Hi @joycehocm, great question!!
I can only answer for myself and how it affected me after surgery. I was pretty severe before surgery, mind you.
We all know that this is a genetic disease and will never be "cured" per se...but with medications and close follow up, or a more definitive treatment with a septal myectomy, life can become so much better.
I was on beta/calcium channel blockers for several years, but it was not for treatment of HCM.
I was misdiagnosed with several different heart conditions.
None I had!
After my third consultation where I was correctly diagnosed with HOCM, I already knew the meds were not working.
Fast forward to my septal myectomy at the Mayo Clinic/Rochester:
After the required recovery time and my walking routine getting back on track I noticed right away I could walk up hills with no chest pain. Very little shortness of breath, which was such a relief! My feet didn't swell anymore.
So to answer your short question with a LONG answer...it depends!!!
It depends on you. On your pre-op health status. I was super healthy before surgery and bounced back fast.
For me I felt like a new person. I must say, I still have trouble hiking at higher elevations. That did not change much. And the horrible feeling after dietary discretion is still there.
But I just felt so much better. I felt so blessed to have this wonderful surgery in the best hospital in the world for HOCM.
I hope that answered your question, Joyce... 🙂