Robert's Journal

Phyllis Petersen  It sounds like you're doing great. I am doing cardiac rehab and they are pushing ahead quickly. There isn't a set pattern, but at least at my hospital here in Tucson, they evaluate and adjust for each person continually. I would have been terrified to use this much weight if I didn't have the monitoring. You're speed sounds great, but then I'm walking not running (I've never really been a runner). I still have some numbness too, but I'm slowly getting more and more feeling back in the right side and breast., Keep up the great work!

Ben Hyman  Hey Robert,

I was wondering how you are doing! I'm having my robotic procedure in March at Mayo. You and I are very similar in age and fitness levels. My surgeon also didn't think I would need cardiac rehab but I'll probably do it anyway. How long after you were discharged were you able to return to work?

Robert D'Aurora  Hi Ben - I returned to work after 5 weeks(11/8-12/12). Everybody is different, though. I probably could have returned sooner, but my personal physician didn't want me to rush it. I've seen some people here that have had OHS and returned to work within 3 weeks. Amazing! By 5 weeks, I was sleeping through the night, which made it easier to return to work.

Phyllis Petersen  Hi Robert, I'm glad to see you're doing well. Cardiac rehab lets you do so much more than you'd feel comfortable doing on your own. I'm loving it! I brought my pre-surgery workout book in for the exercise physiologist, so he can see where I was, even though I wasn't doing probably as much as I was doing a year before when I had fewer symptoms. I don't go back until May with an echo the week before either. I'm also finishing up the metoprolol prescription from CC and will be glad to have the monitoring at rehab to be sure things are still going smoothly. BTW, I had a call from Dr. G's office today to see how I'm doing. It's nice that they follow up.

Ben Hyman  Hello Robert,

I'm scheduled for a robotic mitral valve repair at Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN in March. Would live to pick your brain about what to expect and what it was like in the hospital. So glad you're doing well

Robert D'Aurora  Thanks Phyllis, Ben. I would be glad to answer any questions you might have. I suggest to get into the best physical shape before surgery, which it sounds like you are doing. I think that makes recovery easier.

Lise Bowles  Hi Robert! I am one of your fellow robotic patients from CC and Dr. Gillinov! I haven't been posting a lot lately because of just feeling less than stellar! I think I am on the right path now so I am back! Cross our fingers right? It sounds like you are doing very well and progressing nicely! I am currently at 4 1/2 months and I can't believe it. Seems like yesterday! I had mv repair and that was it. I have a problem with pleural effusions in both my lungs, small but there never the less, and that has caused some pain. Which unfortunately has prevented me from cardio rehab on a regular basis and in turn that's caused more inflammation and more water in my lungs and less movement! Ugh! It's been a round robin of pain medication, sickness from the medication, very little movement, more inflammation ad infinitum! I don't know from the word slow down very well, so I maybe wasn't as cautious as I could have been when I first came back! You sound more balanced and even Steven so I hope your recovery stays on track. I was climbing ladders at two months, painting bedrooms, non VOC paint, and just generally feeling like I had the world by the gonads! Wrong! Mother Nature slowed me down and I am trudging my way now, trying to keep up with the 85 yr. olds in my cardio rehab class, I am 62!
Anyway, keep on keeping on and take it from me, be careful!
Lise😊

Phyllis Petersen  Lise, I'm glad to hear things are getting better for you. I'm the same age and when I started I was amazed at some of the older folks in my group. But they've been pushing me pretty hard and I'm amazed at how much more I can do already. With your background and drive, and with proper monitoring, you'll do great. Painting bedrooms at 2 months out? I would vacuum a room and have to rest. I still tire way too easily. Very annoying!

Robert D'Aurora  Hi Lise-Sorry to hear you were having problems, sounds painful. Hopefully, the lung problems are behind you. I'm feeling pretty fortunate, haven't had any complications. My right chest and my groin area are still a little numb, but I guess that is going to take time to heal. I'm just approaching 2 months post op and just started jogging very slowly. I will listen to your advice and not push the recovery too hard. Will start cardio rehab in the next few weeks. I live in a cold weather climate. I just hope I don't get sick in the next few months. Take care. Happy New Year!

