HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi

How’s things been since the surgery

Hi @manning2000 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I'd like to invite @yorlik to say hi to you as they had the procedure and feel it may not be right for them either.

I encourage you to read this article in one of the heart journals, "TAVR: Miracle for Some, but No Improvements in Quality of Life for Others," https://www.tctmd.com/news/tavr-miracle-some-no-improvements-quality-life-others

Do you know why they suggested the TAVR in the first place?

I was told that my heart problems would be solved with a TAVR procedure. Had TAVR on Aug. 31. On same day I was told I had HCM. When I left, I felt worse than before the TAVR because of all the other new drugs, I needed. I have gone down hill since then. I get tired just walking around the house. In my opinion, I didn’t need the TAVR. I needed the thickened heart mussel attended to.

Wearing the monitor has been ok I guess. It’s hard to know when I should press the alert button to record as the palpitations are pretty constant, coupled with chest pressure. I have recorded several events and I know regardless, the monitor is constantly recording. Thanks for the welcome!

Hello @pleasant7 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Given your family history, I am glad to hear that you've had testing done for yourself and are getting care.

In order to hear from others' experiences with the Holster Monitor, I would like to bring in members such as @jadillow @jwillits8 @bonnieh218 and @razorclams who have all shared about their respective experiences with monitors.

While we wait for them to join the discussion, I though this link may be helpful to help explain the stage you referenced of heart failure.

- Heart Failure: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373148

How has wearing your heart monitor been going so far?

Hey everyone. I had a stress and echo this week. I’m also wearing a 30 day heart monitor. I have experienced chest pains on exertion. I have a family history of sudden cardiac death at younger ages. I lost a first cousin at age 42 to it. Unfortunately, many of my relatives died before having cardiac tests. Mom and Dad had heart attacks in early their 70s and Dad had 5 way bypass. Both are deceased now. My online tests results show Moderate hypokinesis in basal anteroseptal segment , Small left ventrical, Abnormal left ventrical filling, and Ejection Fraction 75%. My appointment isn’t until May 13th. By then the holster monitor will be available to my cardiologist. What questions should I ask? I’ve never had a heart cath but would like better confirmation of what’s going one. The online results say I have diastolic heart failure., stage 1. I’m 62 years old and female. Thank you.

Thank you Karukgirl, that is good info.
I am 55.5, in relatively good shape (180 lbs) and ready to get this over with so I can get into recovery. I'm not good at it but I like to do P90X and I Pastor in MI so I'm looking forward to getting back in shape and in the pulpit. With 2 bypasses & the septal myopathy it looks like its gonna be a while.
Please keep in touch with any info you think will be helpful to my wife & I.

dg

I had mine on October 4 2021 and it was a good experience. I was lucky my brother in law lives in Rochester five minutes away from the hospital and had a extra vehicle to use so that helped a lot. The only problem was I went into afib 4 days after surgery so I had to stay three more days. Recovery wasn’t bad except for sleep but it’s good now. I work running heavy equipment and I went back to work a month and a half after surgery and I wish now I would have waited another month. Cause climbing up and down ladders was and bouncing was tough on the cut

Welcome! You have found a wonderful place to share your experience, gain information, and learn from others who have walked your same path. Poke around this sight and you will learn many things about what you asked for. Places to stay. Places to eat, etc. Every single person is unique and therefore each one of us has a different recovery and different experience from this huge surgery. One thing we all seem to have in common is the care given by every employee of the Mayo Clinic...from housekeeping to surgeon, is the finest in the land. Dare I say the world. You will be in good hands. If you have time, read some of what we fellow HOCM folks posted before and after. I wrote a post about where we stayed. *Courtyard by Marriot. Directly across the street from St. Mary entrance. Could not have been more convenient. From there, free shuttles to the downtown Mayo Clinic/Gonda Bldg. Where we ate: *Chester's downtown for lunch/dinner. And the walking distance to lots of fast food and the fresh food market for healthy fare and wine! As for what to do? You will find that your day of surgery is suddenly here, and from that point on the days pass quickly but the nights are long. Thank goodness for the nurses. They are gifts from God. Wishing you all the best. It's not your typical surgery, but the Mayo Clinic is not your typical hospital. They are world class and it makes it easy to put your life in their hands. Keep us posted, and again best wishes and prayers.

New to the group, mine is 3.31, will be in on 3.28 to start testing.
Any suggestions? - Only wife will be with me / she'll be at hotel nearby / where to eat / what to do in MN / what should I expect from experience / Recovery time? (double-bypass and HOCM).