I had a bicuspid aortic valve and severe aortic stenosis, during all the tests leading up to surgery the doctors discovered an ascending aortic aneurysm.
After surgery on day two my heart rate dropped to 30 bpm, an electrophysiologist was called in and said I had stage 3 heart block and I needed a pacemaker.
I went thru cardiac rehab, completing 24 sessions, it really helped me physically and mentally that the surgery was successful because I pushed myself in rehab.
I tell people until you’ve experienced open heart surgery, it’s hard to describe what you go through, everyone is different, the procedures the various hospitals and surgeons go thru are slightly different, I went into surgery thinking one thing and came out of surgery thinking something different, I was never in any bad physical pain, my biggest obstacle was mental which I never expected, especially after they told me I needed a pacemaker and essentially a second surgery.
I didn’t get a pacemaker. I got a defibrillator. I had mild congestive heart failure before the surgery, now I have severe CHF. I was declined for cardiac rehab because they said I was too advanced. Never understood that. It really sucks. Now I’m off to the gym to do a pathetic chest work out. I’m hoping nobody is there to see me.