Don's Profile

I've had a heart murmur my whole life, I went for work a physical in 2012 and the doctor recommen that I should see my doctor. My doctor sent me for a echo-cardio and my bicuspid aortic stenosis was at 1.4. I had it checked yearly and it remained at 1.4. Then in October of 2017 I went for my yearly test and it had a major change to 1.0. My doctor recommended that I should go to Stanford. So I did my appointment was made and in January started my journey, they examined me and wanted another echo, this one came back at 0.71 another major change. My surgeon gave me date of 04/02/18. This seemed so fast I was in good shape a month before my October 2017 I rode a century bicycle ride around Lake Tahoe, didn't really have the shortness of breath issues or I guess I never really noticed. For me the most scared was the Cather test, I was afraid that they would find something else wrong, but everything came back clear. Big mistake I went to work the day after, it took about 2 days before I felt 100% after this procedure. The test went thru my right arm and not the groin area. I was fortunate enough to have a mini sternotomy. I went in for surgery on 04/02/2018 and was released from the hospital 04/05/18. I was very blessed, I walked 1 mile in the hospital 4/5/2018 the better your cardio is before surgery the faster your recovery will be. I started walking and walking more, averaging about 2 miles a day first week out then increasing daily. My second week out had a atrial flutter actually 4/16/18 spent night in hospital and had a Cardioversion 4/17/18, a pretty big setback more physiological, since then I have had no issues and am averaging between 8-10 miles walking daily. I have noticed going up stairs I am not catching my breath so there is an improvement.