--- In PFOSupport@yahoogroups.com, "Violet Flame" <violetflame11@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Mike,
> I can't speak for all the members of the group about why they've had
> their closures, but I have had 2 strokes due to blood clots from my
> PFO, and that is why I had mine closed. If your wife doesn't want to
> have the surgery, she could always just go on an aspirin a day or a
> blood thinning medication to keep her from having clots. Of course,
if
> you're going to have children, she can't take the blood thinners
while
> pregnant, but you need to discuss that with your doctor.
> Good Luck!
> Solitaire
>

I totally agree that you need to have more than one opinion... I, too,
have learned from my doctors that if it's large enough and poses enough
risk, it's work having done (mine is small, I haven't had it closed).
However, it's also very easily "maintained" by, as Violet Flame said,
blood thinners or an asprin a day. Regarding the issue of not being
able to be on blood thinners if she wants to get pregnant, my sister-in-
law had four miscarriages until they realized that she had a blood
clotting problem; she was carefully monitored as she took daily
injections of blood thinners which eliminated the problem resulting in
a healthy pregnancy (and baby!). Just wanted to allay any fears of
taking blood thinners while pregnant- but, of course, this is something
that your OB will determine.