Arthur 's Journal

Had my 6 month follow up Echo. Doc said everything looks great! No regurgitation. Heart walls and size are back to normal size, and ejection fraction is rock solid at 65% percent. Thankfully my aortic valve replacement surgery was a complete success, and I am back to 100%. A word of thanks and encouragement to all my fellow heart valve people. Do your home work on your condition, your options of doctors, and type of procedures. Get in as good a shape as you can, and be positive. You got this!

Had my follow up with my cardiologist Friday. No more regurgitation heard. Blood pressure and heart rate normal. Doc reduced my Intresto to half doses, and said come back in a month for my 1st Echo. He expects, and I'm hoping, that my EF will be over 60-65% and my heart dilation will be back or close to normal. If so he will further reduce my meds and schedule a follow up 3 months after. Thankfully, I'm pretty much 95% back to normal. Pain free. Range of motion pretty good. Incisions are almost all healed. Scars are minimal and will likely fade with Scar-away silicone strips. Walking/running regularly 30-40 minutes daily. Very light weight training. Driving, and back to work. Thanks to all of you, and much luck you warriors who are up next. Get in as good a shape as you can and be positive. It'll all turn out well for you.

Hey guys, Checkin in here to let all know everything went smoothly on Tuesday the 14Th. My wife, kids, and mom brought me to Cedars at 5:30am. Their love, support and laughter assured me I'd be fine. Surgery started at 7:30am and I was out of recovery by 3:15pm, being greeted by my wonderful family. Post op- stayed ICU till the next morning, 15th. Got to new room and walked once times that day, 3 times on the 16th, plus up and down stairs on the 17. Pain was managed very well. Received the all clear and was sent home this morning at 10 am. I want to thank you all for your well wishes and Support. It really helps to know their are people in your shoes you can communicate with and share. You guys are all warriors. And now I'm proud to say. So Am I! I'll post some of the few pics I remembered to take. Thanks again .

So tomorrow I'm having a coronary Angiogram at Cedars in preparation for my mini-thoracotomy in January. Hoping they can go in thru my wrist. Hopefully it all goes well.