HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi
Welcome to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) group on Mayo Clinic Connect - a place where you can connect with others, learn about living HCM, share experiences and exchange useful information.
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I'm Colleen, and I'm the moderator of this group, and Community Director of Connect. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members.
Why not start by introducing yourself here?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Support Group.
@mbi I am so glad to read your great report! I am impressed that you were discharged so quickly! Yes, I think those who are more fit recover quicker - core and sit-ups help as you pointed out, I discovered that going to the gym and walking paid off. I remember the fatigue you describe which may be more from the anesthesia, on day four I noted (I kept a small journal) that it was the first day the desire to nap disappeared. I was discharged on day 5, at home a week after surgery. Like you, I was no spring chicken at almost 76, but here we see age is just a number. Wishing you a continuing great recovery and I hope walking becomes a permanent activity for you.
@walkinggirl
Thank you! I’ve always been a walker, but I stepped it up before the surgery. Hope to have more energy from now on.
@mbi, thank you for sharing your open heart surgery story! Dr Dearani is amazing, isn't he?
How wonderful you sailed through the hospitalization so quickly and are home in the recuperating phase. The care team at Mayo Clinic is like no other. The food? Not so much 🙂
Making the decision to have open heart surgery is not an easy thing to do. It strikes fear in HOCM hearts of us all, and many are so fearful they just can't imagine going through it.
I liked your statement that you felt "Like a bomb dropped on you" Great analogy! It is shocking to learn open heart surgery is in your future. But you did a good thing by walking and taking care of yourself as best you could before surgery.
Is is tough? Oh yes! But you are tougher!
It has not been that long, so do try and listen to your body. If you are tired, take a nap. You just had open heart surgery!
If you walked today, try to go a little further tomorrow. Walking is the best thing you can do to get back to your best self. Take care of your sternum too, and remember the weight/lifting restrictions.
Thank you for coming back and sharing your experience with others. By doing so you may have helped someone else make the same choice you did, and to not be so afraid.
Was Mayo Clinic Connect able to help you before your surgery? Did you read any posts that may have put your mind at ease a little more?
@karukgirl
Yes, Mayo Connect helped a lot.
I read that I would be getting shots in my stomach every day, to prevent blood clots. And that they would be getting me up and moving as soon as possible.
I don’t remember reading about the EXTREME fatigue, but I could have missed that.
Also, people commented that they walked a lot prior to surgery.
They was a big motivation for me!
But I mainly wanted anyone facing this surgery to know that the pain isn’t bad at all. And if I could do it and change my future, they can too. And how important it is to use a surgeon who is very experienced in septal myectomy surgery. ❤️