Will's Posts

Dear Friends: It's been a while since I last communicated with you…but that's good news for two reasons. First, you aren't bothered by constant e-mails about some other guy's issues…after all you have enough of your own. Second, things have been going well. I saw my cardiologist for my second time since the surgery… eight weeks. He was very pleased with my progress. My blood pressure is under control and my heart rate has stabilized and come down nicely. Consequently, he took me off two medications. So now I am just on two. He said everything sounded good and the echocardiogram looked good. He lifted many restrictions and I can now go to the cabin…elevation 7,000 feet. He encouraged me to keep up my exercise regimen, but said I could discontinue formal cardiac rehabilitation after six weeks. I walk/jog for 40 minutes 6 days a week and weight train 3 days a week. I'm down to 165 lbs. and lost 22 lbs. I feel like I can lose another 3-5 lbs. and tone up more. Right now I feel great except for some soreness and numbness around the incisions. I am going back to work next week by conducting a Seminar in Phoenix. No long trips for now, but they will come with time. So the bottom line is good. I still marvel at my surgeon's skill. AND I miss my dog. I will wait a few more months before looking for another. Thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes. They paid off and I am lucky to have good friends. God Bless. Will R.

One Month Later So it's been a little over a month since my Heart Valve Repair. I am feeling good. No pain just soreness. Surgeon gave me permission for limited driving and started cardiac rehab last week. Herat rate and BP still need meds and still taking blood thinners but hope to get off them at next visit to my cardiologist. The actual repair involved resizing the opening, placing a ring around it and suturing it. Then the leaflets were reshaped and sutured into place. Amazing! Think about all of this being done with minimally invasive surgery and without the aid of any robotics. My surgeon, Dr. Kevin Brady, is a very talented person. Backed off work until March and no travel for a while but feeling good about my repair and life in general. I hope you all have the same outcome. God Bless.

Day 14, Good News, Sad Times Well it has been 14 days since my "mini" mitral valve replacement. I stopped the pain medications two days ago and the pain is very tolerable. The exceptions are when reaching above my head, riding in the car or trying to do any pushing or pulling with my right arm. Even though the mitral valve is in the left ventricle the incisions are made on the right side. Doing some light housework walking twice a day for a mile each and feeling pretty good. Still having a rough time getting a good night's sleep…I just never slept on my back before and can't get comfortable. Saw my cardiologist today for the first time since the surgery. He says everything sounds great and he is very happy with my success. He cut my medications down a bit but I still need to take one for the heart rate. He says that will take care of itself in time. Also,he said, I do not need to take cardio rehab but I think I will just to establish a benchmark on what I should expect of myself. After about 20 minutes we were done and he would see me in six weeks. Next week I see the surgeon and expect to be cleared to drive again after just three weeks. The difficult part for me is that my beloved pet and companion, since my wife died, passed away yesterday from liver disease. She will be missed and there will be an empty spot in my heart. We did everything together. But I am very happy that I proceeded with the repair and life is looking good. I hope your experience is the same. God Bless.