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ACHA Saved My Life!
By Lana Stillwell
I now have my life back for the third time. I was diagnosed Tetralogy of Fallot at birth and underwent open heart surgery in 1965 to repair a rather large ventricular septal defect, excise my pulmonic valve and remove a muscle mass growing around my aorta. This repair was successful and, consequently, I grew up fairly normal. Later, post college years, I began to experience difficulty with my regular exercise program. At thattime I was an avid downhill skier and taught 5 aerobic classes per week at my place of employment. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up. I began to experience syncopal episodes post exercise.
I was diagnosed with conduction disease as a result of my original surgery. I had complete heart block and needed a pacemaker. This was implanted in 2000. But, I did not improve. I continued to have difficulty with exercise and chronic fatigue. Although my cardiologist was one of Denver’s best, he was not a congenital doctor. This was where ACHA came in.
I read in The Laurel Wreath an article encouraging Adult Congenital patients to seek treatment, or at a minimum a consult, at an Adult Congenital Clinic. At the time, the closest center was in Berkeley. However, 2003 brought a new Adult Congenital Clinic to Denver. In October 2003 I visited the clinic for a “workup” and discovered that I was indeed correct. My condition was deteriorating. My Tricuspid Valve was leaking severely and needed to be repaired or replaced. I scheduled surgery for January 2004 and, fortunately, the repair was successful. I am now back to aerobics (4 months post surgery!), hiking like a maniac and looking forward to the 2004/05 ski season.
Not only has my quality of life dramatically improved, but, more importantly, the continued heart damage resulting from the leakage has been arrested. Consequently, my long-term prognosis has improved.
So, thank you ACHA! You have saved my life.