My heart inside out

Post by **pilkguns** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 10:58 am

Hello everyone,

This is to let you know about my recent medical condition and the future. I am currently at home recovering from open heart surgery where I had my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve (St. Jude style) last week, Thursday July 22nd. I am doing amazingly well. I know that to some of you this will be a total surprise, but truly we did not see the situation as being serious enough to warrant public broadcast until now.

Five months ago (February of 2004) I had a physical in anticipation of my upcoming 40th birthday. The doctor doing the physical spent an extraordinary amount of time listening to my heart, finally resulting in his statement, “Your heart sounds terrible, you need to see a cardiologist right away.” I was aware that I had heart murmur (leaking valve) since birth but it had never been an issue in any physical activity and honestly I had no indications that anything was wrong now other than this strong verbal pronouncement. I did follow-up, the same day in fact, with an ultrasound of my heart, which resulted in a chart of numbers that was beyond my ability to interpret. I faxed them off to the only real heart specialist I was acquainted with, Dr. Mike Petracek a heart surgeon from Nashville that I knew was one of the best in country. I really knew Mike through his wife Connie Petracek, a US Shooting Team member who had been on the ’92 and ’96 Olympic Teams, and had been one the top pistol shooters when she was competing.

Mike indicated the results showed the leakage was beyond an acceptable level, and had started to enlarge (damage) the heart but was very minor at this point. We ultimately did some more testing but the upshot was that I should plan to have the valve replaced while my heart was still overall very healthy, sometime within the next 12 months, to keep it healthy. So we did some figuring of my scheduled events of 2004 (engraving, shooting events, National Guard stuff etc, and picked July 22 as the day to do it with the following 12 week recovery time.

Well, we did the deed last Thursday and I can’t say enough about Mike. Mike has surgeons from all the US and the world who come to learn from him and he has gone overseas including China to teach his heart surgery techniques. Its funny he made a comment about surgeons that I see of engravers and shooters as well, that rang very true to me. He said that most surgeons have the ability to cut and sew, but very few have the ability to visualize the overall project and how it will come out in the end. They spend too much time worrying about how it will come it while there are doing it, rather than having that assurance that it will come out as intended, which is of course detrimental to the final product.

Rhonda had stayed with Mike and Connie during my surgery and been helping Connie pick and can the vegetables from Connie’s huge garden., something Rhonda would normally be doing at our house this time of year anyway. Connie was glad for the help and Rhonda was happy to have something to occupy her mind other than thinking about me. By Saturday afternoon the 24th, I was doing well enough to be checked out of the hospital, and go home with Mike to let him monitor me from his house. What a real treat to discover that Mike was gourmet cook as well, I was eating fantastically prepared buffalo, elk, and red fish from the Gulf along with all the fresh veggies from the garden over the next few days, Wow! It amazed that I could be doing so well 3 days after surgery, including walking up and down 2 flights of stairs on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, I am still sore, tired, groggy at times, and of course I am on various medications at the moment, to include some pain stuff, but overall I am doing really well all things considered, Fantastic really.

I expect a complete recovery, with 12 weeks being required for the breastbone to knit back together where it was sawn in half. I got home yesterday, and will continue to walk and do everything within limits to hasten my recovery. Probably even do some engraving in the next week or so.

If you want to send me an e-mail that’s fine, the computer is where I will be spending the bulk of my time the next few weeks. If you feel the need to send flowers, I would much prefer that you make a donation in that amount to USA Shooting, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. www.usashooting.com

Anyway I consider myself very fortunate to have friends like Mike and Connie, and friends like you. You all are a very important part of who I am.

My Best wishes to all of you,
Scott

Mark Briggs · Post by **Mark Briggs** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:51 am

Scott - Thanks for keeping us in the loop with respect to your personal situation. Here's wishing you a speedy and complete recovery! We've recently gone through this same thing in our family (with a little piggy's valve...) and recognize you're up against a situation which will try your patience as recovery always takes longer than the patient thinks it should. Just follow the good doc's orders and all will go well.

Mark.

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:57 am

Scott: I know more or less what you are talking about. Some years ago, before our tour of Germany, I had to have a double-bypass operation. Best thing I could have done. The medical people were great and I recovered very well with little to no problems since. I was operated on at 7:30 am Monday morning and was home by 1:30 pm on Thursday!!
Anyway, good to hear you are doing okay and recovering. Hang in there and get back to normal "work" as soon as you can. I have always felt that the quicker you get back to normal stuff, the better and faster you heal.
Later, Don in Oregon

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:17 pm

Obviously, best wishes from this side of the pond for a speedy recovery.

