February 3, 2025 • 34 mins
What if a seemingly routine check-up could change the course of your life? Join us on the Empty Nest Quest as we kick off Heart Month with a personal tale of unexpected heart health revelations. This episode is an invitation to explore the nuances of heart health for women, especially during menopause and perimenopause. I share my surprising journey of discovering a congenital heart defect—a bicuspid aortic valve—during a mandatory physical at work. Despite a clean bill of health and no family history, the experience was a wake-up call about the importance of regular check-ups and being mindful of symptoms that might appear trivial.
The conversation deepens with a candid discussion on the critical need for women to champion their own health advocacy. We navigate through personal stories of feeling overlooked by healthcare providers and underline the importance of trusting one's instincts and seeking second opinions. With alarming statistics highlighting heart-related deaths among women, prioritizing personal health becomes more crucial than ever. We wrap up by exploring the emotional journey through major heart surgery and the remarkable advancements in cardiac care, sharing hope for less invasive futures and encouraging proactive stances on health and well-being. Join us as we empower, educate, and support each other in the quest for better heart health.
We want to hear from you! Reach out to us on socials or at emptynestquestpod@gmail.com to share how our conversations are landing with you! xo-Melynda and Jennifer
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello y'all, Welcome to the Empty Nest Quest.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hey everybody, Welcome, welcome.
So glad you're here with usthis week.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Yeah, so kind of before we got started today
sometimes we start and we trynot to talk and we just so we
can save it for here.
And then today, we just had tocatch up Y'all, are y'all having
a great day?
Have y'all had a?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
crazy.
January Insane 2025 and not in.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I mean, it's been just a lot of heavy stuff has
happened yeah, I feel likejanuary should sure we should
count it like a dog year yeahsurely we should surely get
credit for seven months.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, the one month of january I saw something the
other day and it said um januaryis the longest year ever.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Truly felt like it yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
But it's February and we are starting anew and it is
going to be positive and lots ofgreat things are going to
happen.
So, and that kind of goes alongwith what we are going to talk
about today.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
February is heart month, so yeah, I don't know
about y'all, but sometimes I amnot great about keeping up with
the.
You know the months that, but Ido love when somebody
highlights it and we get toremember.
So, yeah, february is heartmonth, and if you are truly an
empty nester, like Jennifer andI, then that means you're in the
(01:22):
season of examining your healthbecause of menopause and
perimenopause and all the things, and one of the things that
comes up over and over is ourheart health as women, and we
have totally different warningsigns and all the things that
I'm sure Jennifer's going toaddress.
So it's just so important forus to pay attention.
So some of that we'll hit onhere, yes, but yeah, this month
(01:45):
we just want to focus on notjust our physical heart but just
, you know, our hearts as womenand in this, season and how to
take great care of ourselves,open heart surgery in 2012.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
So this was a complete surprise and what I'm
going to do is just kind of goback and let you all know my
story, because I I do try toshare it as much as I can.
I think it's an important storyto share.
I think I have encouraged lotsof women to just meet, be more
(02:36):
aware of their heart health andmaybe some of the symptoms that
I had and I really the reasonwhy I am here today is because I
didn't ignore those symptoms,yeah, and it's so, so important.
So if I can spread the wordabout heart health as much as I
can and just share my story,that's what I'm going to do.
(02:58):
So I guess I'll kind of takeyou back to when I was first
even aware that there was anytype of issue.
I started working in OconeeCounty, which Melinda and I both
had our kids go through OconeeCounty schools, and I was a
teacher, and at the time I don'tknow if they still do, but I
(03:20):
would hope they do because itsaved my life but at the time
they required all of theirteachers to get physicals.
Oh, and you know, being a womanin my 30s I had had two
children.
I don't know about you, but Ikind of considered my yearly
OBGYN appointment, my physical,like I wasn't going to physicals
(03:45):
.
I was like, yeah, I go to thedoctor.
No, I went and I got my papsmear and you know my mammogram,
but I did not get a physical.
I did not have my entire panelblood work done.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
I didn't yeah, that's a good point yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
And so that is a big difference, that if you are not
doing those yearly physicals,please go do them.
And so, anyway, I went and gotmy physical and at that time I
think I was like 35.
Very, looking at me from theoutside very healthy.
At me from the outside veryhealthy, I ate, right, I was a
(04:32):
runner, so I would run thePeachtree Road race every year.
I was, I was healthy, you know,by all accounts.
Then when I had my physical, thedoctor, he listened to my heart
and I had been told previouslythat I had a heart murmur.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
But I mean a lot of people have a heart murmur.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
You know, I mean you can't really think anything of
that because so many people do.
And I said, yeah, you know,I've been told a few times that
I had a heart murmur.
And he said it.
You know, it just sounds alittle funny.
Those were his exact words.
He said I know that.
You know, you know that youhave a heart murmur, but it just
(05:14):
sounds a little funny.
I'm going to send you to acardiologist and get it checked
out.
I said, okay, I mean, I reallydidn't think much of it.
So I went to the cardiologistand they did a heart scan and
they discovered that I havewhat's called a bicuspid aortic
valve.
A normal aortic valve is lookslike a peace sign.
(05:38):
So it has three flaps.
My aortic valve was splitstraight down the middle and
where you run into trouble is itdoesn't have that free flowing
um, I guess, motion that threeflaps would have.
(05:58):
So after after you know a longtime, those um two flaps just
get hardened and that's when youstart getting backflow and
things like that.
So at the time when I first hadthe scan and they discovered
the bicuspid valve, they saidyou know, it looks great, we'll
(06:20):
just check you on a yearly basisand this is a congenital heart
defect.
So this is something I was bornwith and so I really didn't
think anything of it.
I went, went about my normallife.
Um, I did get my childrenchecked, since it is hereditary
Um, luckily, neither one of themhave it Um, and then my parents
(06:42):
.
I don't have a, that's that'sone thing I want to point out to
y'all is I was healthy.
I do not have heart history inmy family, so I don't have, you
know, a father or a grandfatheror an uncle or, you know, people
always think of men, so that'swhy I'm saying that I don't have
(07:02):
anyone in my family that hasever had heart issues that I
know of.
And so I started going on ayearly basis to get my heart
scanned.
And for a few years it was fine.
And you know I'm a teacher andso during the summer I would
(07:23):
always kind of step up myexercise routine.
And I started doing a boot campand I knew right away that
something wasn't right, becauseI could not run and I was a
runner and I could not run.
It felt as if I had cinderblocks strapped to my ankles.
(07:49):
I couldn't pick my feet up, youknow, and I would get very out
of breath.
