Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges

I want to share something very exciting for all my MB Family whether you’re still on your journey or you’ve already been unroofed.  And if you have been unroofed, the odds are good our guest on the next episode of Imperfect Heart is somebody you may know personally. I am beyond excited to be able to introduce Dr. Jack Boyd as our guest on the podcast, Imperfect Heart that releases on June 28th.  Dr. Boyd is the Stanford based Cardiothoracic Surgeon that has done more unroofing procedures than any other surgeon in the country.  He has done many of the unroofing procedures for those of us on this Facebook page.  If you want to hear the process of what the surgery is all about, how it works and what the typical outcomes are, pls mark your calendar for next Wed, or even better yet, simply subscribe now to the podcast, Imperfect Heart, wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you’re struggling with making the final decision on surgery to minimize the negative symptoms of a Myocardial Bridge, you must listen to this episode…. Here’s an excerpt from Dr. Boyd’s discussion with me, Jeff Holden on Imperfect Heart.

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

Jeremy Hester, a nurse at a local hospital in a small northern community of California is faced with a wonderful, yet incredibly difficult decision. Hear the challenges he went through to get to his proper diagnosis of a Myocardial Bridge and what is giving him the difficulty of a decision as to not when, but how, he will choose to get his unroofing procedure done. In this “Journeys” episode, we’ll learn what his research has uncovered, whom he has spoken with and where he is in the decision making process. For anybody who is trying to decide which route to go and for which reason, what some of the doctors are saying regarding surgery and what the potential outcomes may be, please be sure to listen and share. Sternotomy, thorocotomy, or robotic unroofing procedures all have their specific advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons. The struggle Jeremy is dealing with may be similar to yours and while we don’t yet know his decision, the process we all go thru is as unique as we are. The more information we can accumulate in making that decision is often better. Be sure to follow or subscribe to our episodes and visit the website www.myimperfectheart.com to learn of our “Journeys” MB Family outcomes as they progress to their unroofed conditions.

Jeremy also mentions “gummies” in his efforts to relieve pain. Here are a couple of links to the articles he read in his research on whether or not to give then a try.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (In search type “Treatment with Cannabidiol Results in an Antioxidant and Cardioprotective Effect in Several Pathophysiologies”) and the second article type (Cannabinoids alter the endothelial function in the Zucker rat model of type 2 diabetes)

These are not medical recommendations and are only for your own personal research and information.

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

A driven and determined electrical engineer with a degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering makes his way to Stanford to pursue his PHD. Little did he know there was going to be an even more fortuitous outcome at the University beside his doctorate. Only three months post unroofing surgery, Raisul Islam shares his story of an issue he’s been dealing with since high school. It wasn’t until he was well into his studies at Stanford that he became aware that the symptoms he’s been experiencing for more than half his life, were not only life threatening but they were caused by something very different than the diagnosis of kidney issues, high blood pressure, anxiety, high cholesterol, psoriatic arthritis… and the list goes on. Not to mention, the myriad of failed drug therapies. Hear his story of the process to discovery of his Myocardial Bridge after what appeared to be heart attacks, ischemia, and a general loss of ability to perform his daily routine tasks. His Stanford alumni email address may have been a catalyst to his unroofing procedure that now has given him back, in his words, a life with a “new normal” and an ability to function like every other father of a young daughter.

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

Welcome to the first episode of Imperfect Heart “Journeys”, a monthly publication that will release on alternate weeks with our complete stories of those who have been unroofed.“Journeys” will be stories of Myocardial Bridge patients navigating their way to surgery and the process, procedures, diagnosis and actions they’re experiencing to get to the unroofing of their bridges. Dr. Linda Cunningham is my first “Journeys” guest and I couldn’t be more excited as she’s also the first MD we’ve spoken to with an MB. This is about as good as it gets when we have a Doctor on board to share her story and where she is in her journey to unroofing. She knows the language and adds credibility to the fact that our symptoms are real. As we know from so many other stories, there’s a trigger that starts all of us on our own journeys and it took a lot of reflection and getting past denial for Linda to realize that, in fact, she had been experiencing symptoms for quite some time. Years actually. But it was the more recent and rapid deterioration of her abilities to do the things she loves that made her aware of the fact that something was going seriously wrong. If you get nothing else out of this episode but the fact that attitude, gratitude and a little humor can really help you along the way, then I would call it a success. Hers is shaping up to be quite the journey.

