Dr. Fett your opinion please

[mom2gageandkeely]

I would like to know about your opinion of recovered in PPCM patients. I had had many people (nurses and a friend that is a EMT) Tell me when I say I am recovered that I will never be Completely recovered, back to normal as before, or they say I'm sure there is damage to your heart somewhere or atleast you have to know you are prone to having a weak heart! I have heard this from about 5 people, including my mother! I don't like to hear that but I do not want to go around with false information and security that I shouldn't have either! I wonder how much truth there is to that?

I had PPCM in 1997. Went of all meds in 1998, had another baby without reoccurence in 2001. My female Cardiologist says that the second child was all the proof I needed that I am recovered because if my heart can handle that it can handle anything and my male Cardiologist says that if my file hadn't said PPCM, looking at my echo he would have never known my heart was ever in heart failure that my heart looks like a healthy 27 year old heart.

Is there usually any signs in "recovered" ppcm patients that you can see has scared the heart or does not work as well as before?
I only ask because I am curious. I know I am fine. I am lucky to feel 100% wonderful and besides heart palpitations I don't ever feel different anymore until someone rains on my parade by saying stuff like that LOL! Thanks

[JAMESFETT]

You've had lots of proof that you are recovered. Even the validity of the dobutamine stress test is not certain, although it may be an indicator of contractile reserve, which may or may not be totally normal in recovered PPCM patients. Sometimes we see a changed shape to the heart in functionally recovered, but still "scarred" hearts and the long-term consequences of that are unknown. So you can truly be happy that you are recovered and go on with your life. Do what you want to do, live your life to the fullest, we never know what is around the corner, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have fun.

James

[KellyDL]

I'm not Dr. Fett, but you took the words right out of my mouth! Are we truely ever the same again? Can we ever really feel safe?

[SerenaWelsh]

Kelly,
Interesting question. Sometimes we miss the point by comparing the wrong things.

We are today exactly the same as we were supposed to be today. We were never meant to expect to be the same tomorrow as we were yesterday. And we're as safe as we ever were. We were always going to live and we were always going to die. Our mortality was never in question and our only choice in the whole wide universe is what we do with right now.

Disease, hardship, windfalls - nothing ever changes that reality. And I think, maybe, when we understand that - the external forces like disease can't throw us for a loop.

[miachic]

Very well put Serena! Love your view on the subject.

I, myself, even if I am recovered, don't think I will ever be the same. I think emotionally it has changed me, mentally it has changed me and though we will not ever be sure 100% of the physical effects all this had on my body, I know that mentally, emotionally and spiritually I am forever changed. I will never forget any of those feelings that I had and when I think really hard, I can remember the horror of the situation and relive the nightmare of lying in that hospital bed. I choose not to do that except when I feel the need to go through the grieving process (of my previous good health) some more and to process through all the emotions.

We have all been blessed with so much, even in those among us that have not recovered. We truly are only given this moment and if we try to live for tomorrow, next week, next year or the next decade, we will miss today's joy. We are given so much and waking up to today is one of the greatest blessings I see in my life. Getting to enjoy my husband and my child brings me more joy than I ever thought it could and each morning I am so grateful to see both of their smiling faces and to have them in my lives.

Life's too short, pray hard, live well, laugh often, love lots!!!

[KellyDL]

Thanks Serena, I guess I needed that. I am grateful to be healthy, I just wanted to know if our hearts will ever be back to complete normal.

[Delores]

Dealing with my own mortality has been huge for me. I don't want to think of myself as having a shelf life. I want to live to a ripe old age and see my grandkids. I want to travel the open roads with my husband when we reach retirement. This ugly thing that reared it's head has a way of putting a big shadow on my dreams. I live for today but I want the tomorrow too. Unfortuantely, I've had to learn that there are no guarantees. Only what Jesus promises if I am true to his teachings. I comfort myself with the thought that all is in God's hands and that he will protect and love my family if I were to pass away. I guess without faith I would be more apprehensive where my children are concerned, but I truly feel that they will be blessed no matter where I am in the picture.

[miracle baby]

I've always have had a fear of death Know that I'm dealing with ppcm I'm even more scared.I hope I get back to normal.But if I dont completely I just hope I'm around to see my daughter grow up.

[JAMESFETT]

I know how you feel. I felt the same way, after my wife died of brain cancer, after I had to have surgery for prostate cancer, after I remarried, after I adopted a 1 year-old baby whose mother had died of PPCM. I've been blessed with the privilege of seeing her grow up, and now I can write this Christmas letter:

Christmas 2005

In the mysteries of time and place three people came together in Haiti:

Christine Dazil, born in a simple metal-roofed, mud-walled hut in Haiti, recently orphaned at one-month of age, her mother passed on due to heart failure from peripartum cardiomyopathy, and subsequently abandoned, less that 4 pounds at one month of age. Most around her said, “She’ll never survive.”

Therese Sprunger, born in a drafty farmhouse in Switzerland, a Menonite volunteer nurse at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Some around her said, “You can’t adopt her, you’re all alone.” She said, “She needs me, and I won’t let her die.”

Jim Fett, born in a simple wood-framed home in Minnesota, stunned as a recently widowed physician, father of three other wonderful grown daughters, beheld a 3-month old child beginning to recover; and hoped to think that he might be able to provide this child a father in place of one she had never known. His pastor said, “You’re sure a glutton for punishment.” But he said, “I may still be around to see her graduated from high school and moving on to university.”

So a Haitian child, a Swiss mother, and an American father grew into a family in the USA. Now, Christine Dazil Sprunger, an honor student, is a Senior in Aberdeen High School and will graduate in June, 2006. At the same time she will receive an Associate in Arts degree from Grays Harbor College, thanks to the WA State Running Start program. She will move on to university, selection process in progress.

We are thankful to God, Allah, Yahweh, the Unlimited Divine Creator, the Great Spirit, Buddha. At times I really do believe that “all things are possible.” Even a solution to the mystery of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Jim Fett

[miracle baby]

DR. Fett,
You must be one of the strongest people I know to have so much happen in Your own life but still want to help other people.God bless You. What a good story.

[Mindyt]

What a wonderful story. Have a wonderful holiday season. Your dedication is truely an inspiration.

[tinabowen]

Even with a EF of 60% I am still scared something might happen but it hasn't stopped me from living my life to the fullest even having another child I have a lot of Faith..
I have escaped death twice (first time I was 15 and had a laporoscopy and the Dr puntured my Abdominal Arota and almost bled to death) the second time was with PPCM( ironic thing is I had to be on a Venilator with the surgery but not heart failure)... I am not taking anything for granted..I have been blessed with two wonderful boys and they are my life and I will live my life to make them happy..