And so this was like June, julyand my scan.
I was due to have my scan likein November, and so I called my
cardiologist and I said you know, I know that I'm coming in in a
few months, but here's somesymptoms that I'm having and
(08:13):
it's just kind of concerning.
And so I'd also had to pull thecar over twice because I was
dizzy.
I was so dizzy I could notdrive.
Oh, my goodness, and so I washaving symptoms.
Um, so I went in and they did ascan and he said well, you have
developed severe aorticstenosis.
(08:33):
So I was having backflow, myheart was not getting enough
blood and that's why I wasfeeling dizzy, that's why I
wasn't able to pick my feet offthe ground and run out of breath
, so that's why I was having thesymptoms.
And so and this is anotherpoint, second opinion so this
(08:55):
one particular cardiologist, heliterally said to me, after he
just told me I had severe aorticstenosis, he said at your age I
was 39 at the time he said atyour age, I would not recommend
having surgery right now.
(09:16):
He said let me know if you, youknow, feel like you're going to
pass out again let me know ifyou reckon to a sidewall,
because I passed out.
Right, then we'll know, yeah,and then we may do something.
Wow, so when I I'll neverforget.
When I got in the elevator Iliterally said to myself did he
(09:38):
literally just tell me if I feellike I'm going to pass out to
call him?
If I feel like I'm going topass out to call him and I was I
just said no, that is not right.
So I called my parents and mydad at the time his neighbor's
brother was one of the topcardiologists in Atlanta.
So he said my dad said let memake a couple of phone calls.
(10:01):
And I was able to get in withhim within a couple of weeks.
And when I went in to see him,he sent me that day to see the
surgeon.
Like I literally left hisoffice and walked into the
surgeon's office and he saidthere is no reason in the world
to delay your surgery.
(10:22):
You are young, you, you arehealthy, you will have a great
recovery and the only the onlybad things can happen if you
wait right.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, exactly like it's not a thing.
I mean those kind of heartdefects.
It's like it's not going to getbetter if you eat right it's
not going to get better if youjust don't run like it's going
to be worse and worse and worseright wait for it to worsen.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Right.
And so by the time, it's soweird that that first guy said
that oh my gosh, believe me.
So by the time I went in, I hadsurgery the day after
Thanksgiving that year.
So he said.
The surgeon said I'm giving youtill the end of this year to
schedule your surgery.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
And you saw him in, like August or something, I did
surgery and you saw him in likeAugust or something.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I did Okay and so and had the surgery in November.
It was very scary.
I mean, it's open heart surgery, so it was.
I knew the recovery was goingto be brutal, and it was.
It was brutal, but it was.
Also, I would not have changeda thing, because it's truly as
(11:35):
if I woke up in so many moreways than one after that surgery
.
I feel like I truly was giventhat gift of a second chance of
life.
By the time I went into surgery, I had a five centimeter aortic
aneurysm.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Oh, my gracious.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So I would have been one of those people that
literally just dropped dead.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
And it would have made no sense to anybody,
because you would have lookedhealthy and vibrant.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Right.
So it was those.
You know the underlying thatyou can't see, and so often with
women that is the case.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Well, and I remember I have a dear friend whose child
died of heart complications,and I remember when they were
talking to her about it, theysaid the thing about a healthy
body is that everything else canmask all your awesomely
(12:38):
functioning the rest of yoursystems can mask for and pick up
for the system that's failing,right, and you don't show any
exterior signs.
And so then and then we aswomen, we're like you know, as
so many of us have talked aboutlike you go to the doctor, say
right now, and you havemenopause symptoms, and you're,
(13:01):
you know, perimenopause symptoms.
It's like, oh honey, sorry,this is just going to be a rough
decade, ha ha, we all gothrough it.
And then you're just sent alongyour way and told to you know
what, have an extra glass ofwine at night?
I to you, know what have anextra glass of wine at night?
I literally, one of my friends'doctors literally said that I'm
like what the hell?
It was like the worst thing, I'mjust like what.
But I think we as women havebeen dismissed so many times.
(13:28):
I have so many friends withstories from their pregnancies
where they were made to feelkind of hysterical and ended up
having major complications withtheir pregnancy.
I mean so we have got toempower one another, not call
other women crazy, not callother women exaggerative, not
call other women hysterical, andsupport each other and say go,
get this scene about.
(13:48):
And then when that person comesback from the doctor and the
doctor has dismissed them likeyours did, say, honey, go again,
I will go with you, Like I.
I truly just feel like I hearso many stories of women where
we kind of keep plucking along,empowering through.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Well, and I think too .
I think one thing that I alwaystell everyone, women and men
the physicians work for us,right, we don't work for them,
that's right.
They work for us, we pay them.
Yeah, we're the client, we aretheir customer and we should not
(14:26):
be treated like that.
And so it was very eyeopeningto me me and I share that story
often, and I feel like you know,as women, we're pretty good
about getting mammograms.
You know we're good aboutbreast health, because that is
what is out there and that iswhat is commercialized.
(14:49):
Truly in a sense because and itmakes us very aware, which is
great, I think that is fantasticHeart health I think it's
becoming better, but still, youdon't realize when I when I say
this, that heart related deathswith women are the number one
(15:10):
cause of a premature death ofwomen, more than all cancers
combined, right, all, not justbreast cancer, all cancers
combined.
Yeah, that is staggering, yeah,staggering, staggering.
(15:39):
And it's because women, we pushthrough, we're the doers we put
our health is secondary to ourchildren and I think now, as
empty nesters, we're in thisphase where, okay, y'all, this
is our time, this is time toreally focus on your health, and
that's why those physicals areso important.
Get those physicals, get thefull plan panel blood work done.
(16:01):
Will it catch every singlething?
No, but it is going to catch alot.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Yeah, because, well, just like with you, I mean you
went to a physical, it it,little by little, one thing led
to another, and had you skippedall of those years of the
physical and then the first timeyou felt a symptom was at the
bootcamp and you didn't evenknow about your heart.
You may not have gone, causeyou may have chalked it up to
(16:28):
like oh, it's just July, I'mreally out of shape.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
You know I'm doing this bootcamp I probably
shouldn't be doing this you know, yeah, so you never know, so I
do.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
I think you're, I mean, such a good reminder for
all of us, because I think thatI used to do exactly what you
described.
I would go to my OBGYN once ayear, and I don't even you know.
The only reason I got myselfback on track getting physicals
is because I was trying to getmy girls switched.
(16:58):
They wanted to see a woman, andso I said, okay, I'll just do
it with you, and we startedgoing to a practice that has
three amazing women nursepractitioners, and so it's great
because, while our familymedicine doctor is a man, like
these three women, right there.
