Hi everyone!
I am a manager of a very unique cancer center. My specialty is Radiation Oncology. I know cancer better than cardiology, but my docs were residents at Mayo and say I have the best care possible there!
I fly out from my home in Billings, MT in the a.m. to Mayo in Rochester. Getting my workup this week, followed by septal myectomy next Monday. This feels like a big deal to me. I was referred after being pulled off a stress echo in January by my cardiologist. I turn 60 on March 20th. This was a shocker having to get this done. Thought I could wait a few more years. But, I get it. My biggest fear is waking up intubated. After that I accept a lot of rehab to get back to a wonderful life. I am spending my time in Rochester alone, so will just try to relax and be positive before the operation. My brother will arrive the night of surgery and be around after that.
I am very anxious. I am the worst patient and just want to be independent, but I know I have to let go of that.
Thanks for listening to me. Pace

One thing I tell folks having a myectomy is that yes - you will wake up intubated. BUT you are in a fog and if you remember to just let the medication keep you in LaLa Land and R E L A X, the tube is really nothing. Hey I gag at the dentist so I was concerned. The nursing is one-on-one there and they do a great job of keeping you in this state. Just try to breathe as fully as you can - the faster your 02 levels go up, the sooner mister tube is gone. Try to do some really DEEP breathing beforehand for a few days it'll help you immensely.
Good Luck - you will do fine.

You are in great hands. You may no t even remember that. When I had my septal myectomy/double bypass in Dec. of 2015, I didn't recall that part of the procedure and I'm happy about that. Even though we prepared and did research, my wife said it was a jarring when she saw me. Post op too, with the tubes in your chest and neck, that is startling to others as well. When I came to, I felt great and was even singing in ICU, for about 45 minutes. Then I started to wake up, and I can say the first day and a half wasn't the most fun, and yes it hurt, but I have to say, it was all worth it and I would totally do it again. The care was outstanding!!! I felt better two days later, and you will most likely be walking either the day of, or day after surgery. The walks won't be far, but just getting to the hallway is a big step on the first day. I was 55 when I had my surgery and I have not felt this good in decades. Note, I live in Rochester and work at Mayo in Communications. When I got home too, I needed help and I was lucky that my wife was there. You need to be careful with wound care, and will use a lot of wash clothes and towels. I was like a turtle and couldn't turn over for the first two weeks, so if you have a recliner, use it. If you have the $, I'd advise getting on. Today, I'm running several miles a week, lifting light weights and am so glad that I did this.

If you need anything, in person next week, please message me, and we can try to connect. Good luck.

Dear Pace, I had a septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in November 2014. Despite the ordeal of surgery and recovery, I am so thankful that I went to Mayo Rochester. My mother was diagnosed with HCM when she was 61 and had an alcohol septal ablation. It was very ineffective, she survived to age 68 continuing to have symptoms, and had SCD. She did not have an ICD. I hope that you do. I have an ICD and I was diagnosed at 51 and I am now 56. I was the happiest person in the world to be going into the operating room, because I knew if I did not have the surgery I would not survive, I felt I had maybe less than a year. I am a registered nurse, and although I still have some chest and heart pain, I was able to return to work.
My primary reason for responding to you is that I did wake up INTUBATED. It was more uncomfortable, not really painful, just sore and of course VERY INVASIVE. Being a nurse, I knew immediately not to try to pull it out, they would have simply reintubated me. My oxygen saturation levels were very low. But the staff in CCU was very reassuring and kept me informed.
I now do yoga several days a week, and I wish I had had good breathing, relaxation, and meditation techniques prior to surgery, that I have developed in yoga. I don't know the % of patients at Mayo who remain intubated after surgery. I can tell you that whatever your condition, or needs after surgery, they will make sure your care is outstanding. I knew they would not let me die. It is really the best medical care in the world.
I GOT MY LIFE BACK. IT WAS WORTH IT.
Please reply if I can help you.
Kindest regards and heartfelt best wishes for
you, Lisa