Fr's Profile

First off, my name is Frances...I don't know how I messed up my first name but I can't figure out how to change it. I went into AFib in June and got out of it with meds. In October I couldn't breathe and thought I had bronchitis or something. Went to a walk in place (Since it was Sunday) and after the doc took my blood pressure and did an EKG he came in the room and told me the ambulance was out front for me because I had obviously gone back into Afib. I've known about my leaky mitral valve for about 20 years but I guess it's gotten very bad in the past few years. The past 10 years has been a really hard time for me. In 2008 I lost my identical twin sister to a rare mis-diagnosed cancer and then my grandson (at one year old) was diagnosed with the same darn tumor in the same darn place. Thankfully he's doing better now. This was in 2008 when the economy tanked...I lost my job trying to care for my sister and it's been brutal bringing myself back from financial ruin. I guess my priorities were else where and I let myself "go". I was told I need open heart surgery and a Maze procedure to either repair or replace my mitral valve. I am scared to death. And to add to my anxiety I can't stop smoking which is adding to my stress and anxiety. It is helpful seeing all of the stories from all of you. It is giving me hope and a sense of peace.