Scott's Journal

John Cook  No, but it sounds like something you would follow up with your surgeon with.

Mine keeps looking weird to me but it’s because I’ve had my chest shaved so many times over the last 2 years, I’m not used to having a hairy chest again.

Rose Madura  I had a similar case of having PVCs about 4 months after surgery. But a change in medication fixes the problem.  Scott, I hope it can be worked out with medication for you as well. 

Robert Miller  If any doubts, and it seems there are doubts, stay on the blood thinner. I am on it constantly despite having the appendage removed. Blood thinners can be a bit of a pain (frequent nose bleeds, bruising, etc) but they can reduce the chances of blood clots (the very one that increase bleeding reduce the risk of clots). 

Rose Madura  Scott. I had Afib and/or Aflutter for about six weeks after surgery. Due to my being very symptomatic, I was hospitalized four times after my surgery because of it.  Then I was on Amiodarone for close to 3 months. Then I refused to take it and they gave me Multac for a little while. 

Melinda Donahue  I did Richard and thank you for calling it to my attention. Scott is an inspiration and so are you. 

Robert Miller  I had mitral valve repairs so not exactly your situation. But I have been and just got again on beta blockers. They mostly affected me when I was I was going down on my knees in hot weather and then getting up again. Interestingly, I didn't feel they limited me with exercises (elliptical on which I go fairly fast and strenuous hiking). It seems the beta blockers mostly limited me in sudden changes but not so much under constant excursion. 

John Cook  I’ll tell you, for people who were active, recovery is both frustratingly slow and amazingly fast. It’s frustrating because I know exactly how much I lost and where I am compared to where I was.  But it’s also fast considering I slow-ran 1.8 miles at 75 days after my Ross.

I’m 11 weeks post-op today. I was a slow-runner pre-op.  I was also on 3.125mg Carvedilol pre-op.  They increased my carvedilol to 50mg Carvedilol post-op for 5 weeks.  At 5 weeks they got tired of me complaining that I couldn’t exercise the way I wanted to and cut me down to a 25mg dose. Cutting the dose caused my average BP to increase by only 2 points but exercising became so much easier.

Pre-op, 3.125mg didn’t impact my performance.  It just took me 5 minutes or more of running before my heart rate caught up to my level of exertion. Those first 5 minutes always felt really rough.

On the 25mg dose, I’ve gotten where I can trot at 3.7mph on a flat treadmill (4mph downhill) for a couple miles.  In rehab, I’m doing 60/60 walk/run intervals at 2.8mph/4mph at 1% incline and it’s tough. My heart rate is 125-130bpm doing it and my max heart rate feels like it’s about 140bpm. (It was about 170bpm pre-op.)

I tried cutting my beta blocker again but my resting blood pressure went over 120 within 24 hours of doing it.  I’m going to talk to my care team this week about cutting the beta blocker and increasing my losartan at the same time to see if I can free up some more range on my heart rate and keep my resting BP down.

Darrell Malone  Yes Scott your doing great. Will you be doing cardiac rehab ? It was a good program for me. Take care. 

Scott Mills  Darrell, I’m booked in for Cardia Rehab. I think I start in 3 weeks with my first day, which I think may be a stress test :(. I was a pretty active guy in the past and have a full home gym, but rehab I think will give me the confidence and some parameters as to what I can / can’t do….

Robert Miller  You are doing a 12min/mile. That's pretty good. My experience after my first surgery was pretty similar, i.e. I could feel a real improvement. The chest can feel a bit uncomfortable at times. I don't think you need this at this point anymore but breathing exercises can help. I was given this device where you inhale and it measures how many liters you can get in. I made a point to always maxing it out after a couple of "test runs". While I don't use the device anymore, I am much more aware of my breathing these days. 

Marie Myers  I felt like my chest was tight for several weeks after surgery. There were times I felt like I couldn’t take a deep breath either. I am guessing it was a combination of the healing process, and being hyper focused on physical sensations post surgery. Anxiety was certainly a factor for me.

Scott Mills  Thanks Marie / Andrew. I find the breathing most difficult / chest tightness when I’m sitting upright. I’m fine while walking or in any level of incline.

John Cook  Nice.

Today is my 2-week anniversary for my Ross. I still have a little weakness in my left hip and thigh when I get tired.  I’m doing 3x 8 minute walks for about 1/4 mile each.  I’m just happy my appetite came back and today is going to be my first 3-meal day.

Andrew Dial  Thanks for the update brother! Glad things are progressing! 2 days ago marked my 3 year Ross anniversary, and I’m enjoying life and living to the fullest

Darrell Malone  Thx for the update Scott. One day at a time for sure. You are definitely heading in the right direction. Soon you will be heading to cardiac rehab. It is a great program. 

Adam Pick  Scott, Great to see you setting up some small goals for yourself in anticipation of your Ross Procedure tomorrow. You got this!

Susan Lynn  Scott - That's the spirit! Squeeze in some time to munch on the world's greatest ice chips! 

You're going to do just great.   Next goal: Walk.  Rest.  Repeat. You'll be out of there in no time! Wishing you all the best!  

Kathy Ozio  Excellent goals! I wish I had been that realistic when I had my surgery.  Wishing you the best tomorrow. 

Darrell Malone  All the best tomorrow Scott. I'm positive you will make these goals. Hope you enjoyed your Victoria Day long weekend. Your in a good frame of mind. 

Daisy Tanner  I like your goals! I'm going to use them for my day coming up. Sending you good thoughts and prayers Update us when you're up to it.

Rita Savelis  Those first 3 goals are out of your hands so you'll have to trust the fabulous hospital staff. Underwear can be your first goal. Take care.

Deena Z  You bet it is frustrating. This happens more often than you think. Maybe the difference will only be a few days and not weeks. As long as you have a great surgeon, that’s what counts.  

Rose Madura  Oh wow, your whole plans upended. I'm sorry to hear this. I hope you get a new date soon so you can do more rearranging.  Yikes! 

J Alexander Lassally  I was also a sbo and had to scrap all aspects when surgery arrived. It happens...  If they are a good surgeon it is worth it. 

Ana Brusso  So sorry Scott, my surgery was also postponed but I didn’t have to move too much around like you. You will figure it out and you will get your new date and everything is going to work out great. God bless you 🙏❤️

susan harris  i know it’s easier to say but keep your eye on the long term. this will all work out. everything happens for a reason.