At birth in Dec 1960, as a "blue baby" I was kept in an incubator for a few weeks until I was strong enough to go home. In addition to having Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus, I was born with an ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), all identified at birth. The quarter-sized ASD was repaired at age 5 in 1966.

I've lived a reasonably normal life. I served 22+ years in the US Air Force, married and have 2 adult children. My condition lingered in the background, nearly forgotten until 2001.

A physical near the end of my military career discovered that my heart murmur had returned. I found that I had regurgitation in an atrial valve—all news to me, but was something that had quietly been there all along. When I had the hole repaired in my heart, the valve could not be completely sealed. The AF doctors ran me through a series of tests which included an echocardiogram by a specialist in England near where I was assigned. In the end the doctors (GPs) told me that all was well and that it was pointless to continue asking questions because the things that I was experiencing were "normal for someone like me". Hmmm, talking about being left uneasy. Since this was a pre-existing condition, the military assured me that I could not apply for any disability in my retirement package. I didn't expect any, but I sure felt the cold shoulder. Like a dummy, I didn't follow up and went on with my life as before. I began making my own beer, ate well and gained weight. For the next three years I worked an arduous rotating shift schedule with plenty of performance pressure and stress in my new job.

In 2003 at age 42, I suffered the first of 2 strokes—or more appropriately—infarcts. Fortunately, they were both small enough to have limited permanent damage.

The first stroke left the right side of my face cross-wired. I now feel hot when a cool breeze hits my face. I was put through an exhaustive series of tests at Walter Reed Army Hospital during an 11 day stay. They could not find a cause for the stroke and suggested it may be genetic. I later saw a vascular surgeon but did not receive any significant information that I did not already have. I was put on standard statin and blood pressure meds and cleaned up many things in my life—I put down my beer and sold my brewing equipment. My bicycle became my very good friend.

On 11 Mar 2007, now at age 46, I had my second 'unconfirmed' stroke. I went to the ER with a severe case of double vision and was admitted for possible stroke. After five days of poking, blood drawing, multiple CT scans and MRIs, an echocardiogram with the bubble test, x-rays and neurological evaluations, the doctors at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda MD are at a loss to provide a definite diagnosis as all preliminary tests (clots, thyroid, diabetes, cholesterol, BP, etc) are negative. They pretty much chocked it up to vascular problems resulting from bad genes. My neurologist is still trying to figure this out, but he's running out of ideas.

The Naval doctors tell me to expect the occasional stroke, especially as I age. In addition to the host of meds I take, exercise and clean living is the best I can do to stave off the next stroke. I plan to renew my vows with my bicycle and hit the streets.

Thanks again for the information I found in your website! I would like to talk to others with this condition, if anything, to see how age may or may not be changing things for them.