Mark's Posts

Hello to all, Has it been three months already? Seemed like the surgery would never arrive, and now it seems so long ago. My three month check up went well. My surgery was May 5 at CC for AVR, aorta root repair and a myectomy with a median sternotomy. My bovine vlave continues to perform very well. Post op, and through my 8 week check up I was experiencing moderate mitral valve regurgitation as a result of the physiological changes to my heart. As of today, that has improved to mild regurgitation and is no longer a concern. My cardiologist feels it will continue to improve, but is not a concern with the current measurements. I was very pleased to get that result. All in all it went well, and I do not have another echo for a year. It will be so very nice not to see a cardiologist for one full year!! As I look back it was an easier last three months than I could have imagined. I went to CC in early May expecting a minimally invasive procedure. My tests and needs indicated otherwise, and I was not happy about the sternotomy, but it was required for safety. It simply was not that bad. I had great care, a great facility and a wonderful family to help me through it all. I was probably back to 100% at 10 weeks, and am certainly there at 13 weeks. HVJ has been a wonderful resource for me, and I will continue to contribute where I can. If you are reading this as you prepare for your own surgery; relax, be positive and be prepared... if you do you will be jsut fine.. Best regards, Mark Keller, TX

Hello to all, Well this past Wed was 9 weeks post op for me. I would say at this point I am back to almost 100% and doing very well. I did finally make it back on the golf course this week, and felt nothing out of the ordinary from my sternotomy, and enjoyed 27 holes my first round. Back out this weekend. I have been back at work full time for four weeks now, and during the first couple of weeks I could tell at the end of the day I was tired, but that has improved as my body adjusted. A lot of travel during the first few weeks back, but no problems with that. it has cut into my walking, but still managing to get in four walks of 3+ miles per walk each week, added a little bit of running into the mix this week with no problems. The next few weeks will be busy as my son's 14U baseball team will have a heavy tournament summer schedule, so the days will be long and games into the evening, but I love watching him play baseball. (That is what I am doing in my profile pic) All in all I have been tremendously blessed. My surgery went well, my recovery has been extremely good. I will have a three month check up on 8/11, and hope to find the post op mitral regurgitation has improved with the left ventricle adjusting to the changes. The only thing I notice that is different is that at times I am aware of the sensation of my heart beating more than I was before the surgery. It is not racing or skipping, I just sense the feeling in my chest more than I did before. I received a Bovine valve, so no clicking, just aware of the heart beating which feels strong to me. My pulse and BP are text book normal and still on beta blockers for the time being, but that is my only med at this point. For everyone in recovery I pray yours will continue to progress, and for our friends awaiting surgery I pray you will be confident as your get prepared that everything will go fine for you. It is truly amazing what these doctors and nusrses can do to make sure you are up and running around again quickly. Best wishes, Mark Keller, TX

Greetings from Omaha, Ihope everyone continues to do well as you are in recovery and/or preparing for surgery. I enjoyed my 6 week anniversary of my AVR suregery on Wed, and also started back to work full time this week; as well as driving. With having had a median sternotomy I had to wait a full six weeks, although I did make a couple of short runs to the grocery store. This weekend I am in Omaha to enjoy some of the College World Series. Two of my favorite teams FSU (my duaghters alma mater) and TCU (my local Ft Worth school) kick it all off at 1 pm tomorrow. UCLA's team is staying at my hotel in Omaha and it should be a great weekend. All in all I have been very fortunate. My recovery is almost complete. For the most part I am doing everything I want, except playing golf which is still two weeks away, and excercising at levels I had not attempted in a decade. Do know as you are preparing to go through this, or working through recovery, there is a payoff on the other side of all of this - you get your health back and get to enjoy life more fully.. Stay positive and focus on the other side of all this and you will get there.. Well I am off to Rosenblatt's Stadium to watch batting practice wering a TCU hat and an FSU shirt. I hope everyone enjoys the weekend as much as I am going to.. Mark Keller, TX