James's Journal

Four weeks ago during my 3 x weekly workout at the gym I was on the stationary bike about 10 minutes into a 20 minute ride I began to run out of breath. This is the same routine I\'ve been doing for the last 30 months. This was the first time I couldn\'t finish. Something wasn\'t right. Also I was just slightly dizzy. Dr. Yamamotoya, my G P checked me out about an hour later and diagnosed a heart murmur and ran an EKG then advised a stress test. 3 days later: I met my surgeon today and I am scheduled for surgery on August 23. I\'ll be in the hospital for approximately 7 days and convalescing at home after that with nurse Pat. I have: Aortic Stenosis with a bicuspid aortic valve, a Congenital defect plus a dialated ascending aorta. I need: A triple bypass \"CABG\" (Cardiac Aortic Bypass Graft times 3)and a replacement aortic valve and possibly a partial aorta replacement. All this because I was a little short of breath Post,surgery day 7: In surgery for 7 hours, Had 5 way CABG, a bovine valve, and an ascending aorta replacement. I\'M home now and am doing OK. Lots of weird things going on but over all am feeling better by the hour More later. Jim Sept 8th Post surgery 16 days: Jim Life is good. I\'m amazed at what I can do. Pain is totally gone (never was terrible)and the walking for rehab has started. I\'m up to a mile a day, 1/2 at a time. The shortness of breath during mild exercise is gone. They did 5 by passes and a cow valve plus replaced an enlarged aorta. I guess I was a walking time bomb. The heart valve was from birth and the 5 bypasses was from all the cheese burgers. I had the whole overhaul and expect full recovery + Regards Jim