So you can always see a woman ifyou want to yeah, that is so
(17:20):
great and and so it's beenreally great.
And then they're so great aboutwhen we're there and I think we
talked about this in the lastepisode, but when they're there,
they always just reschedule mefor the next one, yes, before I
even leave, and it it's just youhave to reschedule me for the
next one.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yes, before I even leave and it it's just.
Even if you have to reschedule,I find that if it's on the
calendar, yes it's easier toreschedule than it is to
remember a hundred percent,Cause then you're always like
has it been a year?
And then before you know it,it's two or three years.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I know, I know, I know, and that's why, yeah,
that's why, like the colonoscopy, things get a little tricky, if
you're not.
I had a little stint where Ihad to do those like every year
and honestly, it was just easierbecause they would just
schedule the next one.
But now I'm not going to everyfive years.
It's like well, good Lord.
So, but yeah, like I think, um,I think that that has been
(18:10):
super helpful for me too,because I will say, I mean it's
a little off topic, but I willjust share this because I know
this has happened to a lot of us.
But I did have to just get amammogram, not my routine one
because I found a spot and I wassuper.
I was super nervous Because,like you said, I mean we're all
(18:31):
nervous about breast health inparticular, because it has been
so well put in our faces andwe're educated about it Right,
and thankfully it was benign andyou know it all got handled
very quickly.
But I'm so glad that I went tomy physical and that my doctor
was like I'm going to get you inthis week, and so it was all I.
(18:53):
So I agree with you, I feellike it's so easy not to go,
it's so easy to lose faith inthe healthcare system when
you've had somebody dismiss you.
Um, if you're one of thosepeople, I see you, I feel you.
That had kind of happened to meand I do a lot of alternative
things, like I have anacupuncturist I see regularly.
(19:14):
I have, um, she I don't knowwhat janet calls herself, but
it's kind of like a type of itsays chiropractic in the name
but she doesn't do anything.
Poppy, poppy, it's really it'sreally it almost feels like a
really light tissue, likemassage type thing, but it is
like help me with like somemajor aches and pains so I have.
(19:36):
I do have so much faith in howmuch that has helped, but I love
that those people are like youstill need to go get your
physical.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
And.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
I was kind of feeling like, yeah, but every time I go
to the doctor I feel dismissedand I was kind of getting in
that place and I'm really gladthat I just kept being
encouraged.
Well then, find somebody youlike.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Right, there are other people Shop around.
Yeah, keep finding someone.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Keep checking around, so just find somebody you're
comfortable with, right?
So okay.
So back to your story, though.
Will you walk us through?
Because you know, I don't knowwhy just every time you talk
about this I just want to bawlmy eyes out, but it was kind of
like this was the year when thiswas my first year working at
Rocky branch and we had justmoved back here from South
(20:23):
Carolina, so I've not seen youin a long time.
I can't, even I can't evenremember, except for just,
probably, kids in life.
We just kind of knew each otherbefore a little bit, right, but
um, but you know, any of y'alllike that work in the same
building as people, especiallyif you're like in a school or, I
know this, among nurses.
There's just such a community,right, and Rocky Branch really
had such a great community ofpeople, definitely.
(20:45):
And so so walk us through,cause I feel like the whole
school was just like red heartseverywhere for Miss Jennifer.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
So it was so sweet and just very supportive.
Yeah, so we just I took off,you know it was Thanksgiving and
so I just had my surgery theday after Thanksgiving and I was
in cardiac ICU for a coupledays.
(21:18):
So one thing I did not realizebefore going into surgery and
I'm glad I didn't.
Looking back I'm like, yeah,I'm glad you didn't tell me
about that when I had my aorticvalve replaced.
I have a little picky valve nowbut I also had to have my aorta
(21:40):
replaced because that is wherethe aneurysm was.
It was an aortic aneurysm, anddid they find that during
surgery?
They found that, right prior toheart surgery, they always do
the final scan.
Okay, and that's what they werelooking for, because most of
the time when you have yourvalve replaced, it's caused you
(22:03):
to have an aneurysm as well.
Oh, okay, because of the backupof blood.
Okay, and so when the aortayour aorta is like the highway
to your body for blood, and so,in order to replace your aorta,
(22:24):
they have to turn off the heartand lung machine, and that is
what's keeping the person that'shaving surgery alive, right,
that is what's keeping theperson that's having surgery
alive, right?
So in order to turn off theheart and lung machine, they
have to kind of take your bodytemperature down to where what?
(22:45):
Okay, I'm really glad I'mlearning this.
Everything is like stopped,because if not, it'll cause you
to have brain damage, right?
So they lower your bodytemperature to.
You know they don't freeze you,but it's.
It's some technical term, Idon't know the technical term of
it, but they lower your bodytemperature to a point where you
(23:06):
won't.
They have like a certain amountof time that they have to get
this done or you will start tohave effects from it.
So when my surgeon was tellingme about it, he was like, yeah,
he was really proud of himselfbecause he got it done in like
12 minutes.
And I was like, so I was likedead for 12 minutes.
(23:29):
You know, he was like, well, Imean, the only thing keeping you
alive was your body was at acertain temperature.
There was not any blood pumpingthrough your body.
Your heart was not pumping,there was unbelievable, isn't
that crazy?
And I'm like, I'm really glad Idid not know that before surgery
, Correct.
So there was that.
(23:49):
And then, prior to surgery,everyone I spoke with said Then,
prior to surgery, everyone Ispoke with said you will not
remember ICU, you will notremember, you know, being in
there.
Oh, I do remember it andunfortunately I woke up
intubated.
I mean, I was, I remember that.
(24:10):
And so when I think back onthat, that was probably the
scariest moment is waking up inICU and being told let the
machine breathe for you.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
How do you do?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
that I know I'm like and I was thinking to myself.
I've been breathing since I'vebeen here on this earth.
You know how am I supposed tolet the machine breathe for you,
right?
Speaker 1 (24:30):
I'm just imagining.
As a yogi who loves practices.
Control breath patterns, howyou just breathe.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, you let the machine breathe for you.
Oh for the love of all things.
So, um that, and then I was atPiedmont in Atlanta.
They were fabulous, so I feltlike I truly was at the best
place at that time.
Um, and just getting up andwalking, and the goal was you
(24:58):
know, um well, I was in, not Ilike just through that day,
until they got on my levels atthe appropriate level.
But yeah, it was, it wasintense.
