HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi

Best wishes. Mine was on February 10 and I had a very good experience. Great team. Very caring. At five weeks out, I am doing OK and starting my cardiac rehab.

Wishing you well tomorrow, Beth!

Hi I’m Beth,
I’m 55 and was diagnosed with HOCM last year. My symptoms went unnoticed as I attributed them to asthma and medication side effects.

I will be having a Septal Myectomy @ Mayo on April 18th.

Looking forward to learning from you all.

I underwent septal myectomy at Mayo Rochester three and a half weeks ago. The experience was excellent, pain was not an issue, and I am walking 15 minutes three times a day. I am surprised that my stamina is slow to recover, I am taking a lot of naps, and I am more tired than I thought I would be. Is some of the fatigue the heart muscle recovering and “remodeling?”

Thank you so much @karukgirl! I, first of all, appreciate the validation about the head spinning - I think I needed that. I've taken notes of the suggestions, and will evaluate. Any more tips you can think of will be appreciated. When was your surgery? It sounds like May(ish) - was it last year or this?

Jeanne, It's no wonder your head is spinning! That is quite a lot of information to take in all at once and be scheduled so quickly. You will realize if you keep reading on here, that the one thing we all seem to have in common after the surgery is how wonderful the care is at the Mayo. So rest easy knowing this is part is true. As for getting ready? It's the strangest trip to pack for! I asked for advice on here before my first surgery (cancelled due to Covid pandemic) and then had several more months to prepare for second surgery. The real one! I would say for me, I was sort of in shock a little at how quickly things were moving since I was newly diagnosed at Mayo in November, and scheduled for myectomy in March. Then when the world fell apart, I had four more months to agonize over it! By the time the day of surgery arrived I felt calm and focused. But looking back, it also gave me more time to agonize! It may be better in some ways to get this done quickly. Keep reading on here for tips and advice. There is plenty of it, and all from experience. A couple of my tips for women: A 'lounge' bra or soft sports bra you can step into and pull up. A pair of shoes you can slip on without bending over. I went to TJMaxx and got three soft bras that I adored thru recovery. Some also say wear a shirt you can button as opposed to pulling over your head. For me, that was not a problem and I wore loose fitting t-shirts. Also pants you can easily pull up, like sweat pants or joggers. Makes it so much easier to dress the first few weeks. I also got a 10-pack of wash clothes from Ross. You will need a fresh one every day for several weeks while your sternum heals. Feel free to reach out to any of us, and I'll pray for a perfect outcome for you. Best of everything!

Hello folks ~ I'm Jeanne. I was diagnosed with HCM in July, was at Mayo (saw Dr. Ommen) earlier this month - on 10/4, and have surgery scheduled with Dr. Schaff on 11/3. My head may be spinning just a bit as I begin reading these blogs and realize how little time there is to get ready for this big life event.

Lots of cardiomyopathy in my family. It’s quite a journey. I’ve had 4 heart surgeries n recently got my 5th pacer battery-wireless this round n not fully trusting it yet. Very appreciative n blessed to even be alive💗

Hi could you help me please?

Hi! I’m, Susan and my grandson was recently diagnosed with HCM.