Thank you, Colleen! I can't tell you how valuable it was for me to be able to read about others stories, symptoms and experiences. If even one thing I mentioned can help someone else, I am beyond grateful. I am also grateful for my heart-shaped pillow. It's a great souvenir and reminder of how much stronger we are than we believe. It came in handy to 'prop' my arms up during recovery. Your shoulders and neck are 'wound up" so tight you can't relax them for some time. I am at just past the 6 week mark and still use my pillow while I watch TV at night. Thank you for your kind response. I hope I could help another HOCM person. I'm still so impressed how amazing Mayo Clinic is. World Famous for all the good reasons!