I mean that was.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
I mean, besides the fact that your heart has
literally had open heart surgery, which is like right and it was
that recovery.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
I mean because I chose to have a tissue valve and
not a mechanical valve, whichmeans that I will have to have
that replaced.
It's like any type of tissue,it will eventually go bad.
But I chose that because Idon't want to be on blood
thinners, and if I chose themechanical valve I would have to
be on blood thinners, and I wasso young, you know, I didn't
(25:42):
want to be on blood thinners.
And if I chose the mechanicalvalve I would have to be on
blood thinners.
And I was so young, you know Ididn't want to.
I was active with my childrenand I didn't want to be paranoid
about, you know, bruising orcutting myself or anything like
that.
So, but now they have.
I mean, the medical technologyhas advanced so much, I will not
(26:04):
.
My cardiologist is telling methat I will not have to have
another open heart surgery.
They will literally I will goin.
It will be outpatient.
Stop right now.
Yes, they will go in, and heexplained it that it's like
almost like a turkey baster.
They could either go through mygroin or through right under my
(26:26):
like, where my armpit is, andthey go in and they feed the new
valve up to where my aorticvalve is and they pop it in
place.
They don't take out the oldvalve, the new valve just fits
right on top and does its job.
Wow, outpatient.
(26:46):
That is unbelievable, isn'tthat crazy?
What a blessing.
So I'm so thankful that I did.
Now, looking back, I'm likegosh I'm so very thankful that I
chose a tissue valve.
Yes, and that was you know.
Again, that was something thatI had to trust my surgeon.
(27:06):
But I also put it back on mysurgeon when he said, you know,
if you thought about if you wanta tissue valve or mechanical
valve, I looked right at him andI said, if I was your wife
right now, what would you tellme to do?
And without hesitation he toldme a tissue valve and I said
then that's what I'll take.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, and I do love.
I do love having like.
That is another thing I willsay is if you show up as
yourself and go with yourquestions and remember that the
person sitting in front of you,while they are very smart
because they're a doctor, youare smart too, and that no one
knows your body like you do, andand if you speak to them like a
(27:49):
person, most doctors are, aregoing to respond to you as a
person, right, and I have.
I have had that experience manytimes and I also and it's also
helped me know the difference.
And when somebody doesn't dothat and I'm like, okay, not you
Right, they're just not theright person.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Right, and that's okay.
Right, because it needs to beshopping around, getting.
Choosing a doctor almost needsto be like dating.
Yes, you know there are goingto be some that work for you and
some that you just need to moveon.
That's right.
And one thing I will say thisis something that I have started
doing, especially since I haveaging parents, and my stepmom
(28:33):
told me about this because mydad has dealt with a lot of
medical issues.
She always asked the doctor isit OK if I record this visit?
And she said she's never hadanyone tell her no, and so I've
started to do that with my mom.
Now is I will just I'll recordthe conversation, because so
often they will tell yousomething and you don't remember
(28:56):
, right, or you just you're,especially if it's something
emotional.
You're not going to remembereverything, and so if you record
it, it's a lot better thantaking notes, because you won't
feel like you missed something,but just ask them, say you know
this is a lot.
Is it okay if I just recordthis?
If you're getting any type ofmedical news, record it.
(29:17):
That way you can replay it.
You know the technical terms,you can go back and take notes,
but I thought that was such agreat piece of information.
Because it is so hard?
First of all, they're usingterminology that we are not
familiar with as patients andand you're emotional on top of
(29:41):
that, so a lot of it's going togo in one ear and out the other.
So if you record the visit,that's a huge benefit too.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Yeah, I think I've.
I love that idea and especiallylike, if you are, you are like
maybe one of some siblings inyour family that is taking
someone to the doctor like aparent.
Then whenever you want to answereverybody else's questions, you
can be like do you want me tojust translate for you, Excuse
(30:10):
me, or do you want me to justsend you the recording?
Yes, Because, yeah, I love thatbecause it's you know, there's
just always so much informationlike Johnny's got two sisters
and said the three of them arealways trying to talk, you know
about things, and I'm sure itjust gets tiring to the person
who's gone to have to repeat itso many times, right?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Well, you're scared you're going to miss something,
or you're scared you're going totranslate something different
in a different fashion.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Yeah, and sometimes I think we need that consensus
with one another.
You know you might wantsomebody else to listen, right,
kind of have a second listen andbe your second set of ears, and
I do think it's a great idea.
There is nothing wrong alsowith just taking someone with
you.
Yes, that is not.
There's nothing wrong with thatIf you need another set of ears
.
One of the things I reallyloved in the breast health
(31:06):
center last week was this womancame in and you could tell she
was just super nervous and veryuneasy and she had brought a
friend and they were soaccommodating and told.
I just heard them like explainokay, during this you can't be
in there because it's this kindof scam, but the minute she
moves to this room you can be inthere.
Where do you want to wait?
I mean, they were more thanaccommodating and I was.
I just like wanted to tell thatwoman I'm like good for you.
(31:28):
Good for bringing somebody,because I've had so many times
where I did need that support,where I had something going on
and I was really glad that I hadJohnny go or my mom go or
whoever went with me.
I mean, my mom went with me whenI had a breast biopsy, I think
it was in 2012.
And I mean you know I was agrown woman, but I loved having
(31:49):
my mom with me.
So I do just want to encouragepeople that, um, to really just
like.
This is not a stage of lifewhere we need to like, should
all over ourselves and be likeyou should do this, you should
do that, or you know.
Just just take a deep breathand really check in and be like
what is right for me in thismoment and like listen to that
(32:10):
and follow your heart and we'vetaken care of our children,
We've taken care of other peoplefor so long that it's really
time to take care of you.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
And you know, in this month of February, make it your
goal If you have not had aphysical recently to get on the
phone right after this episodeand make that phone call.
And if you need arecommendation, the best I mean,
I think, the best way to find adoctor or to find somebody.
(32:41):
I love to get recommendationsfrom other people, Absolutely.
And put a message on Facebook,put a message on Instagram.
You know, in the Oconee area,you know, or whatever area
you're in, I'm looking for aprimary care physician.
If you want a woman, I'mlooking for a woman primary care
physician.
You know, whatever you want,but I love doing that.
(33:03):
I think it's a great way tofind people that are trustworthy
and somebody that you knowyou're going to jive with.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Absolutely.
I think that's a greatsuggestion.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
So make those appointments.
You know your life is soprecious, and the ones that we
have been taking care of all ofthis time.
They want us to take care ofourselves Absolutely, and it's
our time, this is your time, andif you are not in the best
health, there's no time liketoday.
So that's right, go get on thephone and make that appointment.
