Hello Lee!
I came across your story while I was researching trying to figure out the best surgeon for my impending Aortic valve replacement. I am 39 and have ...Read more
Hello Lee!
I came across your story while I was researching trying to figure out the best surgeon for my impending Aortic valve replacement. I am 39 and have severe regurgitation.
What was your feeling of Dr Castro compared to Dr Slachman? and was it insurance reasons only that you chose to go with Dr Slachman? I am up in Redding, so I will be traveling either way. sigh. Glad I ran across your journal here!
Tammy
It has been awhile since I checked this site. It goes to show you how much life has been "normal" since my heart surgery. I'm 52 now and have no restrictions at all.
I had/have Kaiser who referred me to Dr. Slachman of Dignity Health. His group is the top valve surgery hospital in Sacramento (and apparently a top hospital nationwide). So although I was "stuck" with my HMO, I feel very fortunate now.
However, I did research other surgeons and met with Dr. Luis Castro in the Bay Area. I stayed with Dr. Slachman after Dr. Castro vouched for him.
In fact, my mother-in-law is requiring aortic valve replacement surgery and I recommended Dr. Slachman to her.
I recommend him. He did a full open-hear surgery on me. At the time he had around 30 minimally-invasive surgeries (all successful), but I didn't think that was enough experience at the time. By now, he has probably done a lot more.
I can appreciate what your going through. It is a very tough life-changing situation. If you do end up with Dr. Slachman, I'll be glad to give you my thoughts during your journey.
Hi Lee,
I remembered that you insurance didn\'t do Cardio Rehab so I posted my Cardio Rehab plan on my Journal in case it\'s any use. interestingly, they ...Read more
Hi Lee,
I remembered that you insurance didn\'t do Cardio Rehab so I posted my Cardio Rehab plan on my Journal in case it\'s any use. interestingly, they do not want you to push too hard. 10 minutes warm up, Hit your training target BP for 6 m at a time, lighter work to drop it back down... Then rinse repeat for total time 30-40 min, 10min cool down and then relax....
Hope all is well
Paul R
Good posts on your NSR and Cardio Rehab. I waited 3 months before I started on the weight machines at the gym. I'm purposefully taking rest breaks and staying within my target BP during most of my exercises. I'm not on any Beta Blockers. Just one 81 mg aspirin each day. My resting heart rate has decreased to around 92 bpm versus 96 bpm. I hope it continues to decrease.
The holiday season is upon us. I hope you have a great one!!!
Good news, Lee. I\'m doing well now that A-Fib is gone. Life is lonely without my sweet love, but here I am 2 years later with a new heart valve and a ...Read more
Good news, Lee. I\'m doing well now that A-Fib is gone. Life is lonely without my sweet love, but here I am 2 years later with a new heart valve and a 10 year guarantee. I\'m leaving Canada for a 3 week vacation to visit a good friend in Australia for the holidays and New Year. Need to reboot. All the best to you and yours .
ken
I hope you have a great time in Australia - I wonder if water actually does go down the drain in the opposite direction?
After going through this, I realize it's not the material stuff that is valuable, but the relationships I have in my life. Nobody will replace the love of your life, but judging from your guestbook there are other people who hold you close in their hearts.
Lee sounds like you are doing really well! I am amazed at how far you can walk/run! Please keep posting your milestones and updates! It really helps those ...Read more
Lee sounds like you are doing really well! I am amazed at how far you can walk/run! Please keep posting your milestones and updates! It really helps those of us coming along behind you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes, I'll be more diligent in posting. I remember before surgery how I enjoyed the post-surgery posts from a lot of people. It really gave me encouragement.
Hey Lee,
I so enjoyed reading your journal. Great post! Congrats on designing and executing your rehab plan. You are a true inspiration to the newbies and ...Read more
Hey Lee,
I so enjoyed reading your journal. Great post! Congrats on designing and executing your rehab plan. You are a true inspiration to the newbies and others, as you take charge of your recovery! So very impressive!
Great to hear you are doing so well! The best to you & your family!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Connie T
Thanks for your continued encouragement and enthusiasm. I'm happy that you are keeping your positive attitude. Don't go too crazy at Honda's gym though! Perhaps you can find a treadmill or stationary bike that can measure your heart rate.
I also have a little leak that my cardiologist and surgeon are OK with. So I'm OK with it (although no leak would have been better). I feel much better now compared to before the surgery. I'm able to breath deeply and I don't have weird angina-like pains in the chest.
I hope your eyesight in your right eye improves. Besides your sternum aches and pains, it's a reminder of what you've been through.
Great post Lee. So glad to hear you are doing well! I just noticed your 6-month goal below. Pretty impressive. I am aiming for a half marathon at the 1 year ...Read more
Great post Lee. So glad to hear you are doing well! I just noticed your 6-month goal below. Pretty impressive. I am aiming for a half marathon at the 1 year mark, but given I have never run more than 6 miles at a time, this would be a milestone for me. If we ever get back to the Bay Area, maybe we can plan a race together.
Best of luck on your continued recovery. Take care!
