You are probably going through the worse of it Denise, I started to
feel better about 2 months post-op. Even though it was scary to have
the heart palps for month or so I don't regret having the operation
for a minute, I am soooo much healthier than I used to be. I hope
you start feeling better soon, just keep your focus on that light at
the end of the tunnel.

Dirk

--- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, "Denise Boucher"
<goldilocks35@...> wrote:
>
> I just had a PFO closure using the Cario Seal. I had two migranes
> this weekend, and I had auras with these migranes. I wouldn't say
> that PFO closures are an accurate cure for migranes. It might be
> better to go to a neurologist and try other methods. Have you
tried
> keep a food journal and a stress journal to see what might trigger
> these migranes?? I have found it is very important to keep track
of
> your own health, and it also helps when you go to speak to a
doctor.
>
> It may be discouraging, but from a 27 year old who has had two
heart
> surgeries and a stroke, it may be a good idea to try as many
> different alternatives before doing the procedure. I am young but
my
> bounce back has been hard...I currently have 34 bruises on me from
> blood thinners, I get severe tightness in the chest, and I am
still
> getting a bit light headed. My surgery was on May 23rd....
>
> I hope all of this makes sense.
>
> -Denise
>
> --- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, Violet Flame 11
> <violetflame11@> wrote:
> >
> > One of the things that you can do now, to prevent stroke is take
a
> vaso-dialator as a preventive for the migraine auras. I take
> Verapamil, 480 mg sustained release, and that really helps keep
the
> auras away. It is also recommended that you take aspirin, or some
> type of blood thinner to fend off any clots.
> > Ask your neuro about the Verapamil, it's been a standard
migraine
> preventive for a long time.
> > Let us know how it goes.
> > Love,
> > Vi
> >
> > nickcolwell <nickcolwell@> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > With the new buzz about PFO and migraine, I decided last year to
> see
> > if I have a PFO. I've had migraines with aura since I was 14. I
am
> > now 37. My aura consists of visual spots, numbness in face and
> > arms, garbled speech, and vomiting and then a whopping headache.
It
> > usually knocks me out for a day. I normally get 2-3 a year,
which
> > isn't as bad as some people get, but I would do almost ANYTHING
to
> > stop them.
> >
> > I first had a chest ultrasound and that wasn't conclusive. I
then
> > had a TEE and they found a small PFO. I talked to 2
cardiologists
> > who could seal the PFO. The first wanted to close it, but needed
> > proof that there has been some ischemic activity(stroke-like),
but
> > my MRI showed none. That was good because my aura seems stroke-
like
> > to me, because my symptoms are usually on only one side. On the
> > other hand, he couldn't close the PFO due to the lack of proof
of
> > ischemic activity (FDA regulations).
> >
> > The second cardiologist told me that there were risks involved
in
> > closing a PFO and since the research doesn't show 100% that if I
> got
> > the PFO closed, my migraines would stop. He advised against
closing
> > the PFO.
> >
> > So, now I'm back to square one. I know I have a PFO, but can't
get
> > it closed. I still have migraines. I guess I will have to wait
> > until more studies come out regarding PFO and migraine. If there
is
> > a clear connection between the two, then I will get it closed.
> >
> > In the meantime, the hospital where I got my TEE done has
purchased
> > a Trans Cranial Doppler machine. Since they knew I had a PFO,
they
> > invited me to try it out so the doctors could see a positive
test.
> > It worked and was much less invasive than the TEE. I would
highly
> > recommend the TC Doppler over the TEE for comfort sake when
trying
> > to diagnose PFO.
> >
> > Good luck, juggletax. Let us know what happens.
> >
> > Nick
> >
> > --- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, Violet Flame 11
> > <violetflame11@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi there,
> > > My PFO was diagnosed by a bubble echo and then an TEE bubble
> > echo. I'm not sure if the doppler is the best diagnostic tool.
> > Anyhow, my PFO got closed because I have a history of 2 strokes.
I
> > don't think that the FDA is in favor of closing them in people
who
> > haven't had strokes. Are you connected with a research study
that
> > is doing the closures?
> > > Vi
> > >
> > > juggletax <juggletax@> wrote:
> > > In an effort to determine whether a PFO is causing my
> > migraines with
> > > aura, I had a TCDoppler. The results were invalid due to
improper
> > > protocol. I'll be getting tested again next month.
> > >
> > > It's good to know others have my same concerns. It would be
great
> > if
> > > this whole connection pans out in a fix.
> > >
> >
>