Ben's Guestbook

Ben Hyman  Hello Valerie:

Just found yout note this morning. Since my last entry, my Orthostatic Hypotension has mostly subsided. Part of my problem was that I wasn't drinking enough water. I started upping my fluid intake to at least 2 liters per day. My heart was still healing and was not increasing my HR to compensate for the drop in blood pressure upon standing. My heart may have overcome that hurdle as well. The lessons learned and my advice to you is , make sure you are well hydrated during the healing process by drinking at least 2 liters of water per day (the equivalent of 2 large plastic soda bottles) and let the healing process take its course. With regards to my stroke, that's still a mystery. The universal consensus is that the valve tbrew a clot. There is no evidence of another clot but there is no way to be sure. I'll be pn blood thinners as a precaution for at least 6 months, possibly longer and then lifetime Aspirin therapy. If you're put on Coumadin, make sure you take it exactly as prescribed and for as long as necessary. You do mot want to have the same experience that I had. They may have pulled me off blood thinners too soon. Fortunately I made a full tecovery. I was back to work the following Monday.

Hope this helps

Ben

Ben Hyman  Thank you Kathy! I'm pretty much back to "normal" (whatever that means) Physically I feel fine wih no perceptible neurogical deficits. It could have been much worse. I could be in a wheel chair or worse. I'm now back on Warfarin and also taking Lovenox until my INR gets to therapeutic levels. This type of thing forever changes you. Hopefully I can move on and get back to a normal healthy life

Lise Bowles  Ben, I have been following you and your healing and workouts for a bit of time. I heard from Amy that she had had a stroke and then found out the next day you had too! I am so sorry and I was just thinking, do you think working out with the kettle bells could have caused the strain to loosen the clot? I have had terrible problems with pericarditus and I recently read and checked with my doc that exercise can trigger the pericarditus. I have since slowed down and I am on meds for it and my exercise routine is riding the stationary bike for 45 minutes with a couple more light reps on machines. I feel better for now, Amy asked her doc and he didn't feel it could cause a stroke, did you Ask your doc?
Also do you have to take 81 mg of aspirin a day? I have been since my surgery, but after reading about the micro bleeds I am definitely going to check with my doc again!
Hope you are feeling much better, Lise

Ben Hyman  Hi Lise;

I haven't touched a Kettlebell since my surgery. I've lost quite a bit of weight since surgery and then the stroke, much of it the muscle I gained from Kettlebell. Still not sure where the clot came from. My significant other reminded me that I have sugnificant sleep apnea which is a known cause of stroke and heart issues. Looks like I'll be doing a sleep study. I have appts scheduled with a neurologist, cardiologist and my internist in the coming weeks. Hopefully I'll get some answers soon

Kathy Blank  Ben- Thinking of you especially as you continue on your journey to full healing! I know all these complications can be life changing but your body and medical advances will keep you in good health!!!

Matt Sheffield  Ben, I'm new to the site. I just read up on your recent ordeal, sorry to hear about all you've gone through over the past few days, but I so glad your doing better.

Matt Sheffield  Ben, I'm new to the site. I just read up on your recent ordeal, sorry to hear about all you've gone through over the past few days, but I so glad your doing better.

duane butterfield  Ben I haven't been in contact for awhile. I am doing great physically but had a bought with depression I been taking depression meds for sometime and they have did wonders 10 days ago had appt with family doctor and she upped meds , The last couple of days have been great. I feel like doing things again putting in big garden and playing golf. Told my daughters I just couldn't force myself to play After the meds started working I consider myself completely healed. Praise God.
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Ben Hyman  Hello Duane. I live in Minneapolis. Today is the 2 week anniversary of my surgery. I'm taking 4 weeks off from work. For me, the pain levels from the 3" Thoracotomy are higher than I expected. Drs Dearani and Maltaise were my surgeons and they are excellent. My only regret is not looking into Minimally invasive. Another person on this site had that done at Mayo by Dr Maltaise and she only had 1 incision as compared to the 5 that I endured. She had much less pain than I believe I'm experiencing. I'm hoping to get back to work in a few more weeks.