HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi

Hi @rushtonrocks . I am scheduled March 7th for Septal Myectomy at Mayo in Rochester. We will be flying in on Sunday, full day of testing on Monday. I too have been trying to plan without really understanding what is involved. So many things to think about. Maybe we will bump into each other in Rochester

I'm wondering why you aren't having the heart cath at the hospital where they could do the stent if you need it?

Welcome @sandys5546,
I encourage you to read this discussion called "Diagnosed with HOCM last year. May be time for surgery" http://mayocl.in/2ef1nMc. Barbara brought forward a similar concern and got great advice from fellow members.

Hi @ladyjansen,
I'm tagging @mimi68 and @hopeful33250 on this conversation, both of whom have had a heart catheterization. Hopefully they can help you with your questions. I agree with @pbo2016. Wouldn't it be better to get heart cath where they could also do the stent if necessary?
LadyJansen, have you been diagnosed with HCM?

Hello @ladyjansen, When is your heart cath scheduled? Were you having specific symptoms that led your doctor to suggest this procedure? I had a heart cath just last year and had a lot of anxiety about it, however, the procedure is really very easily done and goes quite well. The hospital I went to, just received approval to do stents (rather than being taken by ambulance somewhere else), however, I did not need that type of treatment as it turned out. The catheter was threaded through my wrist so the recovery was quicker and I was out of the hospital after a couple of hours. Do you know if your catheter will be in the wrist or through the groin? If the groin is used the time in the hospital afterwards is a bit longer. Heart caths are great ways to rule out serious heart problems, they allow the doctor to see what's going on first-hand. I have electrical problems and my EKGs can look positively scary so the cath ruled out more serious problems. Please keep in touch and let us know if there are any questions you have. Teresa

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

Hi @melissax3, I'd like to add my welcome. With the information you provided in your intro message, I'd like to let you know about a few other places you may wish to participate in.

Join others talking about HOCM here:
- Diagnosed with HOCM last year. May be time for surgery" http://mayocl.in/2ef1nMc

Meet other transplant recipients here:
- Transplants group http://mayocl.in/1qunnTn

Thank you Colleen foe invitation. Hello everyone! Glad that was fortunate to find this group.
Hope to educate myself with your help and contribute with my story.
I am 52 male, who was diagnosed with HOCM 1 years ago. Frankly playing back my last 10 years can tell that gradually was loosing energy and developing HCM related symptoms like SOB, chest pain dizziness. At the beginning of this period I was able walking for 2 hours at 4.2mph (maybe longer), now 20 minutes of uninterrupted walk for relax and breath taking for 20 minutes at 3.3mph is considered as not bad. After Dx tried different Beta- and Calcium channel blockers. Very refractive to both, especially to the latter one. Now taking small dose metropolol (12.5mg). Looking for possibility of symptoms alleviation at Myo, since learn many good things about the Clinic's Drs and Surgeons at Lisa Salberg's HCMA site and Cynthia's blogs.

Dr. Schaff did my surgery on January of 9th. For my apical myectomy. He is wonderful. Lucky to have had him.

Hello @vialox,

We're so glad to have you here; If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

In the meantime, I hope @cynaburst @lynnkay1956 @PatMattos @Sensation @ronaldpetrovich @rmcmillan @lepadelford @catiemorris @wandikarnadi @barbararickard @FrancineFafard @lisa7 @lucindag @23273333 @predictable @li @margie11 @fishinglady @uptodate68 @wandikarnadi @lisa7 @Komalin
@quinn @mistymopps3 @bibi12 @woodywood @lisab62 @debcrawford @lamborama @pbo2016 @mummy12 @mbcube will return with some information for you.

I also wonder if @murryone, @mikefox909, @slavinray, @hopeful33250, @mthomasb have any insights for you with regard to metropolol?