(33:38):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
Well, we're so glad we get to spend this month
talking to y'all about allthings with your heart, the
heart that loves your kids, theheart that pumps in your body.
And, jennifer, thank you somuch for sharing your story, it
inspires me every time I justseriously I think I could talk
about it all the time.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Well, I'm so glad.
I hope it helps others.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Yeah, it was really powerful just to be in the
building watching you andwatching that transformation and
and turning, like somethingthat was so hard into a
beautiful beginning to the restof your life.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
So thank you so much.
All right, thank you.
We'll see y'all next time.
Y'all go out and have a greatweek.
Bye.
Hello y'all, Welcome to the Empty Nest Quest.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hey everybody, Welcome, welcome.
So glad you're here with usthis week.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Yeah, so kind of before we got started today
sometimes we start and we trynot to talk and we just so we
can save it for here.
And then today, we just had tocatch up Y'all, are y'all having
a great day?
Have y'all had a?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
crazy.
January Insane 2025 and not in.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
I mean, it's been just a lot of heavy stuff has
happened yeah, I feel likejanuary should sure we should
count it like a dog year yeahsurely we should surely get
credit for seven months.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, the one month of january I saw something the
other day and it said um januaryis the longest year ever.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Truly felt like it yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
But it's February and we are starting anew and it is
going to be positive and lots ofgreat things are going to
happen.
So, and that kind of goes alongwith what we are going to talk
about today.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
February is heart month, so yeah, I don't know
about y'all, but sometimes I amnot great about keeping up with
the.
You know the months that, but Ido love when somebody
highlights it and we get toremember.
So, yeah, february is heartmonth, and if you are truly an
empty nester, like Jennifer andI, then that means you're in the
(01:22):
season of examining your healthbecause of menopause and
perimenopause and all the things, and one of the things that
comes up over and over is ourheart health as women, and we
have totally different warningsigns and all the things that
I'm sure Jennifer's going toaddress.
So it's just so important forus to pay attention.
So some of that we'll hit onhere, yes, but yeah, this month
(01:45):
we just want to focus on notjust our physical heart but just
, you know, our hearts as womenand in this, season and how to
take great care of ourselves,open heart surgery in 2012.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
So this was a complete surprise and what I'm
going to do is just kind of goback and let you all know my
story, because I I do try toshare it as much as I can.
I think it's an important storyto share.
I think I have encouraged lotsof women to just meet, be more
(02:36):
aware of their heart health andmaybe some of the symptoms that
I had and I really the reasonwhy I am here today is because I
didn't ignore those symptoms,yeah, and it's so, so important.
So if I can spread the wordabout heart health as much as I
can and just share my story,that's what I'm going to do.
(02:58):
So I guess I'll kind of takeyou back to when I was first
even aware that there was anytype of issue.
I started working in OconeeCounty, which Melinda and I both
had our kids go through OconeeCounty schools, and I was a
teacher, and at the time I don'tknow if they still do, but I
(03:20):
would hope they do because itsaved my life but at the time
they required all of theirteachers to get physicals.
Oh, and you know, being a womanin my 30s I had had two
children.
I don't know about you, but Ikind of considered my yearly
OBGYN appointment, my physical,like I wasn't going to physicals
(03:45):
.
I was like, yeah, I go to thedoctor.
No, I went and I got my papsmear and you know my mammogram,
but I did not get a physical.
I did not have my entire panelblood work done.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
I didn't yeah, that's a good point yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
And so that is a big difference, that if you are not
doing those yearly physicals,please go do them.
And so, anyway, I went and gotmy physical and at that time I
think I was like 35.
Very, looking at me from theoutside very healthy.
At me from the outside veryhealthy, I ate, right, I was a
(04:32):
runner, so I would run thePeachtree Road race every year.
I was, I was healthy, you know,by all accounts.
Then when I had my physical, thedoctor, he listened to my heart
and I had been told previouslythat I had a heart murmur.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
But I mean a lot of people have a heart murmur.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
You know, I mean you can't really think anything of
that because so many people do.
And I said, yeah, you know,I've been told a few times that
I had a heart murmur.
And he said it.
You know, it just sounds alittle funny.
Those were his exact words.
He said I know that.
You know, you know that youhave a heart murmur, but it just
(05:14):
sounds a little funny.
I'm going to send you to acardiologist and get it checked
out.
I said, okay, I mean, I reallydidn't think much of it.
So I went to the cardiologistand they did a heart scan and
they discovered that I havewhat's called a bicuspid aortic
valve.
A normal aortic valve is lookslike a peace sign.
(05:38):
So it has three flaps.
My aortic valve was splitstraight down the middle and
where you run into trouble is itdoesn't have that free flowing
um, I guess, motion that threeflaps would have.
(05:58):
So after after you know a longtime, those um two flaps just
get hardened and that's when youstart getting backflow and
things like that.
So at the time when I first hadthe scan and they discovered
the bicuspid valve, they saidyou know, it looks great, we'll
(06:20):
just check you on a yearly basisand this is a congenital heart
defect.
So this is something I was bornwith and so I really didn't
think anything of it.
I went, went about my normallife.
Um, I did get my childrenchecked, since it is hereditary
Um, luckily, neither one of themhave it Um, and then my parents
(06:42):
.
I don't have a, that's that'sone thing I want to point out to
y'all is I was healthy.
I do not have heart history inmy family, so I don't have, you
know, a father or a grandfatheror an uncle or, you know, people
always think of men, so that'swhy I'm saying that I don't have
(07:02):
anyone in my family that hasever had heart issues that I
know of.
And so I started going on ayearly basis to get my heart
scanned.
And for a few years it was fine.
And you know I'm a teacher andso during the summer I would
(07:23):
always kind of step up myexercise routine.
And I started doing a boot campand I knew right away that
something wasn't right, becauseI could not run and I was a
runner and I could not run.
It felt as if I had cinderblocks strapped to my ankles.
(07:49):
I couldn't pick my feet up, youknow, and I would get very out
of breath.
And so this was like June, julyand my scan.
I was due to have my scan likein November, and so I called my
cardiologist and I said you know, I know that I'm coming in in a
few months, but here's somesymptoms that I'm having and
(08:13):
it's just kind of concerning.
And so I'd also had to pull thecar over twice because I was
dizzy.
I was so dizzy I could notdrive.
Oh, my goodness, and so I washaving symptoms.
Um, so I went in and they did ascan and he said well, you have
developed severe aorticstenosis.
(08:33):
So I was having backflow, myheart was not getting enough
blood and that's why I wasfeeling dizzy, that's why I
wasn't able to pick my feet offthe ground and run out of breath
, so that's why I was having thesymptoms.
