ASD Closure

[Overidge]

Hi everyone I have finally got my date for catheter closure on the 28th May. Pleased to have a date but very nervous. Any advice from anyone that has had this procedure would be gratefully received x

[SlothOnSpeed]

Hi Overidge, glad to hear you have a date. The waiting is always a pain in the &$(@.

I had the procedure done 10 years ago. Very easy. Stayed in hospital one night. Leg was a bit sore for a week. Some annoying palpitations for about six months after.

Mine was mainly closed as I had a eye stroke.

Hope you have a good experience and feel free to ask if you want to know something else.

Keep us up to date.

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi thank you so much for your reply. Yes I am getting nervous about it now. I just want it over with. How large was your ASD. Mine is 30mm. That must have been a worry for you having an eye stroke.

Did you find after your procedure you were less breathless? I am terrible just going up the stairs. I have episodes as well when my heart races for about 4 hours and I feel terrible. Looking forward to feeling better. Did you have to take any medication after your procedure? Many thanks 😊

[SlothOnSpeed in reply to Overidge]

Hi Overidge, no, mine was just under 20mm. For some reason the most detrimental impact was atrial flutter and fib. My heart was not very enlarged. Strange.

What I can say is that remodelling (positive) was evident 6 months after on echo. My atrial flutter and fib also completely stopped although I am on Xarelto for life. I do not know what your echo results are, but if you do some research most people apparently has great functional improvement.

Flutter has returned now, but I was also born with a mitral valve prolapse that has deteriorated with age. I was 40 when I had the closure.

How old are you? If I may ask? Medicine has improved so much the last 50 years. There are also so many medications that can help you function better.

For me the biggest stress was the lack of feedback and general communication in our state system. I worried needlessly about so many things because I did not understand the bigger picture.

I had to go private to be put on Xarelto. If you have afib or flutter I would push hard for an evaluation and opinion. They are VERY prevalent with ASD’s. Taking Xarelto has nou negatives for me. No side effects.

I will follow you if its ok with you so keep us up to date. And ask anything more if you like. Good luck.

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi I do have atrial fibrillation but not been prescribed anything for it. I have had another episode today in fact. It’s taken all day for my heart rate to come back to normal. I am 57. The right hand side of my heart is enlarged. Yes of course I will let you know how I get on. Thank you for your advice. X

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi had my ASD closure. All went well. The hole was larger than expected so needed a larger device so the catheter had to be larger. My groin is very painful and badly bruised. Can’t bend down easily but improving each day. I had to have stitches in it which were quite tight. I had a lot of blood from my nose and throat. Taking Clopidogrel for 3 months and aspirin for a year. Glad it’s all over and done with.

[SlothOnSpeed in reply to Overidge]

Oh, I am so glad you are ok. Sorry about the groin and the larger device. Or rather the larger hole.

Have you asked them yet about a coagulant?

Let me know how you are doing. Hope your symptoms improve with time. It will take some time. After the procedure my heart was very irritated.

Good luck and take care of that leg.

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi thank you so much for much for thinking of me. Yes I am taking Clopidogrel for 3 months and aspirin for 12 months. I am not feeling too bad in myself but my groin is massively bruised and painful. I am still finding I am breathless going up the stairs. Di d you have instant relief or did it take time? He said mine was the 2nd largest device he has ever fitted. He said as my right side of the heart was so enlarged it could take up to two years to recover. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Jill x

[SlothOnSpeed in reply to Overidge]

Hi, I think your leg will take some time to get better I remember a week after I went shopping and I was limping home. So it does take time. Your leg must look and feel awful after that big device.

You must give yourself ample time to recuperate. My first echo after the procedure actually showed some deterioration which was apparently expected. A year after things looked and felt a lot better. It would take longer for you as your hole was much larger, so give yourself some time.

Currently I am on Xarelto, a statin and Perindopril.

Take it a day at a time. If anything feels off don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor.

And anytime you just want to vent, I’m here.

Kind regards

Ellie

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi Ellie thank you so much for your advice. I must admit it’s daunting and I worry every time I get a twinge in my chest 🙈. I am still having a little breathlessness which I thought might go straight away. Yes my leg is a mess I must admit! Many thanks will keep in touch.

Best wishes

Jill x

[SlothOnSpeed in reply to Overidge]

Good luck Jill xx

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Thank you xx

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi Ellie

How are you? Hope you are keeping well.

I am recovering well and bruise going slowly. I am still getting the fast heart rate and feeling unwell with it. Is this something that you found after your procedure? Many thanks Jill x

[SlothOnSpeed in reply to Overidge]

Hi Jill. I’m well thanks. Glad to hear the leg is improving.

Yes, I did experience that. Quite badly at times. I think if you feeling unwell with the episodes you should get it checked out. I know its to be expected to some degree, but with how big your ASD was, I would not just assume anything.

Are you able to get checked out easily? Don’t feel bad to be a nuisance. Squeaky wheels get the most oil. When are you going for your post op appointment?

Kind regards

Ellie xx

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi Ellie

The consultant said he wanted to see me again in 3/4 weeks but it’s almost 3 weeks since my procedure and not heard anything. I did ring his secretary on Friday and she said she would look into it. Yes I will see how I get on and if they keep happening will have to get in touch with my GP or mention it at my post op appointment. I thought you had suffered with fast heartbeats.

Glad to hear you are okay.

Best wishes Jill xx

[SlothOnSpeed in reply to Overidge]

Hi Jill, sorry no, I did have it for about a year after the closure. After that much better.

I think definitely tell the surgeon at the post op. Let me know what they say.

Talk again

Ellie xx

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Thank Ellie will keep you updated xx

[10gingercats]

I had this done with a catheter closure...not open h. surgery.I was in my 70'sat the time .Went in at 7am and came out at 9pm and home to bed. Up and felt fine the next day. I had sedation with top up morphine. It took about an hour.Then flat on my back in a bed for about 2 hours then up to walk a few steps and then back to bed .I expected worse.No after effects.

[Overidge in reply to 10gingercats]

Wow that sounds great! I hope I recover as quickly. They have said I will be in overnight.

Thank you for you reply 😊

[10gingercats in reply to Overidge]

Yes. I would have been overnight but I live quite close to the hospital so I was allowed to take a cab home with husband by my side!

[Overidge in reply to 10gingercats]

Oh that was good. We are an hour away from the hospital.

[SlothOnSpeed]

How are you doing?

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi I am doing really well thank you. I can walk upstairs much easier. I still get a little breathless if I walk a distance or up a couple of flights of stairs but I think I need to start on getting my fitness back. I go back to see the consultant in the 16th July to get it checked. So fingers crossed all is okay. How are you doing? X

[SlothOnSpeed]

Hi, I am so glad you are doing better. Yes, getting fitness back albeit slowly makes a difference. Let me know how the appointment goes.

I’m fine thanks. No new complaints 😉

Kind regards xx

[Overidge in reply to SlothOnSpeed]

Hi Ellie glad to hear you are okay. Yes will let you know.

Best wishes

Jill xx