Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  Introduction

    Posted 04-26-2019 09:54
    Hi, my name is Eric Schauer and I had my first heart surgery almost 2 years ago when I was 48 y/o to repair a mitral valve.  My heart muscle was damaged somehow during surgery so I began treatment for heart failure.  My valve started leaking again so I had another surgery last year using the MitraClip procedure since I was at too high of a risk for another open heart surgery.  Last July I had surgery for the S-ICD and I am still trying to get used to having this thing in my chest.  I have struggled with feelings of sadness and loss of interest in things that I once enjoyed.  I get angry and think to myself, "why me", since I have always been active/healthy, never drinking alcohol, never smoking, never using drugs.  I try to stay positive and have a grateful heart for all the things that I do have but sometimes it is difficult.

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    Eric Schauer
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  • 2.  RE: Introduction

    Posted 04-28-2019 21:44
    I can't have open heart surgery either, but I'm hoping to get this Mitra clip for a leaky mitral valve.  I also have cardiomyopathy, and they think this could help.  I'm anxious to know more about it.

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    Francee Levin
    Columbia SC
    (803) 788-1207
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  • 3.  RE: Introduction

    Posted 04-29-2019 08:04
    Yeah, my first was an open heart surgery and then the second one was through the leg to place the Mitraclip.  They suspect that the drug that was used to stop my heart during the first surgery may have damaged the muscle.

    Eric Schauer

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    Eric Schauer
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  • 4.  RE: Introduction

    Posted 04-30-2019 10:18
    ​Eric-
    This is in reply to your comment in your initial post about blaming yourself. Most of my professional life I represented injured workers which taught me more clearly than any existential text how much what happens to us is beyond our direct control. All we can do is judge what is the best advice out there and follow it as best we can.

    I too "did everything right" -- and suffered two heart attacks -- one major. I learned subsequently that slightly more than 50% of all people who suffer M.I.s have no apparent pre-existing risk factors. But where having taken care of yourself pays off is in (1) the survival rate and (2) the ability to adjust your life style further as your doctors recommend. It was much easier for me to up my exercising from three days a week to six, and to tweak my diet, than for someone who didn't exercise or watch what they ate at all.

    STAY POSITIVE. There are no guarantees but amazing progress can be made.

    (And now for a commercial interruption. Check out I WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE, co-written with my wife Adele, about our experiences.)

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    Bob] Levin
    Berkeley CA
    adelbob@comcast.netRobertRobert
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