I have just had a PFO closure 21st Jan 2010 under general anesthetic.
History: - I have been a migraine sufferer for 46 years since I was 12, usually 3day attacks, nausea, vomiting, aura, and finally tremendous headaches. In 2008 I was treated as a suspected stroke patient, MRI scans proved blank and it was therefore put down to a severe Migraine although it took several weeks for me to gain full control of my right leg. I was put on Aspirin, Dipridamol, Provostatin for cholestorol, and Propanalol.
A month later I was sent for a bubble test which confirmed a hole, however it was decided not to close it.
Over the next year I was getting between 2 to four migraine attacks per month, sometimes 2 in one day but I did not get the nausea or vomiting, just the aura and headaches. In May 2009 I was suddenly getting 2 to three migraines a day it was difficult to work through them but I managed, then in the middle of May I had a stroke which was confirmed under MRI scanning, it affected my right hand side, but fortunately I have recovered and been left with just a slight speech problem. I had 3 months off work and returned in September to education.
After a full days work I can fall asleep within minutes of arriving home and sleep for several hours.
Yesterday they closed the hole, I am now very sore and bruised as they went in through the Femoral artery, however the treatment by the Doctors and nurses was superb - the NHS at it`s best, they sent me home last night, no climbing stairs for 48 hours, no driving for at least a week, and gentle exercise only after the 48 hours. The best advise they gave me was take it steady for 2 to 3 months.