Home > Heart Surgery Blog > Patient Stories > David's Endocarditis Surprise & Weight Loss Journey

David's Endocarditis Surprise & Weight Loss Journey

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: November 13, 2024

I just received a great patient story from David Monasterski who is a new member of our community. After connecting with David at our YouTube Channel, he shared a very insightful story with me about bacterial endocarditis, aortic valve leaflet holes, the importance of second opinions, his weight loss journey and more.

David - Before & After Heart Valve Surgery

David Says...

Here is what David wrote to me:

Hi Adam, I'm 64 years old now. Two years post aortic valve replacement via open heart surgery. I also had an AtriClip installed for atrial fibrillation. For years I suffered from extra atrial beats. It was not a big deal, just made me anxious when it would occur. Here is the other side of my story:

Back in the summer of 2018, at 57 years of age, I was 321 pounds, had night sweats and leg cramps every night. I knew something was wrong. I went to doctors and found out I have Hemochromatosis - a genetic blood disease that stores excess iron in your organs. My Ferritin level was 4580. Normal Ferritin levels are 0-50. I had a liver biopsy and I had a severe fatty liver along with iron being stored in my liver, and damaging it. I'm a non-drinker and non-smoker. So, I found it strange that my liver was in such bad shape. I was then placed on weekly phlebotomy treatments in which they take out a pint per week. Within 2 years I was down to 170 pounds.

David's Low Carb Healthy Eating Chart

Fast forward 2 years and I was experiencing blurry vision in one eye, only late at night. On a hunch, I took my blood pressure which was 90/40. I went to my general practitioner to verify on their blood pressure machine. Same measurement. I then went to a cardiologist who dismissed my low blood pressure because I lost 150 pounds. I knew I had to get a second opinion.

A Life-Saving Second Opinion!

When I went to my second cardiologist... Guess what she found? Yep! A heart murmur. After an echocardiogram and a cardiac catheterization, we found I had a regurgitating bicuspid aortic valve that had a 4 to 5 millimeter hole in it!!! I needed open heart surgery to replace my defective bicuspid aortic valve.

In April 2022, I had my open heart surgery to replace my valve. I also needed part of my left atrium clipped off to prevent atrial fibrillation. I've stayed on a low carb / Keto diet throughout the recovery. I immediately lost the 14 pounds that the heart lung machine puts on you. Months later I'm walking, driving, biking, and lifting 10 pound dumbbells. I truly believe that had I not lost 150 pounds through the Keto/low carb diet I might have not survived open heart surgery.

I credit my second opinion cardiologist for getting to bottom of my health crisis. I was basically in heart failure. My B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was elevated, but I was not short of breath or retaining water.

After the surgery, I asked my surgeon, "Was there anything peculiar or outstanding about my operation?"

He said, "Oh yes - you had a 5 millimeter hole in one of the leaflets of your bicuspid aortic valve - due to endocarditis."

I asked him: "How did I ever get endocarditis?"

He said: "You might've had strep throat in the past."

Bacterial Endocarditis Heart Valve Disease

I thought: "Hmmm. I had plenty of sore throats and colds through the years, but nothing stood out."

I wonder if you've heard of anyone else experiencing the same issues, because it is still a huge mystery to me.

Thanks for everything you are doing!
Dave Monasterski

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Follow 450K