I certainly wasn’t planning for this kind of event in my health journey. But there you go.
About the time I was joining USCCA, my cardiologist and I had some unexpectedly serious conversations. A long story short, and it turns out that My Old Heart was going to need urgently required surgery on an apparently severe aortic stenosis. Not what my wife and I want to hear, we as always trusted God and the cardiology that I believe He inspires through good cardiac science. I had it on April 28 and was discharged 3 days later.
The surgery was an aortic valve replacement which requires a full stenectomy, and they wanted it done ASAP. I was just starting to get symptomatic even though I felt great. The sternum was cracked, rewired and now I am healing. Thank you, Jesus using the Franciscan Cardiology as His choice of power.
SO … given this is an experience directly impacting my ability to level and fire a sidearm, I’d be interested in a couple questions ..
For those who have endured this surgery, how long was it for you to recover enough to start firing again? I include a link to some general guidelines which are commonly used around by cardiologists and their networks to guide in post-op cardiac procedures. It has given me a lot to think about particularly in regards to how quickly you actually heal when it comes to bone growth.
An entirely subjective subject this is, as everyone heals differently .. what are your experiences and thoughts? I have course especially want to hear from you who have had this surgery. I’m not trying to get back to a John Wickian Dracarys Gen12 mode, just figuring out how to get back to drilling with my 1911.
My security team at our church goes on and when I go back about a week or so I will carry just because I can’t help but not to do so and prayerfully I won’t be needed to.
Oh this is my first meal home my lovely wife made for me then I knew I really was home LOL. Chorizo and eggs ground you like nothing else.
It was about 3 months before I felt comfortable trying live fire. I started carrying again before I returned to live fire, but honestly don’t remember how long after the surgery.
When you feel it is necessary to start carrying again probably depends a lot on which camp you are in - providence or destiny. Providence means the protection of God. Destiny means something that is bound to happen, or that was predicted to happen.
My cardiologist is currently watching the same valve issue you just went thru. He is suggesting I might want to go the artificial valve replacement proceedure rather than what you just went thru.
The artificial valve replacement works very well. My brother developed endocarditis that went undiagnosed for almost a year. He had a puncture during a routine colonoscopy, and developed a chronic blood infection. Doctor after doctor missed all the symptoms, until finally, he ended up in intensive care with his lungs full. Again, doctors missed all the symptoms, and said he had acute respiratory failure. He was in a coma on life support. My sister, who is a veterinarian, correctly diagnosed him with endocarditis, but then couldn’t convince the know-it-all doctors she was right. After a letter I sent threatening legal action against the hospital senior staff, they finally agreed to a trans-esophegal-ultrasound, and man, things moved fast then.
Anyway, for him, because he was septic, his recovery was pretty slow (he was on an IV antibiotic for about 3 months), but he’s now back to a very active physical life, including hunting (with a 50cal muzzleloader) mountain biking, and part time ski instructor, while still working full time. The surgery and recovery is that good.
Glad you found this, got the surgery and are now recovering. Take your time, rest, and do dry fire drills for now.
I went through a triple bypass at the start of goose season.
After the procedure, just breathing was my biggest challenge.
I didn’t feel like goose hunting with a 12-gauge magnum after that anyway.
I shot my .22 pistol to keep my skills up after I felt up to it.
It does take awhile to heal.
I went on a hike and fishing trip yesterday, didn’t realize the length and minute changes in the terrain took a lot out of me, winded, cardio tested me. Unpredictable conditions: It was threatening to storm, the poor and lack of signage on the trail back to my vehicle got me turned around. By the time I found my car, the forest ranger stopped by me and said, “we are locking the gait now, as soon as you exit”. Then realized darkness fell. It was fun, but made me think about prep.
Take your time, when you start up again, you can start slow, measured, bring someone with you, take care not to carry heavy objects,. If you go to a public range, go during lowest peak / least busy hours. Bring your first aid kit, plenty of water. And plan to rest up the next day. Doing the things you enjoy could motivate you to continue to climb to best health. Best to you.
My granddaughter is always a curious little thing. She asked me a ton of questions about why I was in the hospital. I finally told her, “baby, look at grandpa’s chest,” and I pulled it part way down to see the scar. Her eyes got big and she goes “Ohhhh, that’s where that is.”
