Willem's Profile

I visited my GP for a checkup to renew my driver's license. She noticed a heart murmur and had me undergo an echocardiogram. As a result, I was diagnosed to have severe aortic stenosis. My surgery took place on May 5, 2023. After the surgery, I had difficulty breathing and was in much pain. I was also unable to stand and lay in the hospital bed. Thus, they had me sleep in a Lazyboy chair. The nurses thought that my problems were due to anxiety after the surgery. That was not true because I am not an anxious person, as my friends and relatives will attest to. After a few days of struggle, I passed out, and code blue was called. I was subsequently diagnosed with aortic tamponade. That means a lot of fluid around my heart made breathing difficult for my heart to work. Consequently, they opened me up again. I then developed pneumonia in my left lung and sepsis. The infections were cleared up within a few days, and I was discharged after almost three weeks in the hospital. After five months, I have not sufficiently gained strength in my legs to walk unaided. I still have to use a cane and a walker. I also lost strength in my right arm and cannot lift anything. Does anyone else have similar issues?