A hole in his heart?

Question

I posted a while back, about my.. well now he is my boyfriend :D
But, I was talking about how he has a hole in his heart. He's had this since he was little, and I'd just like some information on it.

He told me that he could get a heart transplant, but refused to do that. Also, that the hole is too close to a mjor artery or nerve to actually 'fill' it.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to learn as much as I can, because it's really hard to know that he might die in a few years.

Answer 1

Well, I don't think you are going to like my answer. Your boyfriend's story has holes in it, but I am not so sure his heart does. Any heart defect in the atrium or ventricle large enough to justify a heart transplant, that existed at birth, would have required the surgery or he would not have grown up at all. There is not such a thing as a septal or ventricular defect that can't be repaired. They use a synthetic patch material to cover the hole, which the heart tissue then grows into and over, and the hole is repaired. There is no such thing as being "too close" to an artery or nerve for the repair to be done.
If your boyfriend truly has a defect which could result in his eminent demise, he should be under the nearly constant care of a cardiologist. He likely should have a large oxygen tank in his vicinity. You should be able to accompany him on a visit to the cardiologist, who can explain in detail the nature of his defect, the possible treatments required or possible, and a glimpse of what the future may hold.
Babies born with heart defects sometimes don't have them repaired, because it is small and eventually closes all on it's own. They are monitored constantly for this, and surgery to repair the hole is done if it doesn't happen, or if they begin to have problems.
I read your previous post, and I have to tell you, this sounds like a great sucker you in line. He has you hooked to start with telling you that you are too good for him, and follows it with the hole in the heart story. You sound like a sweet caring person, and you probably are too good for this guy. I'd be willing to be the hole in his heart has nothing to do with the anatomy of it, and everything to do with hooking an unsuspecting lady. I'd advise a hard look at the story, and giving things a closer look. For starters, ask his mom. If there is really a hole in his heart, she would know more than anyone else except the cardiologist. Look at the lifestyle he leads- because candidates for heart transplants aren't healthy people and they don't look like it either. If things don't seem to add up, then the math is wrong and so is the story. Look hard, cause this story has holes in it, and I bet the heart doesn't.

Answer 2

I agree with "The Mom" on this one. There's no such thing as a septal or valvular defect that is "too close" to a major artery or nerve to correct. In fact, congenital absence of EVERY endocardial cushion (i.e. a gigantic hole in the middle of the heart) can happen, and is still surgically reparable, so I can't imagine what he's talking about.

It sounds like a story he uses to extract pity from others -- so, as The Mom said, check on his condition closely, ask him what the name of his heart defect is, and ask to speak to his cardiologist, because you're obviously concerned about this and it helps to have as much information on it as possible, which I'm sure he won't mind if he cares about you too.

Answer 3

Unfortunately it sounds mysteriously like you boyfriend has a hole in his story rather than in his heart,a "hole in the heart" is not filled it is repaired.Many people are born with septal defects -hole in heart-and the defect closes by itself with time, I would suggest you request an invite the next time you boyfriend visits his doctor to have his condition assessed, he should have no problem allowing you to tag along if the hole is in his heart rather than his story.