Dan Gamel - Heart Valve Journal

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Dan Gamelposted a journal

1915 days ago

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No afib in more than 24 hours. I am trying to be very deliberate in my movements as getting up to a stand and moving seem to be the trigger for my afib episodes. ...Read more

No afib in more than 24 hours. I am trying to be very deliberate in my movements as getting up to a stand and moving seem to be the trigger for my afib episodes. I was 8 days in the hospital. I had three complications. 1. Excessive bleeding post surgery. The medical team told us that up to 30 pct of patients have this complication. I lost between 1.5 and 2 liters of blood. I was out so I did not find out until they woke me up 21 hours after they put me under. I was shocked it was Tuesday morning when they woke me. This was a very scary time for my wife an daughters. Make sure your loved ones have the support they need in case all does not go smoothly in your case. As a side note, waking up with the breathing tube in did not freak me out at all. It helped that the first thing I saw was my wife’s face. 2. Day 3 I started running a fever. This was caused by pericarditis. I am still being treated for this. 3. Around day 4 I started having afib episodes. Fortunately they are brief. This complication has been discouraging because I feel like I can’t push myself to walk as much as I would like. I am trying to avoid the triggers and push on increasing my walking each day.

Sommer Russell Best wishes Dan. The road to recovery is trying sometimes. Saying a prayer for you now for a calm h ... Read more

Sommer Russell Best wishes Dan. The road to recovery is trying sometimes. Saying a prayer for you now for a calm heart and easy breathing.

Louanna Miller Good to see your post, Dan. I’m sorry for the complications you’ve faced. Like you, my recovery ... Read more

Louanna Miller Good to see your post, Dan. I’m sorry for the complications you’ve faced. Like you, my recovery was a bit eventful and took a different course than most on the blog. I agree wholeheartedly with your advice for family members to have a support system with them during the surgery and in the hours that follow. It is hard on our spouses as they see us the first time and are with us in ICU.

Take it one day at a time and do what you are toldvyou can do. Praying for a complete and strong recovery.

Tom Bartolomei Dan - I’m almost 10 weeks post op now and my arrhythmia has abated. I suffered from AFIB pre-2015 ... Read more

Tom Bartolomei Dan - I’m almost 10 weeks post op now and my arrhythmia has abated. I suffered from AFIB pre-2015 until I had an ablation procedure done in 2015. That procedure was effective and I had no AFIB or Flutter or any arrhythmia since then...until my AVR surgery this past November. 7 Days in ICU and had 2 of your 3 issues. No bleeding for me. During ICU, I had AFIB & Atrial Flutter. It flip flopped between the two. I was discharged on a very aggressive regime of Amiodarone and increased Metoprolol. Over the weeks, the AFIB and Flutter abated and my heart rythym was largely sinus but did then develop a tendency to generate PAC’s. These PAC’s were and are benign, happened daily and almost every 2 hours but each episode lasted only between 3mins to 30mins. Around the 7 or 8 week mark, the PAC’s abated. Knock on wood, I haven’t experienced any for a few weeks and I’m on 2 weeks of cardiac rehab. Hopefully your arrhythmia will also resolve over time. I’m aware that my AFIB has a probably to return but for now, its all good.

Debbie Kelly Praying for you and your family, Dan. I see you are from Katy and had one of best surgeons. I had m ... Read more

Debbie Kelly Praying for you and your family, Dan. I see you are from Katy and had one of best surgeons. I had my angiogram at Methodist last Thursday and am going to see if I qualify for TAVR tomorrow (for the lower risk patients). If not, I will see Dr. Lawrie. I am sorry that you have had complications and hope you won't have anymore. I know, being a daughter and watching my mother go thru the same surgery, how frightening it can be on the caregivers. Hopefully, you are over the bumps and will be smooth sailing, going forward.

Dan Baltazor Glad to hear you’ve overcome. Good advice

John Morales All the best Dan , that everything settles in and your recovery saying a prayer

Debbie Moriarty Hi Dan! Like you I had some major set backs after surgery. It does feel discouraging when things don� ... Read more

Debbie Moriarty Hi Dan! Like you I had some major set backs after surgery. It does feel discouraging when things don’t progress like the book or forum says. In addition to valve replacement, I had the maze procedure for my Afib. But I got a different kind of Afib from the surgery than the one they fixed. I wasn’t worried about the new stuff that seemed to happen ever day around 6:00 p.m. But I sure was glad my cardiologist took me off the Amiodarone at my first post op visit!! I wasn’t about to sleep and seem to have 90% of the side effects it lists. For now I’m back on my old Multaq which is fine with me. Along with Metoprolol.
The fever and infection is a real set back. But don’t give up!! I finally made it out of the hospital and I’m almost finished with in home physical therapy. And soon to drive!
By the way, I’m from Houston. (Energy Corridor) So almost out to Katy. Did you go all the way down to the Med Center??

Dan Gamel Yes I was at Methodist in the Med Center. I am glad I was there. The team is top notch.

Debbie Moriarty Excellent!! Keep posting about how you are progressing!! Some days are forward motion and some days l ... Read more

Debbie Moriarty Excellent!! Keep posting about how you are progressing!! Some days are forward motion and some days lag a bit!! Compare by weeks instead of days!! (The same advice I give myself!)