And so and this is anotherpoint, second opinion so this
(08:55):
one particular cardiologist, heliterally said to me, after he
just told me I had severe aorticstenosis, he said at your age I
was 39 at the time he said atyour age, I would not recommend
having surgery right now.
(09:16):
He said let me know if you, youknow, feel like you're going to
pass out again let me know ifyou reckon to a sidewall,
because I passed out.
Right, then we'll know, yeah,and then we may do something.
Wow, so when I I'll neverforget.
When I got in the elevator Iliterally said to myself did he
(09:38):
literally just tell me if I feellike I'm going to pass out to
call him?
If I feel like I'm going topass out to call him and I was I
just said no, that is not right.
So I called my parents and mydad at the time his neighbor's
brother was one of the topcardiologists in Atlanta.
So he said my dad said let memake a couple of phone calls.
(10:01):
And I was able to get in withhim within a couple of weeks.
And when I went in to see him,he sent me that day to see the
surgeon.
Like I literally left hisoffice and walked into the
surgeon's office and he saidthere is no reason in the world
to delay your surgery.
(10:22):
You are young, you, you arehealthy, you will have a great
recovery and the only the onlybad things can happen if you
wait right.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, exactly like it's not a thing.
I mean those kind of heartdefects.
It's like it's not going to getbetter if you eat right it's
not going to get better if youjust don't run like it's going
to be worse and worse and worseright wait for it to worsen.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Right.
And so by the time, it's soweird that that first guy said
that oh my gosh, believe me.
So by the time I went in, I hadsurgery the day after
Thanksgiving that year.
So he said.
The surgeon said I'm giving youtill the end of this year to
schedule your surgery.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
And you saw him in, like August or something, I did
surgery and you saw him in likeAugust or something.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I did Okay and so and had the surgery in November.
It was very scary.
I mean, it's open heart surgery, so it was.
I knew the recovery was goingto be brutal, and it was.
It was brutal, but it was.
Also, I would not have changeda thing, because it's truly as
(11:35):
if I woke up in so many moreways than one after that surgery
.
I feel like I truly was giventhat gift of a second chance of
life.
By the time I went into surgery, I had a five centimeter aortic
aneurysm.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Oh, my gracious.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
So I would have been one of those people that
literally just dropped dead.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
And it would have made no sense to anybody,
because you would have lookedhealthy and vibrant.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Right.
So it was those.
You know the underlying thatyou can't see, and so often with
women that is the case.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Well, and I remember I have a dear friend whose child
died of heart complications,and I remember when they were
talking to her about it, theysaid the thing about a healthy
body is that everything else canmask all your awesomely
(12:38):
functioning the rest of yoursystems can mask for and pick up
for the system that's failing,right, and you don't show any
exterior signs.
And so then and then we aswomen, we're like you know, as
so many of us have talked aboutlike you go to the doctor, say
right now, and you havemenopause symptoms, and you're,
(13:01):
you know, perimenopause symptoms.
It's like, oh honey, sorry,this is just going to be a rough
decade, ha ha, we all gothrough it.
And then you're just sent alongyour way and told to you know
what, have an extra glass ofwine at night?
I to you, know what have anextra glass of wine at night?
I literally, one of my friends'doctors literally said that I'm
like what the hell?
It was like the worst thing, I'mjust like what.
But I think we as women havebeen dismissed so many times.
(13:28):
I have so many friends withstories from their pregnancies
where they were made to feelkind of hysterical and ended up
having major complications withtheir pregnancy.
I mean so we have got toempower one another, not call
other women crazy, not callother women exaggerative, not
call other women hysterical, andsupport each other and say go,
get this scene about.
(13:48):
And then when that person comesback from the doctor and the
doctor has dismissed them likeyours did, say, honey, go again,
I will go with you, Like I.
I truly just feel like I hearso many stories of women where
we kind of keep plucking along,empowering through.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Well, and I think too .
I think one thing that I alwaystell everyone, women and men
the physicians work for us,right, we don't work for them,
that's right.
They work for us, we pay them.
Yeah, we're the client, we aretheir customer and we should not
(14:26):
be treated like that.
And so it was very eyeopeningto me me and I share that story
often, and I feel like you know,as women, we're pretty good
about getting mammograms.
You know we're good aboutbreast health, because that is
what is out there and that iswhat is commercialized.
(14:49):
Truly in a sense because and itmakes us very aware, which is
great, I think that is fantasticHeart health I think it's
becoming better, but still, youdon't realize when I when I say
this, that heart related deathswith women are the number one
(15:10):
cause of a premature death ofwomen, more than all cancers
combined, right, all, not justbreast cancer, all cancers
combined.
Yeah, that is staggering, yeah,staggering, staggering.
(15:39):
And it's because women, we pushthrough, we're the doers we put
our health is secondary to ourchildren and I think now, as
empty nesters, we're in thisphase where, okay, y'all, this
is our time, this is time toreally focus on your health, and
that's why those physicals areso important.
Get those physicals, get thefull plan panel blood work done.
(16:01):
Will it catch every singlething?
No, but it is going to catch alot.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Yeah, because, well, just like with you, I mean you
went to a physical, it it,little by little, one thing led
to another, and had you skippedall of those years of the
physical and then the first timeyou felt a symptom was at the
bootcamp and you didn't evenknow about your heart.
You may not have gone, causeyou may have chalked it up to
(16:28):
like oh, it's just July, I'mreally out of shape.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
You know I'm doing this bootcamp I probably
shouldn't be doing this you know, yeah, so you never know, so I
do.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
I think you're, I mean, such a good reminder for
all of us, because I think thatI used to do exactly what you
described.
I would go to my OBGYN once ayear, and I don't even you know.
The only reason I got myselfback on track getting physicals
is because I was trying to getmy girls switched.
(16:58):
They wanted to see a woman, andso I said, okay, I'll just do
it with you, and we startedgoing to a practice that has
three amazing women nursepractitioners, and so it's great
because, while our familymedicine doctor is a man, like
these three women, right there.
So you can always see a woman ifyou want to yeah, that is so
(17:20):
great and and so it's beenreally great.
And then they're so great aboutwhen we're there and I think we
talked about this in the lastepisode, but when they're there,
they always just reschedule mefor the next one, yes, before I
even leave, and it it's just youhave to reschedule me for the
next one.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yes, before I even leave and it it's just.
Even if you have to reschedule,I find that if it's on the
calendar, yes it's easier toreschedule than it is to
remember a hundred percent,Cause then you're always like
has it been a year?
