Thomas Brusstar Yesterday was my 3-year anniversary of open-heart mitral valve repair. It was also the last day of a ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar Yesterday was my 3-year anniversary of open-heart mitral valve repair. It was also the last day of a 2-week backpacking trip in New Mexico with my son. The highest peak we climbed was 12,441 feet, Mt. Baldy. I carried up to 60 pounds over about 90 miles. The altitude (mostly 9,000-10,000 feet) was challenging, but we kept on plugging with our crew of 12 dads and scouts. I’m grateful that my mitral repair made this possible!
Rose Madura Wonderful update. Happy Anniversary. May you have many more years of anniversaries! Great picture! ... Read more
Rose Madura Wonderful update. Happy Anniversary. May you have many more years of anniversaries! Great picture!
Deena Z What a good feeling! Love the hats and view. Congrats.
Cameron Peek So happy you are able to be at Philmont. My son loved his trek. So happy they are not dealing with th ... Read more
Cameron Peek So happy you are able to be at Philmont. My son loved his trek. So happy they are not dealing with the awful wildfires. Congratulations on such an accomplishment.
Great accomplishment Thomas! Happy anniversary and may you have many more. God bless you
Tracy Fallu Happy Anniversary! Cheers to many more healthy years and hikes.
Susan Lynn Great photo, Thomas! Happy Third Anniversary! Glad you're enjoying life's great adventures with you ... Read more
Susan Lynn Great photo, Thomas! Happy Third Anniversary! Glad you're enjoying life's great adventures with your family!
Thomas Brusstar Thanks for all the kind words! It was a nice post-surgical milestone.
Thomas Brusstar Today is 6 months. Thanks to everybody for the empathy and the total expertise! Since my surgery, I ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar Today is 6 months. Thanks to everybody for the empathy and the total expertise! Since my surgery, I’ve been able to talk two friends through mitral valve repair surgery, which has been totally rewarding. I know my positivity is warranted, because of what I’ve seen here!
Happy 6 Months Anniversary Thomas!
Louanna Miller Thomas, I’m thankful you’re doing so good! You’ve helped me as I followed you with mitral valv ... Read more
Louanna Miller Thomas, I’m thankful you’re doing so good! You’ve helped me as I followed you with mitral valve surgery about a month after yours. God bless!!
Debbie Moriarty Congrats on 6 months!! Sounds like a great place to be!!!
Rob Sparling Scar looks great, Thomas! And story is excellent as well! Keep pushin’ ahead! Thanks for the post ... Read more
Rob Sparling Scar looks great, Thomas! And story is excellent as well! Keep pushin’ ahead! Thanks for the post. 👍
Dan Vechiola Way to go Thomas! So happy for you! I too have followed your lead since the day you welcomed me on to ... Read more
Dan Vechiola Way to go Thomas! So happy for you! I too have followed your lead since the day you welcomed me on to Team McCarthy 💪❤👍
Thomas Brusstar At 8 weeks post-surgery, my cardiologist wants to monitor for arrhythmia. I haven’t had a problem ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar At 8 weeks post-surgery, my cardiologist wants to monitor for arrhythmia. I haven’t had a problem with those, other than a short bout of afib on day 2 in the hospital. So they stick this thing on, in my case for 7 days, and it just records every beat. When I’m done, I remove it (not looking forward to that!) and mail it to the company, which gives the data to my doc. At day 3 of 7, it’s kind of itchy and pulls some, but I can exercise and shower with it, just no immersion. Let’s hope the device tells the doc “ leave him alone for a while!l
Louanna Miller Thomas, Dr McCarthy had me wear one prior to my surgery to assess for AFib, etc. Amazing little halt ... Read more
Louanna Miller Thomas, Dr McCarthy had me wear one prior to my surgery to assess for AFib, etc. Amazing little halter monitor.
Dan Vechiola Looking good Thomas! That is a pretty cool device. Much better than the old over the shoulder carryi ... Read more
Dan Vechiola Looking good Thomas! That is a pretty cool device. Much better than the old over the shoulder carrying case.
Nancy Luth Looking good. Hope you can getting of your little monitor soon!
LINDA ROBERTS My incision is bulging but healing well after 4 weeks. What is your secret to keeping your scar so s ... Read more
LINDA ROBERTS My incision is bulging but healing well after 4 weeks. What is your secret to keeping your scar so smooth?
Thomas Brusstar My scar at 8 weeks is pretty clean. I have literally put nothing on the scar the whole time. My wif ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar My scar at 8 weeks is pretty clean. I have literally put nothing on the scar the whole time. My wife made sure I ate tons of protein for the first month, to feed the scar healing. This picture makes it look dark red, but it’s really just more pink.
Robert Bach I wore one of those before surgery. It's an awesome device and surprisingly convenient.
Thomas Brusstar Today, 5 weeks post, I can discontinue the amiodarone. So just the warfarin is the only real drug. ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar Today, 5 weeks post, I can discontinue the amiodarone. So just the warfarin is the only real drug. Vitamins and baby aspirin don’t count. The X-ray shows no fluid buildup in the chest, so I got a pretty good checkup today. I will try the rehab classes (prescribed today) to see whether they help. I’ll get another echo in three weeks, and I guess also be fitted with a halter monitor for a while at that time, to make sure I’m all good without the amiodarone. All seems like progress.
While the patient benefits of attending cardiac rehab after heart valve surgery are well documented, the utility of these post-operative programs remains disapp
Sue Waterworth Looks just like mine....but without the hairs, and a few adjustments for gender!
Susan Stroud 😜 yup !! Ha! Ha! Keep on smiling & tickin !!! 👍
Beth Saunders I admit I was really worried about my scar before my surgery, but at 10 months postop you can hardly ... Read more
Beth Saunders I admit I was really worried about my scar before my surgery, but at 10 months postop you can hardly see it and I am now rather proud of it!
Susan Lynn Nice suturing! Continued success with your recovery!
Dan Vechiola Looking good Tom! That is a STRAIGHT incision! Did McCarthy and his team use a ruler? lol Keep up ... Read more
Dan Vechiola Looking good Tom! That is a STRAIGHT incision! Did McCarthy and his team use a ruler? lol Keep up the great work one day at a time. They say cardiac rehab is a good thing so good luck with that!