David's Guestbook

Hi David, 

Thinking of you,  as you are almost there. - that is, closer to recovery.  I expect you are on a high protein diet to get your hemoglobin nice and high.  It will help alot, as extreme exhaustion is a big deal directly after surgery.   Will say some prayers for you.  You will get through this and be ok. Odds are so very very in your favor.  Plus you look pretty young:. ❤️

David, I am right there with you. Right down to your surgeon and hospital. My surgery is scheduled with Dr. Gerdisch on April 2nd. Good luck to you. I get to throw in a bypass in addition to all the others "tweeks". I have already had my left atrial appendage clipped, but Dr. G thought I might need some additional maze work. I had a "mini-maze" back in 2022 for persistent afib. I do not want that to come back. Prayers for you as you are coming up on your surgery. We are all here for you!

Wow David it seems like you will be the bionic man post surgery! Alot going on for you and I will follow your progress. 2025 will definietly be a year of change and improved health for you.  All the best for your up coming surgery in January.

David - your story sounds frightening but it also sounds like you are going with the best! I’m in Utah and had the best doctor in my area perform the surgery. I just hit my 6-week post-op date. Full sternotomy for a mitral valve repair and resection of left atrial appendages. The heart is working fine. The sternum is painful. What I wish I had prepared for is the inability to use my upper body for anything. You still have time to build your core muscles and quads. Do a ton of sit-ups and squats now, as you will rely on those muscles a lot. Plan to sleep in a recliner for a few weeks. If you can, you’ll want one that has easily accessible buttons you can push to recline/sit back up. I’ve tried the bed a couple times the past week and keep ending up on the couch or recliner. 

One more thing, you will probably get an incentive spirometer. If they don’t stress the importance of using this regularly, know that it makes a huge difference in your recovery. Use it every hour or two for many weeks…not just the first few. 

Prayers and best wishes for a successful surgery and complete recovery.