And then before you know it,it's two or three years.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I know, I know, I know, and that's why, yeah,
that's why, like the colonoscopy, things get a little tricky, if
you're not.
I had a little stint where Ihad to do those like every year
and honestly, it was just easierbecause they would just
schedule the next one.
But now I'm not going to everyfive years.
It's like well, good Lord.
So, but yeah, like I think, um,I think that that has been
(18:10):
super helpful for me too,because I will say, I mean it's
a little off topic, but I willjust share this because I know
this has happened to a lot of us.
But I did have to just get amammogram, not my routine one
because I found a spot and I wassuper.
I was super nervous Because,like you said, I mean we're all
(18:31):
nervous about breast health inparticular, because it has been
so well put in our faces andwe're educated about it Right,
and thankfully it was benign andyou know it all got handled
very quickly.
But I'm so glad that I went tomy physical and that my doctor
was like I'm going to get you inthis week, and so it was all I.
(18:53):
So I agree with you, I feellike it's so easy not to go,
it's so easy to lose faith inthe healthcare system when
you've had somebody dismiss you.
Um, if you're one of thosepeople, I see you, I feel you.
That had kind of happened to meand I do a lot of alternative
things, like I have anacupuncturist I see regularly.
(19:14):
I have, um, she I don't knowwhat janet calls herself, but
it's kind of like a type of itsays chiropractic in the name
but she doesn't do anything.
Poppy, poppy, it's really it'sreally it almost feels like a
really light tissue, likemassage type thing, but it is
like help me with like somemajor aches and pains so I have.
(19:36):
I do have so much faith in howmuch that has helped, but I love
that those people are like youstill need to go get your
physical.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
And.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
I was kind of feeling like, yeah, but every time I go
to the doctor I feel dismissedand I was kind of getting in
that place and I'm really gladthat I just kept being
encouraged.
Well then, find somebody youlike.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Right, there are other people Shop around.
Yeah, keep finding someone.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Keep checking around, so just find somebody you're
comfortable with, right?
So okay.
So back to your story, though.
Will you walk us through?
Because you know, I don't knowwhy just every time you talk
about this I just want to bawlmy eyes out, but it was kind of
like this was the year when thiswas my first year working at
Rocky branch and we had justmoved back here from South
(20:23):
Carolina, so I've not seen youin a long time.
I can't, even I can't evenremember, except for just,
probably, kids in life.
We just kind of knew each otherbefore a little bit, right, but
um, but you know, any of y'alllike that work in the same
building as people, especiallyif you're like in a school or, I
know this, among nurses.
There's just such a community,right, and Rocky Branch really
had such a great community ofpeople, definitely.
(20:45):
And so so walk us through,cause I feel like the whole
school was just like red heartseverywhere for Miss Jennifer.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
So it was so sweet and just very supportive.
Yeah, so we just I took off,you know it was Thanksgiving and
so I just had my surgery theday after Thanksgiving and I was
in cardiac ICU for a coupledays.
(21:18):
So one thing I did not realizebefore going into surgery and
I'm glad I didn't.
Looking back I'm like, yeah,I'm glad you didn't tell me
about that when I had my aorticvalve replaced.
I have a little picky valve nowbut I also had to have my aorta
(21:40):
replaced because that is wherethe aneurysm was.
It was an aortic aneurysm, anddid they find that during
surgery?
They found that, right prior toheart surgery, they always do
the final scan.
Okay, and that's what they werelooking for, because most of
the time when you have yourvalve replaced, it's caused you
(22:03):
to have an aneurysm as well.
Oh, okay, because of the backupof blood.
Okay, and so when the aortayour aorta is like the highway
to your body for blood, and so,in order to replace your aorta,
(22:24):
they have to turn off the heartand lung machine, and that is
what's keeping the person that'shaving surgery alive, right,
that is what's keeping theperson that's having surgery
alive, right?
So in order to turn off theheart and lung machine, they
have to kind of take your bodytemperature down to where what?
(22:45):
Okay, I'm really glad I'mlearning this.
Everything is like stopped,because if not, it'll cause you
to have brain damage, right?
So they lower your bodytemperature to.
You know they don't freeze you,but it's.
It's some technical term, Idon't know the technical term of
it, but they lower your bodytemperature to a point where you
(23:06):
won't.
They have like a certain amountof time that they have to get
this done or you will start tohave effects from it.
So when my surgeon was tellingme about it, he was like, yeah,
he was really proud of himselfbecause he got it done in like
12 minutes.
And I was like, so I was likedead for 12 minutes.
(23:29):
You know, he was like, well, Imean, the only thing keeping you
alive was your body was at acertain temperature.
There was not any blood pumpingthrough your body.
Your heart was not pumping,there was unbelievable, isn't
that crazy?
And I'm like, I'm really glad Idid not know that before surgery
, Correct.
So there was that.
(23:49):
And then, prior to surgery,everyone I spoke with said Then,
prior to surgery, everyone Ispoke with said you will not
remember ICU, you will notremember, you know, being in
there.
Oh, I do remember it andunfortunately I woke up
intubated.
I mean, I was, I remember that.
(24:10):
And so when I think back onthat, that was probably the
scariest moment is waking up inICU and being told let the
machine breathe for you.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
How do you do?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
that I know I'm like and I was thinking to myself.
I've been breathing since I'vebeen here on this earth.
You know how am I supposed tolet the machine breathe for you,
right?
Speaker 1 (24:30):
I'm just imagining.
As a yogi who loves practices.
Control breath patterns, howyou just breathe.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, you let the machine breathe for you.
Oh for the love of all things.
So, um that, and then I was atPiedmont in Atlanta.
They were fabulous, so I feltlike I truly was at the best
place at that time.
Um, and just getting up andwalking, and the goal was you
(24:58):
know, um well, I was in, not Ilike just through that day,
until they got on my levels atthe appropriate level.
But yeah, it was, it wasintense.
I mean that was.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
I mean, besides the fact that your heart has
literally had open heart surgery, which is like right and it was
that recovery.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
I mean because I chose to have a tissue valve and
not a mechanical valve, whichmeans that I will have to have
that replaced.
It's like any type of tissue,it will eventually go bad.
But I chose that because Idon't want to be on blood
thinners, and if I chose themechanical valve I would have to
be on blood thinners, and I wasso young, you know, I didn't
(25:42):
want to be on blood thinners.
And if I chose the mechanicalvalve I would have to be on
blood thinners.
And I was so young, you know Ididn't want to.
I was active with my childrenand I didn't want to be paranoid
about, you know, bruising orcutting myself or anything like
that.
