About Me (In My Own Words)
On Dec. 24th I was hanging Christmas lights when my left arm went numb. Concerned, I went inside and laid down. A few minutes later there was a slight feeling of pressure on my chest, much like a cat laying on me would feel. At that point, being home alone, I drove to an urgent care facility. Walking in, I went to the desk to say that my arm was numb and I had chest pressure. The totally disinterested woman told me that no one could see me for 4-5 hours! I then left and drove to the ER. 8 hours later, after much testing, I was finally put into a room and tried to sleep. They kept coming in all night long, taking blood, etc. The next morning I saw my first cardiologist who told me that I probably strained my arm in the lifting of the boxes overhead, and that they needed to do an "Echo" test, but could not find anyone to admin that until Monday. So I went home and spent Christmas and the next day worrying. On Monday I had the echo test. A doc called me into his office and said "you are a walking time bomb"! They admitted me immediately and the next morning I had a valve replacement using a pig valve. The surgeon was first rate and did the procedure in less than 2 hours and in 4 hours I was in recovery. This all seemed like a surrealistic dream, happening to someone else. I had never been sick. Never had any symptoms. How is this possible that I could function as well as I did with a calcified valve that was 90% fused?
The recovery was surprisingly fast and without complications. I was home in 4-1/2 days and walking 12 minutes a day, working up to a mile in just a few days. I slept in a recliner chair for a month almost, due to a persistent cough that I developed that kept my wife awake. I started rehab on Feb. 1 and just completed my 36 sessions on April 29th, 4 months to the day of the surgery. The biggest concern I have had is the hospital closing their vascular center and my rehab gym and my doc leaving in protest, so I have really been cut off from everything in my view. These hospitals make so much money. My bill was over $160,000 and climbing and yet they cut all their heart patients off without much, if any, explanation. Now THAT would give anyone cause to have heart issues wouldn't it?
I am doing great in spite of all that. Playing golf after 12 weeks. Cough not subsiding though. Feel free to contact me or ask any questions please, anytime.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Flagstaff, Arizona
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My surgery date is:
December 29, 2015
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Erazio Amabile
