THOMAS's Journal

I had open heart surgery on 7/24/19 to replace my bicuspid aortic value. I knew this was coming for many years when my cardiologist diagnosed the problem about 10 years ago. I had the surgery at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, Ca and my surgeon was Dr. Luis Castro. Both the hospital, all staff and Dr. Castro were exceptional. I had the impression that all involved at the hospital and Dr. Castro and staff were family. My wife and I very impressed that we were in great hands. The surgery went well and the recovery had been slow and steady. I am an active person and I enjoy physical exercise thus the post surgery exercises are a welcome activity. I am now more than 2 months post surgery and have been in the gym at least three days per week and walk or ride the stationary bike on all the other days. The ECHO test a few weeks after the surgery with my Cardiologist indicated that the gradient number was not as low as should be and I then had a TEE test ( in hospital ) and I get the results in one week when I meet with the Cardiologist. My Dr also put me on blood thinner for three months. I am not worried since I feel great and my energy level is dramatically better than I can remember. This lends be to believe that the blood flow is good and I hope the Tee test proves this to be the case. One final observation regarding Dr. Castro- he is very calm, takes time to explain complex issues regarding the heart and made my wife and I feel very confident in his surgical abilities and especially how he treated us as human beings!! He is the best!!