Hi Dirk,

I am really glad to hear that they found your PFO!  I'm sorry that you are sick, but hopefully if they close it you will find relief from your symptoms.  Before my PFO closure I was having chest pains and heart palpatations all of the time, and in the 6 months since I had the surgery these symptoms are gone.  It's like a miracle.  I also have an increased sense of stamina and energy, and I am not cold all of the time, with cold hands and feet.  I attribute these improvements to the closure.  My PFO was bad, and I was having it at rest as well.  I can't say that it cures migraines, at least in my case, but it has done so many other wonderful things that the surgery was certainly worth it.  All my life, when I would attempt some cardiovascular activity, like swimming, or jogging, or getting in a hot tub, I would get nauseated and dizzy and have chest pains after only a minute or two, and now I can swim forever, and stay in the hot tub without feeling dizzy and sick and having heart palps.  It's like a miracle.

I had my closure in Chicago, at Rush.  I had an Amplatzer put in my heart, and so far the scar tissue has healed nicely and my Cardiologist tells me that my heart is nice and healthy.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Love,

Vi