Phyllis Petersen  It's good to hear things are going well for you. I still have soreness where they put the robot in and some numbness on the right side, but mostly life is getting back to normal. Will you be able to do cardiac rehab? It's really helping with getting my energy back.

Robert D'Aurora  My cardiologist didn't push cardio rehab because I was in pretty good shape. I will discuss further with my physician at Dr appointment on Dec 21. I think I would feel better if I did cardio rehab because then I could learn what my physical limits are. Glad you are getting back to normal Phyllis. Take care.

Phyllis Petersen  I'm surprised how much they are pushing me, because I am in relatively good shape. I would be scared to push that hard without monitoring. I was also surprised that they started me off with resistance training immediately, including using 70 lbs. on the chest press machine. You take care too!

Catie B  Wow, Phyllis. My cardiac rehab is not intense like that. Only several weeks in have they now started any strength training and they're having me use light handheld weights.
Robert, sleeping and finding good positions can be tough for a lonnng time, Hope your recovery keeps moving along well.

Phyllis Petersen  Your surgery was more than mine and you had some issues afterwards, so maybe they are being more cautious with you. The important thing is that you are making progress and feeling stronger and healthier.

Robert D'Aurora  11/8-11/12 5 days, counting day of surgery. No, my daughter drove to /from Clinic. I was discharged on a Saturday, could drive the following Saturday.

Valerie Archual  It's been awhile since I posted but where were you coming from (you home state)? Who was your surgeon and cardiologist at CC and what made you decide on robotic surgery? I am nervous about robotic if I am even a candidate (they have to do a ct) and I am also getting an asd repaired as well.

Phyllis Petersen  Glad to hear you're doing so well. Keep it up! The numbness is taking forever to go away (if it ever does). I'm glad to have started some resistance training as well as the cardio, although still not able to do extended cardio. Good luck for a continued quick and uneventful recovery!

Marie Leighton  Sounds like you are doing great! I'm jealous about the ibruprofen, I will miss it. With only one kidney it's Tylenol for me which is so much less affective.

Catie B  I wish pain and sleep troubles weren't part of the process, Robert. Good job on the walking! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving, too!

Phyllis Petersen  I'm still having a hard time being able to walk 30 minutes straight. I thought by now it would be easy. The surgery site is still sore/numb, but not a big issue, but my back and hips are now waking me up. I'm hoping that the guided exercise of rehab will improve things. I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving with your family. I, thankfully, have not had any taste issues, so enjoyed my dinner very much.

Ellen Leng  Your sleep will get better, took me a couple of weeks before it improved. I'm sure that it will feel great to be out to dinner with friends

Phyllis Petersen  Good to hear you're recovering well. Sleep will get better. I found that taking a pain pull with a muscle relaxant helped me get a good night's sleep, but no guarantees. Enjoy your time out with friends.

Corey Sines  Robert, I too am having trouble sleeping (as I write at 4am, lol). It does get better, Phyllis has some good advise there. Hope your evening out is pleasant!

Catie B  It's good to hear all the ground you've covered and that you're recovering and regaining your strength at home. Sleep is a tough one for awhile. Naps are legal, too!

Denise Kirchner  So happy to hear that you have been released and are homeward bound - so nice you were able to see Cory before leaving. Prayers for a safe trip home. 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

Corey Sines  It was really awesome to meet you and Ashley, Robert!! Thanks so much for stopping by my room. Hope the healing road is good to you heart brother.

Phyllis Petersen  My team there was great. Look over the information they gave you. I didn't get to read much of it before surgery and there's a lot of helpful information in there. You'll do great. Yay for your daughter being there with you.

Phyllis Petersen  Sorry I missed you. I was signed out around noon. I was able to meet Marie and her husband Danny before leaving. Good luck!

Robert D'Aurora  Phyllis -I checked with the information desk,who said you'd been discharged. Good luck Marie, hope you get your surgery scheduled. Sorry to hear about your difficulties.