Radoria Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Hey guys, The last 14 months or so have been a bit of an adventure for me. I was considering leaving the clan for a while since I wasn't able to put much effort into it. I didn't think that would be fair to you guys. But you've convinced me to stick around. The story thus far.. I found out in June of this year that I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve in my heart. And it had apparently been leaking for at least fifteen years or so. I was never one to visit doctors. Heh. I was a bit of an athlete as a kid and just assumed that I had become fat and lazy. It's the 'murican way, after all. Things started going down when I got my wisdom teeth out last July. Have learned that if you have a bicuspid valve, you have to take antibiotics before dental surgery. I didn't know, so the oral surgeon didn't think it was required. That caused the first heart infection.. Had really weird symptoms and none of the emergency rooms could figure it out, even after four visits. Was told it was all in my head or that I was doing bath salts. One guy said I had lung cancer. Around the end of May. I was taking a bunch of supplements and eating only organic foods and such. All the stuff that's supposed to get you healthier. Then took some probiotics for digestion. Also a very bad idea with that kinda defect. One of them, lactobacillius casei, found the hole and started eating away at my heart. Can't blame the little buggers, I suppose. Does sound better than their intended diet. Ended up in the emergency for that on my birthday. They decided I had a heart virus about five hours later. Was a fairly massive amount of heart cells in my blood. Then shipped me off to Vanderbilt in Nashville. They spent about three days doing all sorts of tests. Was beginning to wonder if I had enough blood to fuel them. The echocardiogram was one of the coolest things I've ever seen though. They had it on a big screen television. Using sound waves to look inside my heart. Not sure if they had me on any drugs at that point. But parts of it looked awesome. Was a scene with a phoenix fighting a dragon. Another with a samurai guy practicing sword strokes. It was a pretty good movie, for black and white. Once they found the valve, they decided my only chance was to replace it. It was hardened. Had options for live valves from a cow or a pig. But they wear out and need to be replaced every ten years or so. I went with a mechanical valve. Is rated for around 50,000 years and even comes with a free metronome. Always liked the idea of being part cyborg. Only catch is that I have to take warfarin for life and get my blood tested once a week to make sure it isn't clotting too fast. They had to do open heart surgery to install it. As far as I know, everything went really well. Is some side effects to that kind of surgery that they don't tell you about though. Memory being the biggest thing. Since then, on a couple occasions, I've forgotten that I was talking mid-sentence. Heh. But other things have improved a lot with the new valve. I lost 50 pounds in three weeks. I wasn't fat after all. But with the valve, my heart couldn't filter water to my kidneys properly and it would just build up. My heart function is about 24% now.. I have to wonder what it was before. There was another blessing after I got out as well. I was living in a fairly ratty place. Never had the energy to keep a full time job for very long. When I got back home, there was a large tree limb hanging out of the roof. Crashed right into the hallway. It had been raining a bit and caused mold to grow all over the place. Couldn't stay in there for more than a minute at a time because I would start coughing. Managed to break one of my supporting wires in the bottom of my chest from that. Luckily, that one didn't hold much pressure and they don't think it's at risk of causing any damage. So it can stay in there. Ended up staying with a friend for a few weeks and found a much better living environment. The nurses from the nearby hospital used some local charities to move me in. Has an oven, and a shower, and heat, and ac, and the roof isn't caving in. Loving it here. Heh. Met some new friends that hooked me up with an air mattress, a bicycle, furniture, even some dishes and towels. People can be really amazing. Anyway. TL:DR version. Had some heart troubles. Am now part cyborg. And I should be getting on a bit more, energy permitting. Thanks for the support and for being patient with me. See you guys in game. -Radoria 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gengis Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 It is so nice to read those good news. Post in tracker that you are back and ask that your forum group be changed from inactive to ET member. When it is done you can ask any 17+ to set your level. Regards. Gengis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bo0m Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 What a story man Well I'm glad that you settled down now. You have to be a hell of a fighter! Stay strong and positive and everything should go better from now on. Welcome back 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leader RedBaird Posted September 7, 2015 Leader Share Posted September 7, 2015 My first thought was like XP_BOOOM's! "SON OF A BIATCHING', What a story!". Some people have all the adventures! (WoW!) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raskin Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 You are one very lucky person to be alive...the way you went thru this shows a lot of inner strength...glad you are on a better path for your future.. all the best!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanaraud Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 As far as you´ve not become a <<<---toaster its all good:P Glad you are doing better. The story made me think what todays medicine is capable of. And well at least you got to see this thrilling action movie in big screen;) Take care. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Karizmatic Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 oh god thats sucks good to see u back mate.. hope to see you soon on servers ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helsen Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 good to see you survived. The story you told has some similarities with what my wife has gone through. At least the heart and valve part etc. That is why I actually almost did not read your whole story, because I still have a trauma off that, but I am glad you came out better. Still I am curious if your heartfunction will improve also in time. Hopefully it will go up from that 24%. See you around 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radoria Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 Helsen, Sorry to hear that. I wouldn't wish that kind of surgery on anyone. I hope she's doing better now. If you ever need to talk or have questions about it, feel free to ask. I'm still learning to deal with it myself. I was told that if I maintained a great diet with tons of exercise, I might reach 35% some day. But I love me some steak. So only time will tell. Heh. -Radoria 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Rantala Posted September 8, 2015 Share Posted September 8, 2015 Good to hear that you feel better now, thanks for sharing your story with us, stay strong mate! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secret Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 As the others say I am glad you made it! And I wish you the best for the following years! See you around! Stay Strong! Greetings Secret. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbro Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Welcome back and enjoy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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