So today 12/12/2023 is my 6 month anniversary. I gotta say heart wise I feel great! I’m still feeling the effects of getting old, but not one time since that new #29 Bovine Aortic Valve started flow control have I had an episode. Prior to that there were a few times I started to dial 911. I was scared enough that I actually went to the cardiologist. Now I’m back to camping, bike riding & doin the gym not as much as I should and all the other things I used to take for granted. I am living proof of the achievements of man & medicine. I’m forever indebted to my Doctors & care givers at Yuma Regional Medical Center.
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Did I say I was a tough guy?
Well here we are, 6/26/2023 exactly 2 weeks post Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery. Bottom line, all went well & I am forever thankful. I don’t believe anything I could have done would have prepared me for this event. I walked in under my own power electing to have this done. A far better choice than waiting for a cardiac event to damage my heart & end up in the same exact spot only a little farther behind the power curve.
Day one was hard on my people, all day surgery & recovery. from what I’m told I was quite ashen & had very little life color as I was wheeled by, post surgery with tubes sticking out of my throat, neck & belly . I was still blissfully under & out at this point. My first memory was nurses telling me to be calm, they were going to pull these tubes from my throat.
Soon as that happened I started taking inventory, I could not feel my hands. both were numb, Matter of fact, here on day 15 my right hand still has no feeling, making it hard to type. I could not move, I had multiple tubes in my neck, and belly. I had a catheter in my ding ding. I could not sit up or stand on my own. This was the most helpless I had ever felt. I was 100% dependent! I believe that was the biggest mental hurdle I have ever crossed.
From that day on, slowly, but steady, a LITTLE better each day. today, day 19. I feel much better, I have most of the feeling back in my hands. there are still some dead spots on my right hand & wrist. I am able to walk every morning. My surgeon reviewed my last blood work, EKG & chest X-Ray and said I’m doing great & he’s all done with me. He said to follow up with my cardiologist & set me up for some Cardiac Rehab. Said now its up to me to not do anything stupid to slow or harm the rest of the healing process.
Well, even tough guys have weakness.
Turns out I have one. Little did I know, long long time ago, I was born with a bit of a flaw. Turns out there there should be three where I only have two. It’s called a Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Not only is mine missing 1/3 of its design spec, but now they tell me its too small & calcified and not working as it should. I totally can’t handle the demands my frame & structure put on it. The answer, like anything that has a bad valve, we fix it. Turns out there are several options & I have learned way more than I ever thought I needed to know about this subject. Number one choice was the TAVR Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. for that one they just shoot a new cow or pig valve up thru an artery & boom… you go home the next day. Sounded too goo to be true & it turns out it was for me. Issue number one, my heart would only accept a small valve. When it wore out, my doctor assured me it would they would have to install an even smaller one in that space. Option number two.. The dreaded open heard procedure. This one comes with it’s own set of options & decisions to make. The doctor will be able to remove the old valve & make room for a much larger valve. The two options there would be a “Tissue Valve ” or “Mechanical Valve”. Again, both have draw backs… I don’t want to sound like a Karen here, all of these options are amazing and could potently give me a better life. For that I am immensely grateful! Okay, back to the open heart options. install a Mechanical valve & be done forever, except would need to take blood thinners for ever. Or, install a large tissue valve that would have no problem with slipping a new smaller one inside when it wears out via the aforementioned TAVR method. As of today, my choice is Open Heart, Large Tissue Valve…..I’ll keep you posted…. I hope….
DeathValley 2020
In this crazy year of 2020 there have been some highlights…
One of which was the opportunity to camp and ride Death Valley with friends that knew the valley well. Huge thanks to Jason, Arwi, Maria & Dennis for introducing me to this wonderment of awesomeness.
We made base camp at Panamint Springs Resort. A rustic relic of a place that is just as you would expect to experience in such an environment. A place not connected to the rest of the world with modern convinces such as a power grid connection or cell phone towers. A place where they generate their own power & connect to the rest of the world via satellite. A place where one can really relax & enjoy the solitude.
The off road adventures in the Valley are amazing. We covered a lot of miles thru the valley that simply left me with a longing for more… I’ll be back!
Africa Twin Skills day
dedicated the early Saturday morning of April 25th 2020 to practicing a few key riding techniques that are key for adventure motorcycle riding.
Started with some practice sand practice, as a guy can never be fully comfortable in riding that stuff. Next worked on “lifting the front wheel” also known as the wheelie. Besides looking really cool. this skill has a very practical application. It’s needed every time you encounter an obstacle, rut, ditch, log, water crossing or anything you need to get that bike over or thru. Lastly I worked on tight trail turn around. also a practical skill that looks cool when performed correctly. Yes, I was equipped with video cam… you know, so I could critique myself later…