-Thomas Hunt
Nice to hear from you. There is a Rock-n-Roll half marathon in SF I'm aiming for in Apr 2013. That's about 8 months after my OHS so that should be enough time. My strategy is to run with scheduled walk breaks. This keeps my heart rate well within the 70 to 85% of my maximum recommended heart rate.
I found another article from a different source about the effects of running. I guess don't overdue it!!! See below:
I'm going to continue running, but I'm going to be sensible. For me diet makes a bigger impact on my health (less meat and processed carbs and more veggies and fruit). Whole body exercising with dumbbells and machines will also be part of my routine.
I'm glad you are doing well!!! It would be great to race together either in the Bay Area or in Dallas.
That\'s funny about the lobster thoughts....but it reminds me that you can\'t have lobster anymore unless you want to add a gout flare-up! Glad to hear about ...Read more
That\'s funny about the lobster thoughts....but it reminds me that you can\'t have lobster anymore unless you want to add a gout flare-up! Glad to hear about all of your progress. You exercise more than I do, so I should be inspired by that to go to the gym! Speaking of the gym, we got guest memberships, so you can visit when you are here (it\'s a really cool gym)! When will you be well enough to travel? Love, your sister
Yup. No gout for me that's for sure. Too bad we aren't coming to MI for the holidays. Looks like next year for sure.
My days are relatively normal. I don't get tired as fast anymore so I can travel without any restrictions. It will be interesting to see if I can go thru the airport metal detectors without any problems. LOL.
Great to know you are doing well, Lee. It\'s true the mental thing is a factor. We tend to visualize potential problems and dwell upon them. I\'ve done ...Read more
Great to know you are doing well, Lee. It\'s true the mental thing is a factor. We tend to visualize potential problems and dwell upon them. I\'ve done the same thing with A-Fib.
Keep the good work.
Ken Curry
Yes, I'm trying to get out of my way mentally and let my body heal and recover naturally. I've hit a plateau fitness-wise, so I'm going to push myself a little harder in December. I don't want to lose all the hard work I've done.
I hope you get your A-Fib under control or easily managed. It sounds like you are on top of it. Just remember you are better off after the surgery. Can you imagine if you were still waiting for it or if you delayed it?
Feels good to be out walking and running. I'm fortunate to have a pathway near my house. Lots of other people use it, especially in the early mornings.
Just this past weekend my wife and our sister-in-law did a relay in a half marathon - Sacramento's Urban Cow Half Marathon. I waited at the halfway point to see the "hand-off". It sure was motivating to see all these people with determined looks on their faces!!
My goal is to run in a half marathon next Feb 2013. That would be 6 months after my OHS.
Hi Lee,
You have been quiet for a while, how is your self driven rehab going, well I hope and not reverting to the refrigerator shuffle :-)
In the UK we are ...Read more
Hi Lee,
You have been quiet for a while, how is your self driven rehab going, well I hope and not reverting to the refrigerator shuffle :-)
In the UK we are lucky as the surgery and rehab are funded through our National Health Service. It really is a good system.
Trust no news has been good news
Cheers
Paul R
Yup - no news is good news. Sorry about that. I'll post more often. My recovery plods along slowly, but still moving forward.
I'm doing much more walking everyday. I alternate between a "high-mileage" day and an easy day. So I'm up to 3.5 mi (5.6 km) on the "high-mileage" day at a fast walk. Heart rate is about 118 BPM. So heart wise, I'm OK, but my little legs can only walk so fast before I have to start running!!!
I have a heart rate monitor from Garmin. It also measures distance via satellite. Gotta keep my heart rate between 130 to 145 BPM which is 70 - 80% of my max for my age. So far so good.
Initially concerned that my HMO doesn't have a rehab except for the very worst patients (heart attack patients). However, since I'm progressing OK, not too worried now.
Hope you found some good answers on SCUBA. I wouldn't think that after you are recovered there will be any issues (especially if your AFIB is resolved.)
I am from: Roseville, California
It has been awhile since I checked this site. It goes to show you how much life has been " ... Read more
It has been awhile since I checked this site. It goes to show you how much life has been "normal" since my heart surgery. I'm 52 now and have no restrictions at all.
I had/have Kaiser who referred me to Dr. Slachman of Dignity Health. His group is the top valve surgery hospital in Sacramento (and apparently a top hospital nationwide). So although I was "stuck" with my HMO, I feel very fortunate now.
However, I did research other surgeons and met with Dr. Luis Castro in the Bay Area. I stayed with Dr. Slachman after Dr. Castro vouched for him.
In fact, my mother-in-law is requiring aortic valve replacement surgery and I recommended Dr. Slachman to her.
I recommend him. He did a full open-hear surgery on me. At the time he had around 30 minimally-invasive surgeries (all successful), but I didn't think that was enough experience at the time. By now, he has probably done a lot more.
I can appreciate what your going through. It is a very tough life-changing situation. If you do end up with Dr. Slachman, I'll be glad to give you my thoughts during your journey.
Regards,
Lee