So, but now they have.
I mean, the medical technologyhas advanced so much, I will not
(26:04):
.
My cardiologist is telling methat I will not have to have
another open heart surgery.
They will literally I will goin.
It will be outpatient.
Stop right now.
Yes, they will go in, and heexplained it that it's like
almost like a turkey baster.
They could either go through mygroin or through right under my
(26:26):
like, where my armpit is, andthey go in and they feed the new
valve up to where my aorticvalve is and they pop it in
place.
They don't take out the oldvalve, the new valve just fits
right on top and does its job.
Wow, outpatient.
(26:46):
That is unbelievable, isn'tthat crazy?
What a blessing.
So I'm so thankful that I did.
Now, looking back, I'm likegosh I'm so very thankful that I
chose a tissue valve.
Yes, and that was you know.
Again, that was something thatI had to trust my surgeon.
(27:06):
But I also put it back on mysurgeon when he said, you know,
if you thought about if you wanta tissue valve or mechanical
valve, I looked right at him andI said, if I was your wife
right now, what would you tellme to do?
And without hesitation he toldme a tissue valve and I said
then that's what I'll take.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, and I do love.
I do love having like.
That is another thing I willsay is if you show up as
yourself and go with yourquestions and remember that the
person sitting in front of you,while they are very smart
because they're a doctor, youare smart too, and that no one
knows your body like you do, andand if you speak to them like a
(27:49):
person, most doctors are, aregoing to respond to you as a
person, right, and I have.
I have had that experience manytimes and I also and it's also
helped me know the difference.
And when somebody doesn't dothat and I'm like, okay, not you
Right, they're just not theright person.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Right, and that's okay.
Right, because it needs to beshopping around, getting.
Choosing a doctor almost needsto be like dating.
Yes, you know there are goingto be some that work for you and
some that you just need to moveon.
That's right.
And one thing I will say thisis something that I have started
doing, especially since I haveaging parents, and my stepmom
(28:33):
told me about this because mydad has dealt with a lot of
medical issues.
She always asked the doctor isit OK if I record this visit?
And she said she's never hadanyone tell her no, and so I've
started to do that with my mom.
Now is I will just I'll recordthe conversation, because so
often they will tell yousomething and you don't remember
(28:56):
, right, or you just you're,especially if it's something
emotional.
You're not going to remembereverything, and so if you record
it, it's a lot better thantaking notes, because you won't
feel like you missed something,but just ask them, say you know
this is a lot.
Is it okay if I just recordthis?
If you're getting any type ofmedical news, record it.
(29:17):
That way you can replay it.
You know the technical terms,you can go back and take notes,
but I thought that was such agreat piece of information.
Because it is so hard?
First of all, they're usingterminology that we are not
familiar with as patients andand you're emotional on top of
(29:41):
that, so a lot of it's going togo in one ear and out the other.
So if you record the visit,that's a huge benefit too.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Yeah, I think I've.
I love that idea and especiallylike, if you are, you are like
maybe one of some siblings inyour family that is taking
someone to the doctor like aparent.
Then whenever you want to answereverybody else's questions, you
can be like do you want me tojust translate for you, Excuse
(30:10):
me, or do you want me to justsend you the recording?
Yes, Because, yeah, I love thatbecause it's you know, there's
just always so much informationlike Johnny's got two sisters
and said the three of them arealways trying to talk, you know
about things, and I'm sure itjust gets tiring to the person
who's gone to have to repeat itso many times, right?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Well, you're scared you're going to miss something,
or you're scared you're going totranslate something different
in a different fashion.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Yeah, and sometimes I think we need that consensus
with one another.
You know you might wantsomebody else to listen, right,
kind of have a second listen andbe your second set of ears, and
I do think it's a great idea.
There is nothing wrong alsowith just taking someone with
you.
Yes, that is not.
There's nothing wrong with thatIf you need another set of ears
.
One of the things I reallyloved in the breast health
(31:06):
center last week was this womancame in and you could tell she
was just super nervous and veryuneasy and she had brought a
friend and they were soaccommodating and told.
I just heard them like explainokay, during this you can't be
in there because it's this kindof scam, but the minute she
moves to this room you can be inthere.
Where do you want to wait?
I mean, they were more thanaccommodating and I was.
I just like wanted to tell thatwoman I'm like good for you.
(31:28):
Good for bringing somebody,because I've had so many times
where I did need that support,where I had something going on
and I was really glad that I hadJohnny go or my mom go or
whoever went with me.
I mean, my mom went with me whenI had a breast biopsy, I think
it was in 2012.
And I mean you know I was agrown woman, but I loved having
(31:49):
my mom with me.
So I do just want to encouragepeople that, um, to really just
like.
This is not a stage of lifewhere we need to like, should
all over ourselves and be likeyou should do this, you should
do that, or you know.
Just just take a deep breathand really check in and be like
what is right for me in thismoment and like listen to that
(32:10):
and follow your heart and we'vetaken care of our children,
We've taken care of other peoplefor so long that it's really
time to take care of you.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
And you know, in this month of February, make it your
goal If you have not had aphysical recently to get on the
phone right after this episodeand make that phone call.
And if you need arecommendation, the best I mean,
I think, the best way to find adoctor or to find somebody.
(32:41):
I love to get recommendationsfrom other people, Absolutely.
And put a message on Facebook,put a message on Instagram.
You know, in the Oconee area,you know, or whatever area
you're in, I'm looking for aprimary care physician.
If you want a woman, I'mlooking for a woman primary care
physician.
You know, whatever you want,but I love doing that.
(33:03):
I think it's a great way tofind people that are trustworthy
and somebody that you knowyou're going to jive with.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Absolutely.
I think that's a greatsuggestion.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
So make those appointments.
You know your life is soprecious, and the ones that we
have been taking care of all ofthis time.
They want us to take care ofourselves Absolutely, and it's
our time, this is your time, andif you are not in the best
health, there's no time liketoday.
So that's right, go get on thephone and make that appointment.
(33:38):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
Well, we're so glad we get to spend this month
talking to y'all about allthings with your heart, the
heart that loves your kids, theheart that pumps in your body.
And, jennifer, thank you somuch for sharing your story, it
inspires me every time I justseriously I think I could talk
about it all the time.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Well, I'm so glad.
I hope it helps others.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Yeah, it was really powerful just to be in the
building watching you andwatching that transformation and
and turning, like somethingthat was so hard into a
beautiful beginning to the restof your life.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
So thank you so much.
All right, thank you.
We'll see y'all next time.
Y'all go out and have a greatweek.
Bye.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.