Believe me, if you are serious enough to put a piece of metal in your
heart to improve your health you better be serious enough to quit
smoking first. I know how hard it is to quit because I quit smoking
three months before my surgery and if you want to live bad enough it
really isn't as tuff as you think it is. I used www.quitnet.com as my
place for support and it definitely helped me through my first few
months and I recommend it to anyone quiting. Anyway, one day when you
feel sick enough, you will know what you need to do. I am not trying
to jump on you, you will make your own decision but I know what you
feel like because I've been there. Good luck. BTW you are right,
uninsured the average surgery runs between $20 - $30 K.

--- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, Denise <goldilocks35@...> wrote:
>
> Kim,
>
> I have had a PFO closure using the CardioSeal device. I was able
to get around the study because I want to have children and can't be
on bloodthinners. You can get info at the Cleveland Clinic website.
I am 28, and at 6 weeks of age- had a VSD repair and at 27, had a
stroke! At age 23, my father died---guess from what- SMOKING. When
I had my stroke- all they kept asking me was if I SMOKE. I realize I
do not know you, and from living with my dad- I understand that some
people enjoy everything about smoking and they won't quit regardless
of their health issues---BUT KIM---re read what you wrote to everyone
in this support group. YOu can expect to get on a trial with smoking
either---I mean---you want to improve your pain by going through
surgery---but yet you will put a cancer stick in your mouth while
putting a device in your heart---I agree with Vi- you need to analyze
your priorities---it will be difficult to get ahead with the doctors
if you keep smoking and try
> to get on a trial. My insurance did cover the surgery but my
explination of benefits from the insurance company showed that the
device was over $6,000---and the hopsital was $20,000---just in for
one night. That didn't include any of the surgeons. Also---a lot of
doctors have not used CardioSeal so I requested to have the doctor
two states away come and supervise the surgery. The thing is---PFO's
are new in the health world---it is still be discovered.
>
> Please know I am not meaning to attack---but I think if you stop
smoking, a lot of issues would calm down a bit. I know in my state,
they have some great programs and my insurance even covers programs
to help you quit...
>
> Good luck to you!
>
> Violet Flame 11 <violetflame11@...> wrote:
> You have to have at least one stroke before they will
close the PFO, or be having TIA's. I also have pvc's and the surgery
only made them worse. Have you tried Verapamil? It will help
prevent migraines and calm down the pvc's. It is a blood pressure
med, but it also dialates the arteries and helps keep the heart from
skipping beats.
> You shouldn't smoke it's a HUGE migraine and heart palp trigger.
My Mom had pvc's for years, and when she quit smoking they went
away. You're kidding yourself if you keep smoking. I'd stop
smoking first, and see if that helps before I put a piece of metal
into my heart. Once it's there, it's there for life. If you aren't
having problems with blood clots then don't do that to yourself.
> Good luck,
> Vi
>
> kimsstay <cornerstone@...> wrote:
> Hello, I am a new member who just found this site. I was
diagnosed
> with a PFO this summer but the cardiologist and my internist pretty
> much blew it off as no big thing ('a lot of people walking around
with
> PFOs, no problem'). I have been suffering from migraines now for 4
> yrs, a little over 2 yrs ago they became daily. still on the search
> for a preventative that will work but do not take any abortives
other
> than muscle relaxers, so have become an expert on dealing with pain.
> There are many days when the pain is so bad it makes my blood
pressure
> sky rocket.
>
> I also have hypertension (diagnosed about 11 years ago), very
> resistant to treatment. Diagnosed with Primary Aldosternism last
march
> at the Mayo. Besides hypertension, this also causes potassium
> deficiency, which in my case leads to lots of PVCs, which again I
was
> told not to worry about (the PVCs). I am on supplements and a high
> potassium diet.
>
> So here is my point -- (sorry to ramble on) because of my
> hypertension, plus migraines, plus I smoke (I know, I know, I should
> quit....), I am a prime candidate for stroke. Yet they won't do the
> PFO closure unless you already have a stroke? Do you have to have
> TWO!!?? That just seems like closing the barn door after the horses
> have escaped...
>
> Does anyone know the latest on this? Is there a website to go to see
> what the FDA current stand is?
>
> Has anyone had the operation who had to pay for it out of pocket?
How
> much was it? I was quoted '$20 to $30,000' just off the cuff. After
> that I didn't pursue the idea cuz that is out of my ballpark. Those
of
> you who have had the surgery, did you have a stroke (or two) before?
> Did you insurance cover the surgery?
>
> thanks for any input,
> kim
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of
everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
>
>
>
>
>
> Life is all about holding on and letting go.
>
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