@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?