Dylan 's Guestbook

Dylan Kempers  Else, I have some swelling on my right side, which has been diminishing since surgery. It's called seroma. I haven't felt the tightness you mention. Have you been using the spirometer for your lungs? Also, were you given physical therapy exercises to do at home? Those two things can make a difference.

Else Reed  I have been using the spirometer. No exercises specifically for my upper body though. I hope to start rehab in 2 weeks. Can you already sleep on your sides?

Dylan Kempers  You may wanna check with your surgeon's team whether they can give you some exercises you can do at home for your upper body. I started sleeping on my sides about 3 weeks after surgery. I didn't do it earlier because, besides the pain, I had to make sure that my scars were not going to leak (which they didn't).

Joseph Heinzmann  Else, I had the same procedure you had. The right side discomfort took weeks (six or so?) to resolve. I describe it as annoying discomfort but not especially limiting. For me, the major issue it caused was fear that the pain was something more serious than it really was. I wish I could tell you how long it took more precisely but the best I can say is that it just disappeared without me noticing that it was gone. I would describe it as tenderness, mild tightness, and very mild firmness/swelling.

Looks like you had an early May surgery so you're still early in the game. The problem is that for muscular healing, rest is important, but for rehabilitation we want to be active. So the more walking we do, the longer it may take for the discomfort to resolve.

Dylan Kempers  Thank you John! It went great! I’m writing from ICU. Thanks for reminding me to take it one day at a time.

Dylan Kempers  Hi Pat. Glad to hear yo are recovering well! I really appreciate that you've reached out to share your experience with me! I understand that the robotics are just a tool, but do you know why it wasn't a robotic procedure in your case?

Deena Elani  Dylan- I can tell you that I didnt qualify for any minimally invasive surgery, including robotics, because of the severe calcification on my mitral valve. And there was even more than assumed, once they opened me up. I went to the mitral repair center at Mt Sinai in NYC. (Cleveland clinic also told me that same thing re: calcification)

Dylan Kempers  Deena, Thank you for sharing this! Did you learn you didn't qualify for robotics days before your surgery, or your surgeon found out in the operating room?