Patient Pictures of Mark Alafita

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3242 days ago

Elaine Cutri, susan kotansky, Gary Stripling and 3 others reacted to this

What a difference 365 days make. A year ago, I was getting my aortic valve replaced at the University of Michigan. 9 months later, I was hiking 12 miles ...Read more

What a difference 365 days make. A year ago, I was getting my aortic valve replaced at the University of Michigan. 9 months later, I was hiking 12 miles in Sedona AZ. I want to thank the numerous folks on this site who kept my fears at bay, answered

Whitney Nelson That's awesome!! Congratulations on your recovery!

Liz Burroughs That's so great!! Congrats!!

Looks like you are having more fun in Arizona! Congrats!

Robert Frederick Very encouraging!

Mark Alafitaposted a photo

3663 days ago

Joan Napier reacted to this

Looking forward to getting the surgery and increasing the speed of my walks with my dog, Logan!

Mark Alafitaposted a photo

3663 days ago

Joan Napier reacted to this

My awesome family.

Mark Alafitaposted a photo

3611 days ago

Quick question on dog walking post-op...see comments below.

Mark Alafita Quick question for the group regarding dog walking post-op.

I've been trying to get as much dog walk ... Read more

Mark Alafita Quick question for the group regarding dog walking post-op.

I've been trying to get as much dog walking in with my Golden Retriever before surgery next week. My question is: How quickly were you able to get back to walking your dog, and are there any tips you can offer in doing so?

A couple things about my dog, Logan:
1. He is around 70 pounds.
2. When we walk, he's a bit of a puller, meaning he likes to try to go farther and faster than I or the leash allow him.
3. The leash I use is one that wraps across the torso, for hands-free walking.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Kathleen F. Interesting - I'm one month out from surgery and I hadn't thought about getting one of those leashes, ... Read more

Kathleen F. Interesting - I'm one month out from surgery and I hadn't thought about getting one of those leashes, I see them attached to runner's belts to keep their arms free to run. I miss walking my 70 lb. dog too; he's also a bit of a puller but getting my walks in around town would be more fun for both of us if he was with me. I would imagine that you could limit the weight of the pulling, (since I'm limited to "lifting" 5 lbs on each side). and you could also bend your arms so that you could use your biceps and triceps to pull him back in, and minimize any pulling on your chest... I am going to ask my doctor about this at my appointment next week.

Clay Rowe Great photo Mark!

Tammy Pilcher Beautiful photo, Mark!

Jim Kelly-Evans Nice photo. I have to pull my 13-1/2 year old guy around at this point.:)

Jason Leber Hi Mark, we sent our dog away to "camp" for the first month. I was able to walk her (40 lb cattle dog ... Read more

Jason Leber Hi Mark, we sent our dog away to "camp" for the first month. I was able to walk her (40 lb cattle dog) after 4 weeks using a torso leash. I'm pretty sure that I could've walked her after the 2nd or 3rd week point but she doesn't pull. I suspect you're going to be able to handle your dog easily by 4 weeks. It wasn't my chest that hurt when walking the dog, it was my neck and shoulders.

Bob M Ready for the puppy bowl

Michael Meyer Mark:
I have a 38 pound Brittany and she pulls a lot. Presurgery I used a regular collar. Post surg ... Read more

Michael Meyer Mark:
I have a 38 pound Brittany and she pulls a lot. Presurgery I used a regular collar. Post surgery I used a chain prong training collar. My kids and wife always had to use this type of collar as they could not handle her otherwise. She follows the lead much better. i give her 12 feet of leash since she is a Brittany (the nose goes everywhere).. The goldens in my neighborhood seem to do well on a leash.

I took long walks with my dog post recovery. That was very enjoyable. We walk everyday now, but not as long as after surgery.

Daryl McCallum Mark we have a doberman that came home to us 5 days post OP, and my wife was the trainer for the firs ... Read more

Daryl McCallum Mark we have a doberman that came home to us 5 days post OP, and my wife was the trainer for the first 2 months as I wanted to be careful as they had to open me twice. Once I felt comfortable I walked him slow for 3 months but pups don't know slow. Today 10 months PO i walk him daily and he weighs 90 pounds, and I find sometimes I strain my lower sternum area when we go into training mode. So I would suggest going at it slowly.

Daryl McCallum Mark read your post about the recliner, and I thank god I had one, as I slept in it for a month or mo ... Read more

Daryl McCallum Mark read your post about the recliner, and I thank god I had one, as I slept in it for a month or more as I was so uncomfortable in bed. I had the power recliner and that was great for me.
Also I made decision on the valve....my doc gave me a nice big cow valve and I thought the same thing about it wearing out, as by then I'm sure it will be less evasive.

Mark Alafita Thanks all, for the write ups and advice. And yes, Daryl, I got the power recliner ready for me at h ... Read more

Mark Alafita Thanks all, for the write ups and advice. And yes, Daryl, I got the power recliner ready for me at home!

Meredith Bray I was home for at least two weeks before I was up to dog-walking speed and stamina. I'd be very wary ... Read more

Meredith Bray I was home for at least two weeks before I was up to dog-walking speed and stamina. I'd be very wary of anything that might jerk you around, torso or otherwise.

Lenore Mitchell Great photo of your Golden, Mark. I have a Border Collie, and since I live alone, he stayed with my d ... Read more

Lenore Mitchell Great photo of your Golden, Mark. I have a Border Collie, and since I live alone, he stayed with my daughter's family for about a month post op, in fact he just came home with me. He doesn't pull at all on leash, but he does expect me to throw frisbees for him, which seems ok. I'm still walking as slow as a turtle, and the little guy seems to understand. It's great to have my dog back!