against the results of the bubble echo last week. Consultant is now sending me for a cardiac MRI. Has anyone else had this?
Hi have either of you guys had your closure procedure? If so was it device or stitch, if it was device do you know which one was used?
Thanks
Hole in the heart confirmed 
Well! on the count down now for hole in the heart closure, but complicated, the butterflies have moved in 🙂
Writing this from the heart!
Liverpool Heart and Chest is great
