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Wow.
One year ago to the minute that I’m writing this, I was on a heart/lung machine with Dr. Rastagar slicing my septum.
I’m sure the first question this board has is “how am I doing?”
I would give the results an A-.
I have 10 times the energy I had pre-op. Although I still can get short of breath, it is not the multiple times a day that it once was. I no longer have days where getting off the couch is nearly impossible.
I still get some HCM symptoms, but they are rare. For instance the last major outbreak was the night of Thanksgiving. Of course, I had just had a heavy meal, a 7PM cup of coffee, 2-3 glasses of wine and little H2O.
So if I’m careful, I have no symptoms.
The only thing that’s different between now, and before my HCM symptoms first began to appear 3 years ago, is that I do not have an abundance of energy. I can walk, walk, walk, and walk some more, but I can’t run. I tried riding a bicycle on vacation two months ago, and I had problems.
I’ve gained back all the weight I lost from the operation, and I blame my inability in do moderate to strong exercise. With spring nearby, I’m going to try building up my exercise slowly, so we will see how it goes.
The impression I received from the board during my recovery was that I had it tougher then the average Myectomy. Especially if you compare it to Stuart’s Myectomy from Heaven. But the funny thing is that it was much easier then I expected it to be, which tells you a lot about my state of mind pre-op.
My biggest fears before the surgery were:
1- The possibility of death. Ok, I knew that the odds were highly unlikely, however it still was probably the most dangerous thing that I have ever done (and that includes riding motorcycle through 5 New York City Winters).
2- The ventilator tubes. This actually turned out as bad as I expected it to be. However, a lot of patients do not even remember this part. I do, it sucked, but it only was for a few hours.
3- The foley. This actually was a breeze. No pain, no discomfort.
4- The drainage tubes. 20/20 hindsite says that this should have been my number one concern because it was a terrible experience that should not have happened. Very painful, but nothing that a morphine drip (which I eventually got) couldn’t handle.
There is no way to tell when these tubes come out, but they get progressively more painful as they stay in. Anyone contemplating this surgery should clarify your desire for the morphine before they start the surgery.
Otherwise, the hospital stay, and my recovery at home were what I expected. My first two weeks back at work were part time, but 10 weeks post-op, I was chasing two kids through Disney World. The brain fog from the heart/lung machine was over after 3 months.
Although lately on these boards there has been some positive feedback concerning Alcohol Ablations, I have never regretted my decision for surgery, because I have a better and more detailed prognosis for the future, then if I was one year out from an Ablation. Sure it was a tough few weeks, but I have peace of mind that an under 50 year old ablation patient wouldn’t have.
Thanks go out to these boards, but especially to:
• Lisa, a truly amazing, intelligent person.
• Doug, the first Myectomy at NEMC. He had similar fears before his surgery that I had, and helped take the edge off of mine.
• Pam, who explained how tough it is to wear a bra after a myectomy despite my having no need for that information.
• Marty Maron, a smart, caring Doctor.
• Dr. Rastagar, who took his natural skills at cardio-thoracic surgery, and became one of the best in the world at a Myectomy. He probably does 50 bypasses for every Myectomy, but I think he really enjoys the challenges of the Myecomy.
• Stuart, who actually listened to my ravings last June and despite them, got himself a Myectomy anyway.
• Jim who made me laugh so many times before and after my surgery (and before and after his surgery). Remember, you owe me a %#^&$&^ happy dance!
I hope to see everyone in June.
One year ago to the minute that I’m writing this, I was on a heart/lung machine with Dr. Rastagar slicing my septum.
I’m sure the first question this board has is “how am I doing?”
I would give the results an A-.
I have 10 times the energy I had pre-op. Although I still can get short of breath, it is not the multiple times a day that it once was. I no longer have days where getting off the couch is nearly impossible.
I still get some HCM symptoms, but they are rare. For instance the last major outbreak was the night of Thanksgiving. Of course, I had just had a heavy meal, a 7PM cup of coffee, 2-3 glasses of wine and little H2O.
So if I’m careful, I have no symptoms.
The only thing that’s different between now, and before my HCM symptoms first began to appear 3 years ago, is that I do not have an abundance of energy. I can walk, walk, walk, and walk some more, but I can’t run. I tried riding a bicycle on vacation two months ago, and I had problems.
I’ve gained back all the weight I lost from the operation, and I blame my inability in do moderate to strong exercise. With spring nearby, I’m going to try building up my exercise slowly, so we will see how it goes.
The impression I received from the board during my recovery was that I had it tougher then the average Myectomy. Especially if you compare it to Stuart’s Myectomy from Heaven. But the funny thing is that it was much easier then I expected it to be, which tells you a lot about my state of mind pre-op.
My biggest fears before the surgery were:
1- The possibility of death. Ok, I knew that the odds were highly unlikely, however it still was probably the most dangerous thing that I have ever done (and that includes riding motorcycle through 5 New York City Winters).
2- The ventilator tubes. This actually turned out as bad as I expected it to be. However, a lot of patients do not even remember this part. I do, it sucked, but it only was for a few hours.
3- The foley. This actually was a breeze. No pain, no discomfort.
4- The drainage tubes. 20/20 hindsite says that this should have been my number one concern because it was a terrible experience that should not have happened. Very painful, but nothing that a morphine drip (which I eventually got) couldn’t handle.
There is no way to tell when these tubes come out, but they get progressively more painful as they stay in. Anyone contemplating this surgery should clarify your desire for the morphine before they start the surgery.
Otherwise, the hospital stay, and my recovery at home were what I expected. My first two weeks back at work were part time, but 10 weeks post-op, I was chasing two kids through Disney World. The brain fog from the heart/lung machine was over after 3 months.
Although lately on these boards there has been some positive feedback concerning Alcohol Ablations, I have never regretted my decision for surgery, because I have a better and more detailed prognosis for the future, then if I was one year out from an Ablation. Sure it was a tough few weeks, but I have peace of mind that an under 50 year old ablation patient wouldn’t have.
Thanks go out to these boards, but especially to:
• Lisa, a truly amazing, intelligent person.
• Doug, the first Myectomy at NEMC. He had similar fears before his surgery that I had, and helped take the edge off of mine.
• Pam, who explained how tough it is to wear a bra after a myectomy despite my having no need for that information.
• Marty Maron, a smart, caring Doctor.
• Dr. Rastagar, who took his natural skills at cardio-thoracic surgery, and became one of the best in the world at a Myectomy. He probably does 50 bypasses for every Myectomy, but I think he really enjoys the challenges of the Myecomy.
• Stuart, who actually listened to my ravings last June and despite them, got himself a Myectomy anyway.
• Jim who made me laugh so many times before and after my surgery (and before and after his surgery). Remember, you owe me a %#^&$&^ happy dance!
I hope to see everyone in June.
)
.. yes I had to mention it again. Hey maybe I should invent a uni-bra for men and women for post myectomy , one that the hugging pillow could slip into.. oh I digress.
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