Darrin's Journal

Hi,
It has been just a little over three weeks (July 9) since my Mitral Valve Repair surgery. I had an annuloplasty ring from Medtronic installed in my heart to shape my repaired mitral valve and I am taking low dose aspirin for 90 days until my heart grows around the ring. I had a bit of AFIB in the hospital and have been taking Amiodarone in pill form since I was discharged from the hospital and haven't had any recurrence that I am aware of. I am also taking a beta blocker Metoprolol twice a day since I was discharged. I think that is to control my heart rate. My heart rate was running at about 80bpm when I was discharged and has dropped to about 65-70bpm since then. Prior to surgery my resting heart rate was between 55-60bpm.

I had a follow-up with my surgeon last week and he gave the green light to return to work and to drive, etc. I am returning to work on the 10th which is 10 days in advance of the expected return from the approved Short Term Disability paperwork.

In general, I feel great. I may be biased but in my mind my heart feels stronger and better than before the surgery. The only things that I still feel are healing are the cuts in the side of my chest: 5 for the surgery with the robot, 2 for the chest tubes and one in my groin for the heart lung machine. I suspect that all will be fully healed in the next week or two.

At this point the only thing I regret is not getting the surgery earlier :).

- Darrin