Eric's Heart Valve Journal

It is now 3 months today since my mital valve repair and maze procedure. I went to my cardiologist today for an echocardigram which was clean, no regurgitation at all. EKG is totally normal, B/P totally normal with no Afib. Thank God because he took me off Coumadin starting today. Now on Plavix and a tiny dose of Lisinopril only. So I am able to go back to work tommorrow with no restrictions at all. The hospital wouldn't let me back with any kind of restrictions to duty. As for the near syncopal episodes in December, they never happened again so I'm not going to worry. I was able to be out for 3 months and I'm glad I was because this whole saga of pre-op, surgery and recovery takes alot out you. This not something that you can or should rush. As for rehab, the closest place was over an hour away so I used chasing my 3 year old around the house, yard, store, etc as my rehab. He really worked me.

Eric

Southold

Still plugging away and feeling better all the time though I seemed to have had a small set back. I had 3 bouts of near syncopal (diizziness and nearly passing out) episodes over the last 2 weeks. My cardiologist put a 24 hour monitor on, which of course, showed nothing since I didn't feel dizzy while I had it on so now I am wearing an event monitor for the next 30 days. Hopefully, it is nothing but still it is disconcerting. Anyway, I'm cleared by the surgeon to return back to work on 1/23/10 and I am looking forward to that (so is my wife as I am driving her nuts). Anyway enough about me, I want to wish everyone a very wonderful and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We all have so much to be thankful for.

Eric

Southold

I just came back from my follow-up visit with my surgeon, Dr. Adams. They are very happy with my progress to date. My incision is totally clean. Both the NP and the MD could hear no evidence of regurgitation at all. The EKG was a sinus rhythm with no irregular beats. I have had no papitations since my surgery (they also did a MAZE procedure which seems to have worked). I am walking approximately 4 miles per day. They increased the amount that I can lift from 10 lbs to 20 lbs. Conor, my 3 year old, is my cardiac rehab. The doctors said he is probably the best thing for me as he keeps me going. Unfortunately, I still have another 6 weeks before they will clear me to go back to work with no restrictions as they don't consider the sternum completely healed until 12 weeks after surgery. Since I really don't want to go through the surgery again, I will abide by their directions. Meds have shrinking to Lisinopril 2.5 mg daily and Coumadin 7.5 mg daily. If I stay in Normal Sinus rhythm for 6 more weeks, bye-bye to the Coumadin. Since I have cut my fingers twice and it took over an hour to finally stop the bleeding, I won't miss it.

Eric

Southold

A Happy Thanksgiving to all of the Heart Valve Journal patients, caregivers, family and friends. I know we all have alot to be thankful for especially those of us who had successful surgeries.

Eric

Southold