Dan's Journal

Anyone still around from say 2 or 3 years ago? I had mitral valve repair 8/3/2016 and had a lot of people help me through it on here. Adam still wish you'd consider a Alumni\Where are they now section.

Anyone still around from say 2 or 3 years ago? I had mitral valve repair 8/3/2016 and had a lot of people help me through it on here. Adam still wish you'd consider a Alumni\Where are they now section.

GOOD news! So I made a none heart surgery post a few weeks ago. I had cysts on my pancreas and they did a biopsy because of some bad signs on blood work. Hi enzymes and other stuff. When they went in the cysts were gone. Thank God the procedure was none invasive last thing I need is another scar. Dr. said it happens some cysts are normal on a lot of people. I am so glad and good luck to all of you recovering and getting ready to go through surgery. 2 years out and doing great besides this cancer scare.

Well this is a kick in the pants. 2 years ago open heart surgery and awesome recovery. Fast forward ultra sound on my abdomen shows I have polyps\cysts on my pancreas. doing a biopsy to see if they are cancerous. I know a different ailment but gee I can't catch a break. Crossing fingers.

I am celebrating my 2 year anniversary of my mitral valve repair hope it lasts another 50 cause I plan on being a 100 GOD willing. I know sometimes they don't but lets just hope mine does.

Anyone have trouble losing weight after surgery? I was in pretty good physical shape at 48 prior to my Mitral valve repair in 2016, 22 months ago. It's like my metabolism just shut down. This is even though I am very active. I weight train 5 days a week like I always have just not as heavy and I still do cardio 4 days a week. I have even been doing intermittent fasting 16/8 5 days a week and still can't seem to lose weight. I am being tested for thyroid and other hormone issues. I know trivial to what most of us go through but I am trying to live longer. My diet is good 90% of the time.

Hard to believe this is what I looked like 18 months ago. Time sure has flew by. Had my check up and Mitral valve repair is still intact and looking good. Still not happy with my workouts and some other small things to work on but I do feel great. I did get kind of nervous moved to Austin last August and had to go to a new clinic, Austin Heart. The medical terminology is completely different, some of their words scared me so I sent their test results to my old surgeon back at Mayo. He said everything was still perfect and it was just the way they worded it. The doc at Austin heart said the same thing that everything was fine, and they just used more "blunt words". Anyway, hope everyone is doing well that used to visit here and if your surgery is coming up just know it gets better. Dan

Adam, you are always looking for improvements. You should consider a where are they now section. I come back from time to look for the folks who were around when I had surgery to see how they are doing. Yea we all have lives and the community is a bit transient but I am always curious how other folks turned out and are doing.

I have posted this before but I still can't get completely over my scar pain. It's sporadic especially after a good workout. Keep in mind they went under my right PEC and it was minimally invasive. It's not so painful I can't take it just more aggravating. I am 14 months out I though this would be gone by now. It just feels tight and pinched. It itches still too even though completely healed. Anyone else have continuing aggravation after a year.

2 weeks ago August 3rd was the 1 year anniversary of my Mitral valve repair. My wife and I talked about this around noon that day agreeing I was out of the woods and sort of celebrating. Around 7:00 PM my wife called and said her mother passed away. She had spent the last month at her bedside in hospice. What a coincidence that we can celebrate one life event and mourn another hours later.

We are all blessed with modern medicine technology and what doctors can do today is amazing This will break your heart. https://www.facebook.com/donatelifela/videos/10154953982674608

How many people have minor discomfort in their scare area regardless of type of surgery even after a year out? I still have minor discomfort in my mitral valve scar mainly after I do exercise for a few days. Still feel tight too I though by now that would all be gone.

Hi Adam and everyone place looks a lot different than when I started posting April 2016. I don't see the old gang I signed up with and post with anymore . Anyway had Mitral Valve repair 8 months ago and had my last post op echo a week ago. 100% repair no leakage at all only concern now is cholesterol was a little high but that can be controlled. I bailed on the Cardiac rehab and wish I would not have so do it if you can. I did everything on my own but I feel great pretty close to being normal in the gym and in life. I was one of the lucky ones I only had minimal complications like a small infection in my groin incision but was quickly overcome with antibiotics. My message to anyone going through this now or near future is stay Positive. Do your research on the facility you choose and the surgeon and his team. Mayo here in AZ was fantastic and highly rated for a reason. If you need a valve repair look up Dr. Patrick De Valeria. He does not market himself like a lot of other surgeons but he is highly respected and touted as one of the best valve guys around. He prefers minimally invasive when he can and he is a whiz at it I know. Just checking in best of luck to everyone.