February 7 - 14 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

February 7 - 14 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. 1 in 8 babies are born with congenital heart defects. (The most common birth defect) The first generation of children benefiting from successful heart surgery are now middle aged and present people with life long requirements.

Have you hugged someone with a heart defect today?

Midwest Heart Connection

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day Banquet

(click flyer to register)

First week with new pacemaker

One week ago I got my new Medtronic Sensia pacemaker. Due to a Second Degree AV Block, my cardiologist thought this would improve my quality of life. Particularly my lack of exercise tolerance.

Medtronic Sensia Pacing System

Almost immediately I was able to take several flights of stairs with no rest periods at floor landings. There is some minor pain and itching at the incision site, but I think I am well on my way to being able to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle after my latest round of cardiac surgeries.

Second-degree atrioventricular block

Cardiac MRI

I had a cardiac MRI last Wednesday.

Cardiac MRI in the news

Cardiac MRI explained by the Cleveland Clinic

Cardiac MRI explained by U.S. DHHS and Insititutes of Health

My cardiologist, Dr. John Kugler, wanted to get a good view of my heart prior to implanting a pacemaker to address an AV Block that is causing dizziness and exertional dyspnea(shortness of breath). During this study, they also injected contrast dye to enhance images and dobutamine to increase my heart rate.

During the test they had a hard time getting a regular heart beat while attempting to take pictures, so I got to lay in the MRI tube for 2.5 hours. That wasn't the way I planned to spend the morning, but it gave me a chance to practice my breathing and centering techniques.

Next step...implantation of a pacemaker.

There are only 153 days until the Omaha Heart Walk....have you joined a team yet?

Join my Team:Health Beating Hearts Heart Walk Team

Mechanical Heart Valves and MRIs

So my cardiologist wants me to get an MRI prior to implanting a pacemaker since I won't be able to have one after the pacemaker. As the proud owner of a 27VAVGJ-515 St. Jude Medical heart valve, I was doing a little research on MRI and mechanical heart valves and found this short and very interesting (to me at least) article.

Heart Valves and the Lenz Effect

2011 Omaha Heart Walk 5/21/2011

Join the Healthy Beating Hearts team in the 2011 Heart Walk.

2011 Omaha - Council Bluffs Start! Heart Walk

Join my Team:Health Beating Hearts Heart Walk Team

Deaths From Congenital Heart Defects on the Decline

Deaths From Congenital Heart Defects on the Decline