Problem Child? Me? Maybe so . . .

I know everyone is eagerly awaiting my one-year checkup results after the placement of an Amplatzer device in my heart. Wait. Really? No one was eagerly awaiting? Well, if you've made it this far, you might as well just read the rest.

As I am a problem child (hey it's not my fault - honest) there was good news and bad news.

Good News - Stroke risk is still very low. YAY! Stroke prevention is the only reason to do the surgery, so not having a stroke is a pretty positive thing.

Bad News - There is still blood flowing through the device, very mild. Slightly worrisome, but not really (you just have to know my cardiologist to understand that). So, the device is blocking about 95% of the flow that should not be getting through. Which is a big improvement from pre-surgery. So we're happy about that.

Now. What to do next? Migraines are still a big issue for me, which he says is probably in part due to this flow going through the Amplatzer and going to my brain. So, more surgery? Perhaps. He can put a second device in my heart to restrict the last 5%. This comes with a 50/50 chance of eliminating the migraines.

But he has recommended doing nothing for now. Which is fine with me. As there is now a miracle medicine for migraines (at least my migraines), I think I can survive. But it's nice to know he's willing to go back in my heart to try to get rid of my migraines. Screwy. I know.

So, in a nutshell, (just in case you can't make sense of my rambling) - I'm good. Minimal risk of stroke, but still some flow through the device. Not too troubling. So I get to stay on blood thinners forever. Fun, fun. So if you touch me wrong, I'll bruise.

Yay for being all good! Well kind of. I am a problem child after all.