Artie's Posts

I read your background story and also enjoyed learning about your surgeon. I found myself remembering key points of my own hospital stay after my recent complex mitral valve repair, and felt grateful to hear your excellent outcome. Thanks for sharing about your son, his calming words and regarding your anxious response in moments during your healing process. I have had that too, amd reassured to know that it is somewhat normal. Congrats on your clean bill of health and great ECHO results!

Just shy of 10 weeks post op and I'm returning to most things that I did before. Last night I was able to put on the big drum again and play a few sets with a few members of the NYPD Pipes and Drums at Carmines restaurant in midtown Manhattan. We played for a Law Enforcement gathering of Cops from all around the Country and the World. It felt great and I couldn't have asked for a better reception for my return to keeping the beat with my band-mates in the greatest Police Pipe and Drum band in the world.

That's a great come-back from coming back! Congratulations, Artie! just be careful of doing too much too soon surrounding your sternum. We're all different of course, but I actually had a difficult time with my sternum because I did too much upper body activity when it was too soon. Enjoy the awesome recovery!

Artie, it is resolved but it took a little over 2 years. What I noticed was that if I didn't use both arms to do things like lift or pull, later in the day, and would use 1 arm instead, it would cause extreme pain in my sternum. In addition, the tissue and nerves next to the left side of sternum took a long time for the pain to subside. I used an infrared lamp daily to help with the healing process. I realize everyone is different, but lifting and pulling before your sternum is healed can cause issues. It did for me.....but it is resolved now. By the way, my sternum was cut open twice, so the second time around was definitely more challenging in terms of the healing process for my sternum. Regarding the valve replacement, this is the best I have ever felt!! I am doing really well. Thank you for asking :)