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Age: 54
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Occupation: Vice Principal/Educator
History
- Tri-athlete
- Fitness instructor
- Healthy Diet
- Non smoker
- Ran 6 miles a day, 5 days a week
Turning Point
An active, healthy woman, Susan’s friends called her Miss Fit. The only minor issue she suffered was mitral valve prolapse, something she had dealt with for years, no big deal. In November 2001, Susan began experiencing shortness of breath while running her daily route. Around the same time she had seen an Oprah episode taking about shortness of breath being a pre-menopausal symptom. Again, no big deal.
In August of 2002, Susan experienced something she only had nightmares about; she grew short of breath after climbing one of three sets of 12 steps up to her classroom. At this point she felt this was a big deal and went to see her doctor. They diagnosed her with exercise induced asthma and treated her with inhalers that sped up her heart rate and made her feel terrible. After explaining how she was feeling the doctor had her wear a halter monitor for a 24 hour period. It showed that her heart was acting erratically. They sent her to a cardiologist.
Her EKG was normal but the stress test showed something was not right. It turned out that her mitral valve had ruptured. 50% of the blood her heart was pumping was going into her lungs rather than to her body. In November 2002 doctors rebuilt her Valve with a Cosgrove Ring.
Today
In July of 2003 Susan attended Circus school and did the flying trapeze in a show. She is not on any medications and feeling better than ever. |
