Adam's Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Dear Robin:

It’s funny. We practically have the same birthdays. I was born on July 21, 1952. I came that close to meeting you when I was on tour with Yanni in 1995 in Florida. We were at the same hotel. Anyway, I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardio Myopathy a few years ago. My brother also has it. It is hereditary. About two years ago I was deteriorating quickly with some congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema which means I couldn’t walk up the stairs without passing out. My mitral valve was regurgitating blood into my left ventricle. Luckily I was cured without surgergy. I had what was called Obrstructive Hypertrophic Cardio Myopathy. My mitral valvle wasn’t functioning correctly. I am a professional in the music business so this really put a cramp in my style if you know what I mean. I elected to have a very revolutionary procedure called an alcohol septal ablation. They did an angiogram and when they got to my coronary arteries (and found they were clean), they injected pure alcohol (ouch) into my coronary arteries into my septum. This caused what is called a myocardial infarction aka: heart attack. I was awake, until they injected the alcohol then….I felt as if both arms were being pulled out of their sockets. Is that what a heart attack feels like. Then came the morphine. It was pain + morphine. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Anyway to make a long story short. The alcohol caused a small area of my heart to “die”, thus relieving the obstruction. My pressure gradient was 175 before the procedure. After the procedure it was 45 (not blood pressure, but gradient). when I got out of the hospital it stayed around 45-75 and has stayed there since. I don’t need a pacemaker. (One of the dangers of this procedure). I am now a different person. I have gone back to playing violin, I have so much energy. I got my appetite back and I am so thankful to be alive. I only hope that you will have the same success in your procedure. I felt as if I had been born again. It’s a wonderful feeling and although some things have changed in my lifestyle, I’m so thankful to be here. God bless you.

Jonathan

Hi Adam,
Tues. will be my 5 week anniversary for MV and tricuspid valve repair. I’ve been feeling just a bit of depression creeping in here & there in the mornings … I LOVE Robin Williams & wish him the BEST for his surgery!! But today I thank you for posting this video as I needed a good laugh & even if my sternum hurt while laughing … my mind feels better for it !
My husband set up cardio rehab for me BEFORE my surgery & I went to orientation last week & begin tomorrow (Monday). I am so thankful for your book … I am so much better off for having it!! Many, many thanks to you for the time you devote to helping us “valve” people have more knowledge & therefore deal better with all situations that arise.
The blog too was so helpful for me! I gained 40+ pounds of fluid … I’d just read on the blog about that sort of thing literally days before I left for NY. ALSO just after that someone wrote about optical migraine after surgery. I got that EVERYDAY for almost 3 weeks after surgery! I have had migraine for 30 yrs. but… I would have thought “OH my GOSH, WHAT have I done???” if not for having read about it on the blog … again just days before my trip to NY!