Barrett's Posts

Hello everyone, just checking in again. Recent ECHO shows repaired valve looking good as is the new ascending aorta. Have had 2 bouts of afib since last post. 1st one lasted about 10 days and converted and am experiencing 2nd one now. Doc says sometimes maze procedure helps but isn't permanent. Not sure I believe that. Have any of you experienced that? I'm still swimming a mile 3 x p/week and working full time. Grateful for each day. Take Care everyone and for those of you who are new to this journey, eat this elephant one bite at a time and use this site to educate yourself and find support.

Hi Barrett. Belatedly, thanks for all your wonderful encouragement before my procedure. Much less complex than yours. If you have a minute, see the Journal I finally wrote today. I do have weird 'moments' that I tell my internist or cardiologist about. Both have said the same thing. "For a year weird things will happen as your entire body adjusts to the fact that it was on a heart-lung machine for 3 hours." I don't think there are specific "expectations," just remember they did several things to your heart muscle and your body has to keep adjusting to being "perfected" by all this amazing technology. Keep your great faith and attitude, keep doctors informed, and know you're going to be able to look back with awe at how awesome you are! Start with "back to work in 9 weeks after 10 days in hospital! Double WOW! (Thought about starting with Greetings from blazing hot Orlando. It's pretty gruesome! LOL isn't it a good sign if we can get to complaining about the weather!?!)