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

As promised from part 1, Veronica and Sarah get into the Q & A from a recently unroofed patient to an experienced and once again athlete. We’ll discuss pain management, strength from proper follow-through of direction from your care team and Sarah answers Veronica’s questions about returning to life as she knew it. I’ll have a bit to offer as well in several instances but the essence of the conversation is what has worked for us, our mistakes and how Veronica is navigating her own journey to recovery. Athlete or not, the discussion is applicable and even means more if you’re inclined to be sedentary and not get off the couch. Yes, that gets covered in the discussion as well. Pain, process and pathways to performance vary for everyone. The key is to do something in recovery that continues to help you improve and you’ll hear plenty of that from us all. My hope is that this episode helps everyone understand a little better, the control you have over your own improvement.

For more information on Myocardial Bridges, FAQ’s and a list of Doctors known to be performing unroofing surgery, visit wwww.myimperfectheart.com

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

I had the great privilege of speaking with two female athletes, both working moms and both having suffered with and then recovered from “unroofing” surgery for their Myocardial Bridges. What’s most interesting is that they met on this podcast and Veronica Thaxton is only six and a half weeks out of surgery while Sarah Miller is almost 18 months out of surgery. What they discuss is the experience they both had from diagnosis to surgery, but more importantly, what to expect in the recovery process. Veronica literally gets a vicarious experience as Sarah can explain what she has gone through to get to where she is today… running again but with a twist and sharing with Veronica, what to expect and how she navigated her situation to arrive at where she is now. Of course, I’ll have something to say along the way as I fit somewhat midrange on the time frame of recovery.

The episode is split into two parts, the first is what led to the need to identify a debilitating symptom through to the diagnosis and recommendation for surgery and the second part will be the details of surgery, the aftermath from a very fresh and recent patient in Veronica and a bit more experienced recovery in that of Sarah and myself.

My hope is that there is something in here for everyone, athlete or not, to take away and apply at the various stages you may be in from the diagnostic to the exercise post surgery and everything in between.

For more information and to find the FAQ’s on Myocardial Bridges or Doctors known to be performing the surgeries, visit www.myimperfectheart.com

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

So you’ve clearly listened to part 1 of Dr. Schnittger’s descriptions, definitions and requirements of ascertainment to identify you’re bridge and that’s all well and good. But the syptoms as damn near killing you, debilitating you, maybe even incapacitating you. Something has to be done. But what? What do you do? Dr. Schnittger and I discuss next steps, things to expect and be aware of. Questions to ask. Expectations from treatment that may not always be surgery. What if it is surgery? What type? Sternotomy, thoractaomy, maybe even robotic? You’ll get more clarification and another opportunity to take notes in this episode as we walk through the variety of considerations you’ll get to make in the process of your treatment. Is there an opportunity to reduce the unpleasant effects the bridge is causing? The answer more often than not is a resounding “yes”. Learn what you must do on your MB journey for repair as the conversation outlines the process. I hope you get as much from this discussion as I did as I know I wish this was something I would have had prior to my surgery to help ease some of the anxiety of uncertainty.

For more information about Myocardial Bridges and to get the FAQ’s as well as a list of Doctors known to do the “unroofing” procedure, visit the website: www.myimperfectheart.com

To learn more about Stanford Medical Center and the Myocardial Bridge Clinic visit: https://med.stanford.edu/ctsurgery/clinical-care/adult-cardiac-surgery-services/myocardial-bridge-unroofing.html

