Why does it take so long for Septal Myectomy surgery to be scheduled?

Hello @dconner,
I'm sorry you are feeling so frustrated about your upcoming surgery. I have been there before, and although I was not frustrated, I was definitely anxious about it!

It sounds to me like things are taking time to fall into place so that all goes well.
Since we cannot see what is going on in the departments that are coordinating to make things happen for you...we can wonder if all is going smoothly. It took 3 months for my septal myectomy to be scheduled after all the players were in place. I don't know if that is the norm, but that was my experience.

Where is your septal myectomy scheduled?
If it is the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, you should have access to your Patient Portal. That is where you can go the ask questions and get answers from the HCM team.
I would try and trust the process. Scheduling surgeries has a lot of moving pieces, and unless it is an emergency or urgent, they can take some time to find the perfect day and hour.

@karukgirl finally got the surgery date today. It’s July 17. Will be here in a couple of weeks.

@dconner, well there you go!
Whew!!!
Now you have a date to focus on.
But WOWZA!!
That is coming up FAST!!!
I posted on Connect a "little" story about my open heart surgery journey at Mayo Clinic.
I don't know if you read it... if even ONE thing helps you then I am happy. Here is a link to that:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-i-learned-from-my-open-heart-surgery-part-1/

@dconner ,
Not to put more on your plate, but here is Part 2:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1257983/

@karukgirl yes I did read it. It was very interesting. You’re right, it is coming up fast. On top of my heart problems, I have hip and lower back pain, sometimes very severe. I’m told from a spine surgeon that I need lower back fusion surgery and I also need arthroscopic surgery on both hips to repair tears. I could hardly walk yesterday, my right hip was hurting so bad. I’m sure all of this is going to make my recuperation very difficult.

@dconner Hooray! Hooray! July 17th! Yes, it takes a while to get everything scheduled, I had 2 days of tests and interviews before surgery, took from late Feb to May to get dates. Debra's story is truly helpful as are the other stories in "What I Learned From My Open Heart Surgery. " We are all different and our open-heart experiences are as well. BTW, Are you going to Mayo? While you are recuperating, I will be celebrating the 4th anniversary of my septal myectomy at Mayo on July 21st. Wishing that you heal quickly so that the spine and hip issues can be addressed. Keep us in your loop.

I’m having my surgery at Emory University Medical Center in Atlanta.

@dconner Hooray! Emory is a COE according to the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, lots of HCM experts will be overseeing your care. We would love to hear updates during your upcoming journey.

@walkinggirl, 10 days post surgery. Had Septal Myectomy surgery at Emory University Hospital on 7/17/26. Moved from CICU on 7/19 to a room. Went home on 7/22 which is really amazing for going home after 5 days! Not to alarm anyone, but at the time, it was a lot worse than I expected. The time at night in CICU was rough. After moving up to a room, it continued being rough. My biggest problem was a very keen sense of smell, and my appetite was terrible. I could not eat anything without being nauseous. I don’t see how I ate enough to survive. My mental state wasn’t good either, I guess from all of the pain meds. I could not read much or watch TV. I gained a lot of fluid and on top of that, my family from over 3 hours away went home on Sunday when I moved out of ICU. To my surprise, my daughter and her boyfriend came back on Tuesday to stay with me to help. She’s truly my guardian angel. She took me home the next day! Emory University Hospital was great, and I would recommend them to everyone! Feeling a little better and stronger each day. So far, I have lost 10 pounds after losing all of the fluid I gained. I still have much more weight I want to lose, and now I think I can do it! In hindsight, I would definitely do this again if I knew the end result. On top of that, (so far), my chronic back and hip pain is gone! Thank the Lord!
It’s been a long journey, (over a year) and I’m glad it’s behind me.

@dconner Extra hug here ((HUG))! You did it! Yes, wasn't that a tough journey!?! Now, here you are telling your tale and showing your courage to your family and friends, colleagues and neighbors as well as to everyone reading your post here on Connect. Isn't that amazing? Our individual differences result in the different ways in how care is given in the hospital (also, they all follow their own protocols) and how we feel overall. You found it to be a lot worse than expected. The fluid was from the surgery and were you given a diuretic to help eliminate it? I was in my room 24 hours after surgery, taking Tylenol, they even made me walk to the bathroom and brush my teeth that next day, an army of people helped with all the machines and drains. I am glad your daughter and her boyfriend returned and were there to take you home upon discharge. There is no place like home! I, too, went home after 5 nights, we drove 2 days from Mayo in Rochester to Upstate NY, I was comfortable and pain free and got to tour most of the rest areas along I-90, inside and out. Took pictures. On Friday it will be your 2-week anniversary. It must feel great to have the hip and back pain gone, was that from HCM? How was surgery able to eliminate that pain? How are you sleeping? Eating? Avoiding high sodium foods? Has your doctor told you to walk and do you have a good place to do that? When is your follow-up appointment? Near your home or at Emory? Do ask about cardio rehab. Keep listening to your body, let others help, yet at the same time try to do normal activities as you are able and your body says yes (I cooked meals the day after getting home, hubby lifted the pots). Rest, enjoy visitors and you may enjoy rereading some of the other post-op discussions here on Connect. @Baystater wrote a 3 part followup https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-septal-myectomy-decision-and-10-things-ive-learned-since/ and my fellow mentor, Debra, @karukgirl started a discussion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-i-learned-from-my-open-heart-surgery-part-1/ Perhaps you will be willing to share some of your own experiences for those who follow us in this journey. Please do remember that there will be up days and down days. Compare how you feel to the same day a week ago (today vs last Monday) to see your real progress. Keep us posted!