A Report
On this Thursday, I am here to report on my appointment of yesterday with Dr. Haley in Mankato. It was the first time I had met him as my previous doctor had left.
The echo that I had had a week ago, was brought up on the screen. There were many images that were enlarged and paused as the doctor looked and looked. He took time out to listen to my heart while I breathed and while I did not. Back to the images.
In discussion Dr. Harley did not believe that there would be a positive out-come if the strand that remains on the valve would release and cause a second stroke. Nor did he think having a second open-heart surgery to remove the remaining strand would serve me well. I did hear that loud and clear.
What is serving me well is good blood pressure readings consistently and that the blood work-up was all in the normal range. He made reference to the fact that as I can do much of what I had done prior to the stroke in various maneuvers, that I should build on that and dial down on the excursion while doing those things. His example . . . the heart beats as a balloon filled with water . . . very little pressure for it to respond. In the aging process there may be a bit of thickening to the heart walls, making for more pressure needed for the same result. In other words . . . show the 81 year old heart that had has already made it through some traumatic situations some grace and not push it just because I can.
Dr. Harley said he would discuss my case with Dr. Klarich to see if the TEE, camera being swallowed, needed to be done, or yearly echocardiograms. No news will be good news on that front.
I am the only one that can take the advice. It was good advice that needs to be applied each day here on Stauffer Avenue. All good things are worth striving towards.
With that I will take my leave.♥