Post septum myectomy: How did you feel 9 weeks after surgery?

Hi @margiewinslow, it looks like you are new to Mayo Clinic Connect, so welcome!
May I ask where your septal myectomy was performed?
It sounds like you had a pretty rough time afterwards...that's too bad. We are all different and we all have different recoveries. Thank goodness you were still in the hospital when the heart block happened.

Being in good physical condition can help you live your best life, but it sounds like you have a couple of remaining issues that keep you from being able to develop a plan to get some exercise.
How often do you see your cardiologist? Have you shared your concerns with them?

I had a septal myectomy in 01/2022. Also replaced damaged mitral valve and had a LAA put in . Coming out of surgery had total heart block. Pacemaker installed a week later while I was still in the ICU. Long recovery. 1 yr of rehab. Still not 100% but no syncope. Short of breath due to deconditioning which was partly due to continued Metoprolol making me lethargic and fear of the heart failing in some way.

@walkinggirl Thanks, I am seeing the EP guy next week. Might need an ablation and/or pacemaker/defib

@jsl4801 I developed arrhythmia about 3 weeks after my septal myectomy. Dizziness and giddiness when moving around, never when sitting or laying. Syncope, wore Holter for a month, pressed a button each time felt dizzy, another Syncope, report from Holter showed arrhythmia. I was given Buddy, my ICD. Your situation is unique to you, but my story may be useful. Our lucky hearts underwent quite a bit of trauma.

Hi there, I am 18 weeks post op septal myectomy and aortic valve replacement. I turned the corner at about 14 weeks. I am still in rehab but still have an arrhythmia which is being evaluated

@bocellibonjovi71 I'm about 4 months post-myectomy and mitral valve repair; age 73. The first month was not too bad for me, but I realized I should have tried harder to clear my work schedule 100% for those first 4 weeks or so, as I really just needed to focus on initial post-op steps -- literally: walking more and more -- and simply resting. Even though mine is a desk job (self-employed, semi-retired), every phone call and follow-up email, for example, was somewhat tiring and challenging in those first weeks.

That got better fast after the first month, and I started 12 weeks of cardiac rehab after two months. The rehab is still ongoing, and going well. The pain at the incision site was never too bad for me (though I certainly hugged the heart pillow that first month). That pain was completely gone by about 2-1/2 or 3 months.

One day at a time bb71; yes, it gets better and better.

@bocellibonjovi71 I am about 10 weeks out and just turned a corner in week 9. I had been suffering debilitating pain in my back and chest (away from the incision) and no medication helped. Although from a mechanical cardiac standpoint I am "fixed," I began to question my decision to have surgery because the daily pain was nearly too much and showed no signs of relief. Then, overnight, that pain disappeared, leaving me with the more manageable aches and pains of recovery. I'm still sleeping in a recliner, but have started PT to get my arms, back, and chest flexible again. My 9 weeks was a slog. One thing I've "learned" from reading about people's experiences is that everyone's is slightly different, but on the bell curve of recovery, 6-8 weeks seems to be about the standard amount of time before one really starts to feel better. There are obviously exceptions -- most people who post are at the tail ends of the curves -- but try to hang in there and also be sure to advocate for yourself re pain, etc. I hope that you feel better soon.

Thank you both for sharing. I'm one month post myectomy for HOCM and it's been hard so far, very hard. Nice to hear it should get better as I go.

I also had a septal myectomy in 2018. I felt like a brand new person after that surgical procedure and cardiac rehab. Then had the defibrillator/ pacemaker put in 2019. I'm so glad I had it done. It was a long time before my pain went away from the incision I had from surgery, it was almost 12 months.

Why was he recommended septal myectomy. Did he get an icd or pacemaker.