I found out I had a PFO through participating in a migraine research study at Manchester University here in the UK. But my GP said I didn't need to worry about it and I'm on no anticoagulant, nor have I been referred to a cardiologist. Do you think I ought to be pushing to see one, or am I worrying unnecessarily? Sometimes it seems you've got to have a stroke before anyone takes a PFO seriously! Any advice much appreciated.
I have the same thoughts as Dirk sometimes. I had heart palpitations for the first couple of days, and nothing after that. It still bugs me sometimes having a piece of metal in my heart, but for me it was a better choice than being on coumadin for the rest of my life. I crashed mountain biking last weekend and had a major cut on my leg. Had I been on coumadin, that would have probably put me in the hospital.
You need to do the research you feel necessary to make a decision you can live with. I talked with four cardiologists I know, and they all said this was the direction to go.
> Honestly I sometimes wish I had waited until they > come out with a > device that will eventually just dissolve into your > system so you > don't have to go around with a piece of metal in the > middle of your > heart. I still am having heart palps from it and > they suck too, but > who knows, if I would of waited I could of had a > serious stroke and > then I would be a thousand times worse off then I am > right now. > > What it comes down to is this is a decision you can > only make for > yourself. I suggest reading through all the info on > this board and > research everywhere else you can find on the net so > when you do make > a decision you can feel comfortable that you made > the best decision > possible with all the information that was > available. Good luck. > > Dirk > > > --- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, Carolina > Maldonado > <cmaldonado82@...> wrote: > > > > Hi Violet, > > > > I just wanted to let you know that I had the > nickel patch allergy > test last week and it was negative! I took your > advice and did it. > Does anyone else have any other advice for me???? I > have a PFO and my > Dr's want to close it with the amplatzer device. But > Im really > nervous about having the procedure done. Im scared > of the effects I > will have afterwards. Please advise everyone that > has had it done or > in the process!!!!! > > > > ~Carolina~ > > > > Violet Flame 11 <violetflame11@...> wrote: > > Cutting edge, more like trial and error! > > > > Mark Zell <zellm_98@...> wrote: Hi Violet, > > > > Thanks for the interesting article. I have only > had a > > couple of migraines since my PFO closure in > December, > > and mine seem to be triggered by blood sugar > issues (I > > am hypoglycemic) and/or bright sunlight. They have > > all come in the morning after not eating breakfast > > with bright sunlight shining into my office. > > > > I had heard about the link between MSG and > migraines, > > but the others are new to me. When I was > > investigating whether or not to get my PFO closed > I > > read some interesting articles about chemicals in > the > > blood passing through the PFO and triggering > > migraines. I thought chocolate was one of those > that > > they mentioned in those articles. No one really > seems > > to know for sure. Isn't it nice to be on the > cutting > > edge of medical science?... > > > > Mark > > > > --- Violet Flame 11 <violetflame11@...> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Many migraineurs find that certain foods can > trigger > > > their symptoms. By eliminating certain foods > from my > > > diet I have really decreased the amount of > migraines > > > that I have daily. This may work for some > people, > > > but not > > > for others. Food isn't the only thing that > > > triggers a migraine, but It never hurts to try > to > > > eliminate some of these foods from your diet to > see > > > if you can avoid some pain! I would rather avoid > > > chocolate than have to take a > > > narcotic! Here are a few examples I have > > > compiled for the group; > > > Most migraine sufferers should limit their > intake > > > of bananas, papaya, and raisins to ½ cup a day. > > > Other fruits that may cause headaches include > citrus > > > fruits, avocados, figs, passion fruit, and red > > > plums. Who would > > > have thought that natural foods like these could > > > hurt? > > > Soy sauce contains MSG, which can trigger a > > > migraine. Even if a Chinese restaurant > advertises > > > no MSG, they are still likely to use sauces that > > > have MSG, even if they don't add any to the food > > > itself. > > > Chocolate contains a substance that can trigger > a > > > migraine, too bad for us! :( > > > Meats such as corned beef, hot dogs, and pickled > > > herring are "cured meats" and contain an > ingredient > > > called sodium nitrite, which can trigger a > headache. > > > Instead, consider poultry or freshly purchased > and > > > prepared > > > meats. God, I miss hot dogs! > > > Aged cheese should be avoided. Yogurt, sour > cream, > > > and buttermilk may also be triggers. I'm lucky I > > > can eat Kefir, a form of yogurt, but I can't eat > > > cheese at all! > > > If you choose to have an alcoholic drink, > consider > > > white wine, vodka, or scotch. It's also best to > > > stick to a single serving. No more wine or beer > :( > > > Most types of nuts may trigger migraine. > > > Especially peanut butter! > > > NutraSweet, also known as aspartame, is an > > > artificial sweetener that may trigger headaches. > > > Most migraine sufferers should also avoid > > > fermented soy products like miso and pickles, > and > > > that's a bummer too, I really miss tofu. > > > You can read more about migraines and food > > > allergies here; > > > > > > http://www.foodsmatter.com/Conditions/Migraine/Mig%20Fd.All.html > > > I hope you have found this useful! > > > Love, > > > Vi > > > > > > > > > > > > The happiest people don't necessarily have the > best > > > of everything; they just make the best of > everything > > > they have. > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > Choose the right car based on your needs. Check > out Yahoo! Autos > new Car Finder tool. > > http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/ > > > > > > > > > > > > The happiest people don't necessarily have the > best of > everything; they just make the best of everything > they have. > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > === message truncated ===
__________________________________________________________ Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545469
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