James D's Posts

My mitral valve repair surgery was two years ago today. I rarely think of it any more, it seems so far behind me. I am doing great. I'm in excellent physical shape and my heart is humming along beautifully. I had my annual physical last month where I had to remind my physician that I'd even had the surgery after he listened to my heart and moved right on to the next thing. He went back and listened again, announcing that I had a slight murmur— a result of the tiny leak that's still there. And that's fine; everyone knew and expected that. I saw my cardiologist last summer. He told me I was doing extraordinarily well and didn't need a routine checkup for another 18 months. The only thing that reminds me I've had the surgery is an occasional jolt of pain from the sternotomy. I'd been told this could happen for a while, though it has gotten much less frequent. It's not bad and doesn't last long, so I can easily live with it. One other thing is dreams. There were the bizarre drug-induced dreams which went away as soon as I stopped taking Percocet. Then there are the more persistent and bothersome dreams that I've learned often follow surgery. These, too, have grown less frequent, though the basic themes are remarkably consistent. I expect these will dissipate down to nothing over time. I am glad I had this surgery. My heart is in much better shape now and should stay that way for the rest of my life. I hope everyone facing it comes through as well as I have. Good luck. - Jim

I celebrated my one-year anniversary with a vigorous gym workout in the afternoon and some good wine in the evening. Throughout the day I'd flash back to what was happening at that time a year ago. It hardly seems real now—more like a strange dream. I really haven't thought about the whole experience for months other than realizing I am so much better physically now. The sternotomy scar is barely visible. While I was in pretty good shape before the surgery, I am in even better shape now that my heart is functioning more efficiently and I am not constantly conscious of it. I am thankful that it went so well. Based on my own experience, I'd say to anyone facing this surgery that you get through it, that you get better, and that it is well worth it. Your own attitude is a huge factor. There will be pain and discomfort, and it'll take a while to get back to 100%, but having faith in yourself and your ability to recover is a big part of the process. - Jim

I have to remind myself that I had open-heart surgery six months ago. I am not the first to say this, but it's remarkable how well we can heal and the memory of such a trauma can fade. I had a mitral valve repair with a sternotomy in January, 2011. I recently saw my cardiologist for a six-month followup visit, who—after listening to my heart, reviewing my echocardiogram, and checking blood pressure and EKG—pronounced that I was doing remarkably well and he was thoroughly pleased with my recovery and heart function. He said he doesn't need to see me again for a year. We'll keep to that annual visit unless there's some reason otherwise. I saw my surgeon at the end of April. He, too, said I was doing great, had recovered remarkably well, was in excellent shape, and he didn't need to see me again. I feel good. I am walking, biking, swimming, working out at the gym, doing yard work, and staying as physically active as I can. All of this without any need to pause and let my heart catch up in the midst of strenuous activity. I did not even realize how much that was happening before the surgery, it creeps up so slowly. I've been spending time at the beach this summer. Friends who were following my surgery and recovery last January in the dead of winter see me and they, too, forget I had heart surgery. I am active and, what's really amazing, the sternotomy scar down the center of my chest is barely visible. You have to really look to see it. The surgeon and his team at Mass General did a great job. My mitral valve still has a slight leak. Both the surgeon and my cardiologist say this is not unusual, in fact they expected it. The leak is so minor it doesn't affect my activity and they say it should not worsen over time. If that's so, I am fine with it. I still get some pain in my sternum if I exercise my chest really hard (like a bench press). They tell me the sternum is mostly healed but will not be fully so until about a year post-surgery. In the meantime I can do what I want but am supposed to be mindful of not overdoing any activity that pulls at it, which is just about any chest exercise. There's also the issue of sudden shock. Early in June I was surf fishing from a beach on an unusually hot day. I got so warm (and wasn't catching anything) that I dove in. While the air was unseasonably warm, the Atlantic was its usual early-summer, frigid self. The jolt of pain at the center of my chest literally took my breath away. For an instant I thought I had damaged it all over again, then realized it was just the sudden change in temperature. I'll probably be dealing with this kind of thing for while. Looking back, I am glad I had the surgery and—despite inconveniences of New England winter—glad I did it in January so I'd be fully healed by summer. If what my surgeon and cardiologist tell me is correct, I should not have to deal with this mitral valve problem again. That's great news. - Jim