@mbharris thank you for sharing. Good luck with your surgery. Those are big decisions and you are brave 💐

@mbharris Best wishes on your upcoming surgery, you will be in good, I mean great, hands! I was never on Camzyos, had a septal myectomy at Mayo at almost 76 when my symptoms suddenly became worse. My cardiologist, from his medical literature readings and the rest of us sharing here on Connect, have learned that Camzyos helps many but not everyone. My cardiologist also said that a certain percentage (don't know the %) eventually need a septal myectomy anyway. YES! Getting it done will be very worth it!

@mbharris I am just in the process is getting on camzyos and in my case, gradient 214, I wish they would let me just have surgery for repair and move on.

@mbharris I am sorry to hear that you were not able to continue on with Camzyos. I agree with what @walkinggirl shared.
I know that many can take it for extended periods, and some just cannot. We are all unique and different in how we react to the same medication or treatment. No two of us are alike.

There are several members on here who have your same experience.
Member @brumasterj recently had open heart/septal myectomy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He also was super active, in his 50's and on Camzyos, but it did not work. If you have not read his story, spend some time reading his posts.
Another young member @dbrima, was unable to tolerate Camzyos, and had a septal myectomy at a local hospital. The surgery was not successful and she ended up having to have another septal myectomy at the Mayo months later. Where and who does your surgery is a huge part of this story.
These are not to scare you! These are to inspire you and support your decision to move forward with open heart surgery.
It's scary.
For real!
But just making that decision shows you have courage and strength you didn't even think you had. Your age, 54, is a good thing. You're a youngster! I was 62 when I had mine, and before HOCM took away almost everything I loved to do...I was super athletic.
After my septal myectomy I was able to gain back most everything. Not all. But a lot for which I am so grateful.
When is your surgery planned?

@mbharris when is your surgery date? I will be back up in Rochester having sternal wires removed because of sternal pain! Please Dont let this scare you you are making the right choice! 2 days after my surgery i was so sick from the medications i asked Dr Derani if i made the right choice with getting surgery and he said yes you did!
He was right i feel so much better hills and stairs ladders are no longer an issue:)
Best of luck with healing and as much as your gonna want to push the envelope as yku start feeling better stay with the strict instructions!
I really think i would have benifitted with physical therapy after my surgery only because of how active i am! So consider physical therapy
Again best of luck

@mbharris I was only on Camzyos for three months and my ef dropped to 30! This was very traumatic for me. I don’t think I would ever be comfortable taking it again. I have had bypass surgery in the past and I am not afraid of a surgical option. The more I read the more I feel surgery is the best option. I’m 63 and I don’t want to wait until I am unable to deal with it.

@mbharris See, this is my concern, its life long in this Camzyos process or surgery. I would rather do the surgery