{"id":39520,"date":"2024-11-13T09:47:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T14:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=39520"},"modified":"2024-11-13T10:57:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T15:57:04","slug":"endocarditis-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2024\/11\/13\/endocarditis-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"David’s Endocarditis Surprise & Weight Loss Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

I just received a great patient story from David Monasterski who is a new member of our community<\/a>.\u00a0 After connecting with David at our YouTube Channel<\/a>, he shared a very insightful story with me about bacterial endocarditis, aortic valve leaflet holes, the importance of second opinions, his weight loss journey and more.<\/p>\n

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\"WeightDavid – Before & After Heart Valve Surgery<\/p>\n

 
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David Says…<\/h2>\n

Here is what David wrote to me:<\/p>\n

Hi Adam, I\u2019m 64 years old now. Two years post aortic valve replacement via open heart surgery. I also had an AtriClip installed for atrial fibrillation<\/a>. For years I suffered from extra atrial beats. It was not a big deal, just made me anxious when it would occur. Here is the other side of my story:<\/p>\n

Back in the summer of 2018, at 57 years of age, I was 321 pounds, had night sweats and leg cramps every night. I knew something was wrong. I went to doctors and found out I have Hemochromatosis – a genetic blood disease that stores excess iron in your organs. My Ferritin level was 4580. Normal Ferritin levels are 0-50. I had a liver biopsy and I had a severe fatty liver along with iron being stored in my liver, and damaging it. I\u2019m a non-drinker and non-smoker. So, I found it strange that my liver was in such bad shape. I was then placed on weekly phlebotomy treatments in which they take out a pint per week. Within 2 years I was down to 170 pounds.<\/p>\n

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\"HealthyDavid’s Low Carb Healthy Eating Chart<\/p>\n

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Fast forward 2 years and I was experiencing blurry vision in one eye, only late at night. On a hunch, I took my blood pressure which was 90\/40. I went to my general practitioner to verify on their blood pressure machine. Same measurement. I then went to a cardiologist who dismissed my low blood pressure because I lost 150 pounds. I knew I had to get a second opinion.
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A Life-Saving Second Opinion!<\/h2>\n

When I went to my second cardiologist… Guess what she found?\u00a0 Yep!\u00a0 A heart murmur. After an echocardiogram and a cardiac catheterization, we found I had a regurgitating bicuspid aortic valve that had a 4 to 5 millimeter hole in it!!!\u00a0 I needed open heart surgery to replace my defective bicuspid aortic valve.<\/p>\n

In April 2022, I had my open heart surgery to replace my valve. I also needed part of my left atrium clipped off to prevent atrial fibrillation. I\u2019ve stayed on a low carb \/ Keto diet throughout the recovery. I immediately lost the 14 pounds that the heart lung machine puts on you. Months later I\u2019m walking, driving, biking, and lifting 10 pound dumbbells. I truly believe that had I not lost 150 pounds through the Keto\/low carb diet I might have not survived open heart surgery.<\/p>\n

I credit my second opinion cardiologist for getting to bottom of my health crisis. I was basically in heart failure. My B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was elevated, but I was not short of breath or retaining water.<\/p>\n

After the surgery, I asked my surgeon, \u201cWas there anything peculiar or outstanding about my operation?\u201d<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cOh yes – you had a 5 millimeter hole in one of the leaflets of your bicuspid aortic valve – due to endocarditis.\u201d<\/p>\n

I asked him: \u201cHow did I ever get endocarditis?\u201d<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cYou might\u2019ve had strep throat in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Bacterial<\/p>\n

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I thought: “Hmmm. I had plenty of sore throats and colds through the years, but nothing stood out.”<\/p>\n

I wonder if you\u2019ve heard of anyone else experiencing the same issues, because it is still a huge mystery to me.<\/p>\n

Thanks for everything you are doing!
\nDave Monasterski<\/p>\n

Related Links:<\/p>\n