Mitral Regurgitation, Joined December 21, 2014
Mitral Regurgitation
Joined December 21, 2014
October 13, 2015
February 2, 2015
January 27, 2015
December 23, 2014
Mike Dotson
Aortic Regurgitation
March 2, 2021
Clarence Dean
Aortic Stenosis
March 3, 2021
Joe Cooper
Aortic Regurgitation
March 4, 2021
Dr. Castro has performed over 5,000 cardiac procedures and more than 3,000 operations involved heart valve therapies.
Went back to work as a school teacher after week five but continued exercising because I had a goal...
At 6 weeks I was cleared to return to the gym to get back in shape. I managed to loose 25lbs after surgery, mostly muscle mass due to the body's desire to heal so it leaches from the muscles.
The recovery: the first few times around the block felt like a marathon, and blowing into that damn thing was grueling, my strength was far lower than I ever imagined.
Work was difficult for the first couple of weeks while I was getting used to the rigors. But continued exercising, I kept charting my progress; my walks, weight, BP, what I ate, etc...I had that goal...
On June 3 I was released by my cardiologist and surgeon to tackle my goal...I am a fly fishing guide for Lodge at Palisades Creek on the South Fork Snake River, other than my wife and daughter, it is my love and passion. I row a boat daily for a minimum of 14 miles sometimes as much as 18 miles. I successfully worked 69 days of 71 before returning home to teach.
So, dreams are achievable after heart surgery, if you are determined enough, rather shortly. After only 5 weeks I worked a rather sedate job of teaching high schoolers, 6 weeks I was in the gym and at four months was working a very strenuous, laborious job which I love.
The details....I am 47, and had sternotomy and mitral valve repair at (IMO) the best hospital and the best surgeon with the best team available on the west coast. Not to say that it was easy, there were difficult times, realities of being mortal and fragile are never easy. Exhaustion, but I kept focus on the positives and what I could do including progress...
Before you know it, you will be saying "that was not too bad", and "I'm Ok!"
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!
It is a second chance and an opportunity to do what you thought you would never be able to again.
Let those waiting know that this is not an end but a new beginning.