What is the recovery like following septal myectomy?

Posted by quinn @quinn, Mar 17, 2016

What is the recovery like following septal myectomy?

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@sheim

I had an Extended Septal Myectomy and excision of Papillary muscle. Was SUPPOSE to start Rehab within 2 weeks but could not get in until 7 weeks. Now I'm finding the Rehab Center can't get a clear answer on if Medicare will cover it. Has anyone had this and have any issues with Medicare? I did leave a message to see my heart dr can get anything going but I don't think I'll hold my breath.

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Medicare will not pay for cardiac rehab for a Septal Myectomy (which I think is ridiculous since it is open heart surgery) unless they repaired your mitral valve.

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@lindalou1117

I had my surgery October 1st. I purchased a recliner which really helped to sleep in. I also had a lot of clean washcloths for my shower including a shower chair. Other than that it takes time. I am still recovering.

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The recliner was electric since you will not be able to manually do it, too much pressure on the sternum

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@lindalou1117

Medicare will not pay for cardiac rehab for a Septal Myectomy (which I think is ridiculous since it is open heart surgery) unless they repaired your mitral valve.

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Medicare paid for my husbands cardiac rehab following his septal myectomy October 2018

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@sheim

I had an Extended Septal Myectomy and excision of Papillary muscle. Was SUPPOSE to start Rehab within 2 weeks but could not get in until 7 weeks. Now I'm finding the Rehab Center can't get a clear answer on if Medicare will cover it. Has anyone had this and have any issues with Medicare? I did leave a message to see my heart dr can get anything going but I don't think I'll hold my breath.

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Medicare covered the 80% of everything for his septal myectomy last October our supplemental paid the rest. We traveled from San Diego to Rochester .

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@lindalou1117

I had my surgery October 1st. I purchased a recliner which really helped to sleep in. I also had a lot of clean washcloths for my shower including a shower chair. Other than that it takes time. I am still recovering.

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recovery is a very personal thing, so don't judge yourself on how others recover. Take care of yourself

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I am 3 1/2 weeks recovering and I’m doing well except my back pain is excruciating I’ve had a massage I’m taking Tylenol does anybody have any suggestions of what I can do

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I had the septal myectomy about 4 1/2 weeks ago. was in the hospital for 7 days. when I got home, I had lots of pain in the chest incision area and bone pain. I sat and slept in a lift char for about a week, then I was able to get into my own bed the next week. had to lay on my back only for the next couple of weeks. right at the 4th week I stopped taking Tylenol and noticed the scars, wounds and bone have significant healing, every day for the last week I have noticeably felt better every day. now I have little pain. If I move the wrong way or do something strenuous I get some pain. in 2 days it will be the 5 week mark since my surgery. And I am actually feeling really good. I start my cardiac rehab in 2 days. I will admit I seem to have some muscle pain in my back shoulder blade areas when I stretch. Also for the first few weeks, I was very short of breath. somewhere around 3 weeks that went away and my breathing got better and now I feel almost back to normal. I have also noticed the symptoms of the HCM are mostly gone now. so the operation was a success. It is hard to describe, but I feel really good and have motivation to do things.

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---What were your HCM symptoms before surgery?

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@quinn

Thank you so much lynnkay. <br />
I truly appreciate your response. Such a brutal experience. I certainly hope someone was with you to help you through. Great idea to work with a chiropractor. My insurance is so pitiful, I'll have to depend on the meds alone for pain control. I'd love to know why you had to wait five weeks to begin cardiac rehab. If you have time and are willing to live through what sounds like an painful journey. If you had it to do over, are there things you would change? <br />
Bless You. <br />
Quinn <br />
<br />

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How long did your back pain last? What helped you with it
Thank you
Linda Reynolds

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@archer

---What were your HCM symptoms before surgery?

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shortness of breath, some pressure in my chest and I was not comfortable laying on my back. I could also hear the "sloshing". Dizziness when getting up and moving around. was not able to walk up stairs.

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