About Me (In My Own Words)
By the time I went for my physical in late 2011 at age 55 my long-standing heart murmur was bad enough that my GP sent me for an echo. Eventually that came back and he called me in. "Leaky valves" he said, drawing one on the paper that covered the exam table, "gonna send you to a cardiologist."
Cardiologist did a bunch of tests: EKG, stress, TEE. Boy did I get a big surprise, "Buddy, you need heart surgery". And I'm thinking: you must be kidding. Me? Non-smoker, mostly herbivore, avid hiker, skier, runner, kayaker, ultimate frisbee player? You must mean the other guy. That one, over there. The one who doesn't take care of himself, smokes, and is way overweight.
I started doing research. Turns out this is serious.
2 months later, after my crash courses in cardiology and medical risk management, Dr Abbas Ardehali repaired my mitral valve at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. I went home four days later with 6 miles walking laps marked on the board. It was a magical experience from start to finish. Not easy, but magical.
From then its been onward and upward.
Now, a year later, and after lurking in the guestbooks all that time, I'd like a single place where I can better be in the conversation and pass along my experiences - what I've learned and continue to learn. Adam's gift to us is this site where we help each other confront the starkness of heart surgery, tempering the fear and anxiety with hope and excitement. I think I can do more to help out by having my own blog now. And I'll have a guestbook of my own for others to lurk in.
So, how does it feel a year after surgery? Dr. Ardehali said I wouldn't notice that I'd had it. But as a matter of fact I am
better. These days I can do a 20 mile hike, an 8 mile run, a 1 mile swim, and play field sports for hours on end. So, the magic continues.
Here's my finish at this year's "Arroyo Seco Freako", the legendary annual cross-country race at my work:
Proudly wearing my scar @ 11 months post MV repair -- DVB
I am from: Los Angeles, California
