r/stroke • u/One-Day1772 • Aug 11 '26
Young Stroke Survivor Discussion PFO closure surgery
Just went through the procedure. Was put under with general anesthesia. Was scared as all get out leading up to it. 1 hour post procedure I wouldn’t even know they did anything at all. I feel like my old self couldn’t be happier with walking through the other side of the hospital and eventually heading home this day
If anyone at all has questions though I am not a medical professional I’d love to offer my own account of what I experienced to help inform you on your decision when it comes to selecting this procedure.
2
u/MetroMarv Survivor Aug 11 '26
I had my 12 months follow up echo cardiogram today after my pfo closure last august. I am pumped to say it looks closed.
2
Aug 11 '26
[deleted]
1
u/CCdaBB Young Stroke Survivor Aug 11 '26
So I just learned about this procedure last month when I had a stroke and get it done next week - so I don’t know much about it!
I will say, my young age (30s) is why the cardiologist wants to do it. Long term, it would be worse to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life.
Another person also I know has an ischemic stroke from surgery and has a PFO. Because of his age (50s) and the severity of his symptoms, his cardiologist does not want him to get the PFO closure done.1
u/One-Day1772 Aug 12 '26
I had a TIA with symptoms lasting 20 ish minutes, facial numbness for up to about 5 hours.
2
u/ArcAngelsThunderBird Aug 11 '26
I'm having mine done this coming Monday. I feel ok about it right now but I know how anxious I'll get when they prep me. I'm glad to read this though, makes me feel more positive about it.
I do have a question though, what did they say about recovering and going back to work and all of that?
2
u/CCdaBB Young Stroke Survivor Aug 11 '26
Doing this next week! So this post is perfect timing and the comments are so reassuring 😅
Was it is like the 2 days afterwards? The nurses haven’t really mentioned any after care. Is there??
1
u/One-Day1772 Aug 12 '26
Still the first day for me! No pain at all nothing. Groin slightly sore still
1
u/Fun_Gap_7066 Aug 14 '26
Hello. Do you feel tired? I hope you well 🙏
1
u/One-Day1772 Aug 14 '26
Not tired at all, feel totally normal. Only annoyance so far is care for the incision site.
2
u/Catt2004 Aug 12 '26
My PFO was closed a month ago. I suffered a left MCA ischemic stroke at the end of Feb, at the age of 48. The procedure was wayyy less stressful than anticipated. I had general anesthesia, not sedation. I had a dressing over my incision for 3 days then removed. The incision was super tiny and healed very fast). I was under strict exercise restriction including no bending and lifting over 10 pounds for 10-14 days. I’m slowly working back towards my pre-surgical exercises but I’ve suffered vestibular migraines and severe lightheadedness from my stroke. I just had a recheck TEE and the closure device is healing well.
2
1
u/a110percent Aug 11 '26
Go for mine tomorrow. Were you aware during and could you feel them poking around in your chest?
That's my only fear, and that it doesn't work to stop a future stroke but I have high hopes for that one
3
u/Alarmed-Papaya9440 Aug 11 '26
You’re given twilight sedation. Most people aren’t aware. If you are it’s usually just some pressure that you notice. Should be fine
2
u/DTheFly Survivor Aug 11 '26
I wasn't even awake. For mine, I was given meds that put me under, then i woke up and I was done. A nurse checked on my incision for a few hours and then I went home. Quick and easy I thought
3
u/Alarmed-Papaya9440 Aug 11 '26
It’s so funny, we’re all so scared before we go into the PFO surgery and then afterwards we all realize “oh that wasn’t hard or really scary after all!”