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

Dr.Ingela Schnittger, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford University Medical Center is my guest for this discussion. Oh, what a conversation we have. I listened and learned and she tutored. I am so excited to share this episode with you as you’ll likely learn more than you knew about your Myocardial Bridge and come to have a much better understanding about the nature of our bridges, proper diagnosis and opportunities for reduction or relief from the symptoms. I don’t think there is a better person to help each of us and any one we think that will benefit from understanding our MB situations than the person responsible for the origination of the Myocardial Bridge Research Team at Stanford. I couldn’t be more excited to have what she has to say available for you in this first of two parts from our conversation. This is most definitely a program to take notes on as you can use this information to help your cardiologist better understand what’s going on with you. Dr. Schnittger is a staunch supporter of each of us advocating for ourselves as we all know we must if we’re going to convince those less aware of the conditions we’re dealing with. We are making progress in more cardiologists recognizing a MB as a potentially devastating defect and that’s good news since the evidence now suggests there could be upwards of 25% of the population afflicted with this defect. Does is cause sudden cardiac arrest even death? The first 5 minutes of the discussion will cement your opinion on whether or not this can be a life or death defect. I hope you enjoy, learn and not only get some confirmation for your situation but that you get excited about the fact that there is more awareness and opportunity for symptom reduction of the Myocardial Bridge and it’s subsequent consequences; In other words hope for relief.

For more information and to get the FAQ sheet on Myocardial Bridges as well as a list of known Doctors and hospitals performing unroofing surgery, pls visit www.myimperfectheart.comIf you would like to know more about the Myocardial Bridge Clinic at Stanford, visit https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2016/10/unroofing-surgery-relieves-debilitating-symptoms-of-heart.html

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

I want to be sure you’re either subscribed or have it marked in your calendar to be sure to listen to our next episode with Dr. Ingela Schnittger of Stanford University Medical Center as what you’re going to hear will be one of the most impactful montage of stories and information on Myocardial Bridges that you could imagine. Can we prevent sudden cardiac arrest or heart attacks with Myocardial Bridge unroofing procedures? You’ll have to hear what she has to say. This is one episode to really look forward to.

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it. 

First things first. What better day to share the second episode of Imperfect Heart than Valentines Day! I am most appreciative of the recognition of hearts in every way both figuratively and literally. Our hearts most definitely rule our lives in so many ways. And when something goes haywire, we want to do whatever we can to identify and address it to the best of our ability. Since our launch, I have been humbled by the compliments, the comments and the concerns by so many and I realized that while some of us are aware there is a real-time, real-life resource to share and communicate with, many of you do not or did not know there was such a resource easily and quickly available. I didn’t until after my surgery. I decided it was really important to let those of you unaware of this resource that it exists and that, while I want to continue the story of my journey, it was much more important to be certain you knew you have friends with similar situations that want to talk and share to get some semblance of comfort while you continue your journey to proper identification, diagnosis and resolve for yourself. The clear solution to me was to speak with one of the Administrators of the most popular real-time resource, The Myocardial Bridge Support Group private facebook page. I’ll be talking with Rob Thornett about his personal process of diagnosis to unroofing and how he ended up becoming an administrator on the page as well. His story is unique for sure (as our most of our stories!) but more importantly, you’ll learn that this resource is there for YOU. For your resolve and support, information and education. It’s the “Go To” place for so many of us to get a better understanding of what it is we’re dealing with, what to expect and to make new acquaintances and even friends who share a very personal experience with a most necessary part of life…our hearts! And as I opened with, this is not only about the literal physical issues we deal with but the emotional as well. Pain and the reality of sudden cardiac arrest is nothing to be dealt with lightly. I hope this episode opens up some new outlets for you and helps you realize you are not alone and there is a simple place for you to go for support in so many ways. To all the administrators on the page, thank you. And especially to Rob Thornett for his relentless questions that continue to lead to updated FAQ’s and Doctors/Health Care Systems performing unroofing procedures around the world. Thank You for all you do to help all of us. Make the most of your Valentines Day with gratitude and positivity.

To hear prior episodes of “Imperfect Heart” and to download the FAQ’s and Doctors list of surgeons/cardiologists supporting the unroofing process visit www.myimperfectheart.com.

If you like what you heard, please give us a positive review on whichever app you're using, like and follow us so you never miss an episode. Also, please visit the website, MyImperfectHeart.com and sign up to our database as we work to build a more connected, informed and supportive network of the Imperfect Heart community. Thanks for listening and thank you for your support.  

If you don't yet have your very own copy of the book: Imperfect Heart: Stories of Myocardial Bridges, you can find it anywhere in paperback, tablet or audiobook versions. And, yes, that's me doing the audiobook version as well. :) I hope you enjoy it.