We went to Boston this weekend for scheduled follow-ups with Dr. Ho. As usual, the visit included two echocardiograms, one complete resting and one after exercise. The gradient (a proximal measure of obstruction) is greatly reduced from where it was preoperatively, and almost absent at rest. This is welcome news, and not terribly surprising.
I'm coming down off the beta blockers. Dr. Ho thinks I'll soon be able to eliminate them completely. I'm not as certain - and, in fact, there are effects on anxiety and stage fright that I enjoy - but we'll see.
My EKG now shows (and will show, permanently) a left bundle branch block, which is quite common after a myectomy. This means that the electrical pathway through the left side of the heart is disrupted. It's not a cause for concern and doesn't require treatment, but is important to be aware of in case I ever develop coronary artery disease, as an EKG to evaluate a heart attack will be inconclusive. Dr. Ho put it as succinctly as possible after looking at my EKG: "Your left bundle went into the pathology bucket in the OR."
Still waiting for that morning when I wake up without chest soreness, the morning I'll know I can swing a golf club freely. It could reach 70 degrees this weekend, but I'll be limited to chipping and putting until it doesn't hurt to rotate my torso. Sigh.
Take care,
Michael
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