Dextrblahblahblah though? It's the condition that I was born with. I'll explain just now but I was sitting last night with sinus up to my ears and a cough that's acting like a possessive boyfriend! Identity issues much? Actually? This very moment? I'm still suffering in sinus. Uuurgh!
So I remembered reading many years ago-----something about hayfever being linked to this condition. So I googled it. Google is ya friend! I am a googler, omg! And I'm proud to say that my memory? It still works.
Here's what I copied off of the site I found;
What Is Dextrocardia?
Dextrocardia is a rare condition in which, instead of being in the left side of your chest, your heart is located in the right side. Dextrocardia is congenital, meaning that you are born with this abnormality. Less than one percent of the general population is born with dextrocardia, according to the Texas Heart Institute Journal (Yusuf et al., 2009).
You may have dextrocardia and have a completely healthy heart. (THAT'S ME, BY THE WAY). This is called "isolated dextrocardia." People with isolated dextrocardia are sometimes affected by a condition called "situs inversus." Situs inversus is a situation in which your liver, spleen, or other organs are also located on the opposite side of your body.
Some people with dextrocardia suffer from other heart and organ problems related to their unique anatomy. (THISSSSSS???? NOT ME!). Surgery may be required to correct complications with the lungs, heart, or digestive system in these cases.
Causes of Dextrocardia. (I ALWAYS FIGURED THAT MY MUM AND DAD WERE HANGING UPSI----nevermind)
The cause of dextrocardia is unknown. The heart may form in the right side of the chest during fetal development and function normally. This is usually the case when the heart is a "mirror image" of a normal heart. In other words, the heart's ventricles, arteries, and other structures are all arranged in a mirror image of normal heart structures.
Sometimes, the heart develops on the opposite side of the body because other anatomical problems exist. Defects in the lungs, abdomen, or chest can cause the heart to develop on the right side of the body. You are more likely to have other heart defects and problems with other vital organs in this case. Multi-organ defects are referred to as "heterotaxy syndrome."
Symptoms of Dextrocardia.
Isolated dextrocardia usually causes no symptoms. (CLEARLY SINCE I WAS DIAGNOSED AT 5YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING RIDICULOUS! I WON'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW THEY MISSED THIS WHEN THEY WERE CHECKING ME OUT AFTER BIRTH) The condition is usually found when an X-ray (YUP! THAT'S HOW IT WENT DOWN) r magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest shows the location of the heart on the right side of the chest.
However, some people with isolated dextrocardia have an increased risk of lung infections, sinus infections, or pneumonia. (HERE WE GO! SO THIS COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING. I'll BE SNIFFING FOR LIFE-WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!-----------THAT-THAT WAS MY NOSTRILS! I'M TOO CLOGGED UP TO CRY RIGHT NOW.). According to the National Institutes of Health, reduced function of the cilia in the lungs can accompany isolated dextrocardia (NIH, 2012). Cilia are very fine hairs that filter the air you breathe. When the cilia are unable to filter out all viruses and germs, you may get sick more often.
Dextrocardia that affects heart function can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
breathing difficulties
blue lips and skin
fatigue
failure to thrive in children
These symptoms are consistent with defects in the ventricles of the heart. Lack of oxygen reaching the heart can make you tired and prevent you from growing normally. Abnormalities that affect the liver can cause jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Some children with dextrocardia also have holes in the septum of the heart. The septum is the divider between the left and right heart chambers. Septal defects can cause problems in the electrical system of the heart, and the heart rhythm can become irregular.
Some babies with dextrocardia are also born without a spleen. The spleen is a major part of the immune system. Without a spleen, there is a higher risk of developing infections throughout the body.
Treating Dextrocardia
Dextrocardia must be treated if the abnormality prevents vital organs from functioning properly. Pacemakers and surgery to repair septal defects can help the heart work normally.
Antibiotic medications will be prescribed to prevent infection if the spleen is missing or not working properly. Long-term antibiotics may be used to fight off respiratory illness. Although medications reduce the risk of infection, individuals with dextrocardia may still suffer from more infections than the average person.
You will also be watched for abdominal obstruction. Abdominal obstruction, also called bowel or intestinal obstruction, prevents waste from exiting the body. The placement of your heart on the right side of the body makes blockages in your digestive system more likely. This is because dextrocardia can sometimes result in a condition called intestinal malrotation, in which the gut does not correctly develop.
Intestinal obstruction is dangerous, and can be fatal if left untreated. Surgery is required to correct obstructions.
Long-Term Outlook
People with isolated dextrocardia are likely to live a normal life. Those with more complicated cases may face health problems throughout their lives. Even with surgical repair of heart defects, frequent illness is to be expected. Males with cilia problems may be infertile due to the resulting decreased ability of the sperm cells to propel themselves forward and fertilize the female egg cell.
WHAT I DID REALIZE EARLIER ON? WASN'T THAT THIS WAS SO RARE. I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS PART OF A 1% OF THE POPULATION OF ANYTHING. MORESO, I REALIZED THAT SHOULD I NEED AN ORGAN? ITS GONNA BE LIKE FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAY STACK. -_- NOT. COOL. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE VALVES AND THINGY'S BEING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO THE 99% OF THE POPULATION.
THE ONLY REASON I'M TYPING IN CAPS IS BECAUSE I WANNA DIFFERENTIATE MY TYPING FROM THE COPIED PIECE.
SO I'D REGISTERED AS AN ORGAN DONOR A FEW YEARS BACK JUST IN CASE ONE OF MY FELLOW DEXTROCARDIANS MIGHT NEED SOMETHING THAT I WASN'T USING ANYMORE.
THIS CONDITION? THE TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN IN HOSPITAL? MAN, THAT WAS FUN. AT MY LAST HOSPITAL STAY, WATCHING THE NURSE AT THE ULTRASOUND?!? THAT WAS HILARIOUS, CAUSE SHE TRIED TO MAKE OUT LIKE THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM AFTER SHE KEPT ASKING ME IF I HAD OPERATIONS BEFORE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! YOU KNOW ME! I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I ASKED HER, YOU CAN'T FIND SOME OF MY ORGANS? AND SHE WAS LIKE, "NO-NO...LEMME-LEMME JUST CALL THE OTHER NURSE!"
UNTIL I TOLD THEM THAT MY ORGANS ARE NOT WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING-----ITS ON THE OTHER SIDE HAHAHAHAAAHAHHAHA!!!! THE RELIEF!!! PRICELESS! AFTER THAT? I BECAME A SPECIMEN. "PLEASE DON'T MIND US, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A PATIENT WITH THIS CONDITION!" I WAS STAYING IN FOR A CYST OP, NOT LIKE I WAS GOING ANYWHERE SO I LET 'M KNOCK THEMSELVES OUT!
SAME THING WHEN I WENT TO HAVE THE CYST REMOVED FROM MY BREAST? AT THE X-RAY? "CAN I-WAIT? CAN I DO THESE AGAIN? SOMETHING LOOKS------I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!"
SO I WAIT AND I HEAR HER SAYING TO THE OTHER NURSE WHILE SHE'S WAITING FOR THE REST OF THE X-RAYS TO PRINT, "THIS IS SO EXCITING! I'VE NEVER HAD ONE BEFORE!"
HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAA!
ANNNNNNNNNYHOO! I GOTTA GO AND LAY DOWN NOW, I'VE TAKEN TONS OF MEDS TODAY HOPING THAT MY SINUS COULD SETTLE DOWN.....NOTHING!
>_<! INCOMPETENT CILIA!
Ramble Responsibly!
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