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Age: 42
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Occupation: Insurance provider
History
- Exercise was a daily part of life
- Smoker
- Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby boy
- Never had surgery or any serious illnesses.
Turning Point
One day at work Kathleen suddenly started having chills, then after a short time they turned into sweating and shaking. She called her husband to pick her up because the shaking was so bad she was afraid to drive home.
By this point Kathleen was hyperventilating so they went straight to the doctor’s office. Although nothing really stressful was happening in her life, the Doctor attributed it to an anxiety attack and prescribed Xanax. Exercise had always been her way to burn off stress. After several months on Xanax, she was still having these “attacks”, she went back to the Doctor.
This time a Physicians Assistant was the only one available to see her. After listening to her heart he thought it was possible that she could have a hole in her heart. He heard a murmur. After several additional tests, a referral to a heart specialist and surgeon it was confirmed, Kathleen suffered from an atrial septal defect. Open Heart Surgery was the only way to repair the hole.
Kathleen’s first ever surgery was successful. She had a normal recovery.
Today
Before she went into the hospital she decided then and there that she would do whatever she could to keep her heart healthy after the recovery and took this as a sign to quit smoking. She has not had a cigarette in 4 years. Kathleen enjoys biking trails and play outside with her 7 year old son and 6 year old foster son. |