David

JohnK · Post by **JohnK** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:17 pm

Scott,
Best wishes and a speedy recovery!
John L. Konneker
Lincoln, Nebraska

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:24 pm

Scott,

I just read your message about your heart operation. It sounds like your were in good hands. I trust all is going well.

Vikki, Brad and I wish you a very speedy recovery.

Best Regards,
Ian

Jay V · Post by **Jay V** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:56 pm

Hi Scott,

Glad to hear that the surgery went well. Best of luck for a speedy and complete recovery!

Jay V
IL

deleted1 · Post by **deleted1** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:37 pm

As a 73 year young survivor of a quad by-pass in 2000---it was the best thing that ever happened to me---and I am sure your episode will be the best thing that happened to you---speedy recovery and my prayers go with you.

Sparks · Post by **Sparks** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 2:51 pm

Ouch Scott!
Best wishes from Ireland for a speedy recovery!

Randy Bimrose · Post by **Randy Bimrose** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:50 am

I just found out abut your operation from Greg Derr who you referred to me for a part. Well I guess I'll skip the phone call now as I got the update above. Glad to hear all is going well--our hopes and prayers are for you. Best regards from Wanda and I.

Evia · Post by **Evia** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:34 am

Thanks God everything went ok!!. Whit our best wishes from Mexico for a speedy recovery!

Manuel Evia

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:29 am

Scott:

Thanks for reaching out and letting us know the circumstances.

As in most things in life (including shooting and health) attitude is so important. Recovery and self image are not mutually exclusive words. There are a lot of people you have never met personally who visit this board and benefit from your business --- each one of them is pulling for you.

Keep that postive attitude. Take each day as a small step to arrive at your full recovery. Picture yourself doing the things you REALLY want to do with your children, Ronda, and close friends. Keep that picture in your mind.

Best wishes for a swift and full recovery.

Jim Edmondson

FredB · Post by **FredB** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:42 am

Scott,

Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery!

Fred Bauer

randy69 · Post by **randy69** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:30 am

Scott,

Hope things are going well and wish you a speedy recovery. My college professor had an operation similiar to your, but he is still plugging along 12 years after the operations. He is retired know in his mid 60s.

Randy,

mikeschroeder · Post by **mikeschroeder** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:14 am

Have a good rest Scott. My Dad had open heart in 1984 at 65. He's currently teaching driver's ed to old people for the state of Illinois as a volunteer. Don't sneeze, don't laugh. Guy down the road sneezed and popped his chest open. Said that hurt pretty good.

Mike

Alex L · Post by **Alex L** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 1:33 am

Sorry to hear you needed surgery, but so glad to hear you are doing so well.
Very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery, from Downunder. We are thinking of you.

I am told I have a bit of a heart murmur, which they discovered about 2 years ago, but they say it is nothing to worry about. As I am almost 71 years old, and I don't intend running any marathons, or swimming the English channel, I suppose they are correct, and I just ignore it!

Take it easy, eat well, and do everything you feel able to do.
Just Get Well Soon.
Alex L.

HQMoody · Post by **HQMoody** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:36 pm

Get well real soon my friend --we need you!

HQ

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:57 pm

Scotty,
I sounds like you planned everything very well to deal with a problem that had to be addressed. It is something that can happen to any of us.
I wish you well and hope that you will have a speedy recovery.
Sandy Santibanez

Dan Hankins · Post by **Dan Hankins** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 9:45 am

Scott,
Hope you are doing well. I am sure, from your description of your physician, that you are in good hands, and you better be following his instructions for your full recovery.

But even the best of doctors, can forget, or not aware of some of the activities that you might want to do, and, do not list them for that reason. So, I have come up with a few activities you may wish to exclude.

No mechanical or live bull riding. It ain't the fall that hurts you, but the holdin on is a killer.

No mowing the lawn with a non powered reel type mower. I know this saves energy, and looks good, but it's gonna hurt.

No rasselin or boxing Just slap ole Warren, then quickly remind him of your condiditon and the possible serious results of retaliation on his part.

No more Tarzan impersonation, where you beat on your chest and swing on a rope.

No single handed sailing. Had a friend that had his chest cracked that decided that he was going to single hand his 30' Catalina sail boat. He did it, but it cost him a week of pain.

There are probably about a gazillion other things that you should be cautious of, but I cannot remember all of them now.

So, in the mean time, set you a chair out under a shade tree and sip some lemonaid as you enjoy the outdoors and the companionship of those ever loyal invisible guard dogs. In fact, with some "pain pills" you can actually see the invisible guard dogs.

Get well.

Respectfully,
Bubba hisself

PaulB · Post by **PaulB** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:25 pm

Scott,

I am glad that your problem was caught in time and was able to be repaired. I hope that your recuperation is fast and without complication.

Paul Benneche

TargetTalk