Cardiologist Visit And Update: Surgery Is Scheduled

[Muse]

My 6 month post surgery appointments are coming up. May 26 I go for another cardiac stress test. June 1 is blood work and other tests, I am told. June 28 is my family doctor visit and hopefully find out when I get my second covid shot.

How ya feelin'?

 

[Iron Woode]

How ya feelin'?

I feel very good overall. I am still struggling with losing weight and I am no longer on warfarin. Less pills I have to take, the better.

I have been working on increasing my exercise and overall fitness. Hopefully, the nice weather here continues so I can get out more.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have a follow up to my update earlier:

I received the results from my echo-cardiogram and my heart is in very good over all shape. The swelling has gone down to normal size. Valves are good. However, my ejection fraction has dropped from 60% to 50% - 55%. The cardiologist isn't concerned about it but I am. I just have to wait until my other appointments to see if there is any improvement.

 

[Iron Woode]

Today I went for my cardiac stress test.

If you never had one, it involves a treadmill, a bunch of heart and blood pressure monitors, a tube to breathe through and people keeping an eye on you.

It starts off at a flat slow pace. That is to lull you into a false sense of easy exercise. Then they speed it up and put it on an incline. After that they speed it up again and increase the incline to nearly 35°. That last one was very hard on me. I lasted a total of 10 minutes on the treadmill.

My stats were excellent and no chest pain. My BP hit 200 systolic. My heart rate hit 130bpm.

The cardiologist on duty said I did great considering what was done to my heart/veins from surgery. I was kind of surprised myself because I was tired from it but not exhausted. I recovered very quickly.

 

[Iron Woode]

My 1 year "heartiversary" is officially on October 13 however, I have my 1 year appointment on Monday October 4 at 10:00 AM.

I am going to have an echo-cardiogram and x-rays as well as other tests. I have been told I will be there for an hour or more.

I hope everything turns out great. I feel so much better that I have in years.

I even lost 3 kg (not quite 7 pounds) over the last 3 months.

 

[mike8675309]

Congratulations. What if anything have you changed over the last 3 months, be it diet or physical activity?
With your arteries opened up from the angioplasty, you should see recovery increase dramatically. It is now easier to get oxygenated blood all over your body which is what helps recovery. The same type of benefit endurance runners gets as their body adapts to their higher blood needs, naturally opening up arteries.

 

[Iron Woode]

Congratulations. What if anything have you changed over the last 3 months, be it diet or physical activity?
With your arteries opened up from the angioplasty, you should see recovery increase dramatically. It is now easier to get oxygenated blood all over your body which is what helps recovery. The same type of benefit endurance runners gets as their body adapts to their higher blood needs, naturally opening up arteries.

I didn't have angioplasty. I literally had 2 pulmonary veins rerouted to the upper left chamber of my heart and a patch to fix my ASD (atrial septal defect).

And, yes, my heart pumps way more efficiently and I get more oxygen to where it is needed.

Not much has changed. I will be starting a new diabetes drug, Ozempic this week.

 

[Iron Woode]

I saw my surgeon today and he said my progress has been fantastic.

My sternum has healed up nicely, so weight lifting restrictions are gone. He just said not to hurt myself lifting heavy things.

My heart is healthy and strong.

I will have to see him again in 2 years.