I had the procedure done 5 days ago at Mayo Clinic using the Helix machine. My device was 33 mm. The only symptoms I had beforehand were extreme lethargy and extreme shortness of breath when exerting, even talking.
I don't feel anything different in my chest and only felt slight ache at catheter site in groin for a day or so. Even while still in hospital overnight, my oxygen saturation was low, causing the alarm to go off as it dipped below 90% during sleep. I use a CPAP and oxygen at night anyhow. It was even low with that on. All I got from the docs was "give it time."
In the next few days, I did notice some improvement: my lips were pink, not a dusky dark color, I'm able to talk far longer without stopping to gasp for air, and I could stay up without being exhausted. My own oximeter says my saturation hovers around 96-98 most of the time, once even hitting 99! But if I stand, or walk, or brush my teeth, it goes down to 90, 91%.
I am starting to bruise from the Plavix and have felt dizzy at times.
My question is: how many people continued to feel better and better as days turned into weeks and then months, or did you feel immediately as good as you were going to get? I ask to get a sampling from real people. I know I'll get "Everyone is different, your body will heal in good time, we'll have to wait and see..."
I have a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks and I'll be getting another TEE and Echocardiagram to see how things are going. Does everyone have to be on a special cardio diet with low salt? My arteries were checked and found to be fine. Valves are fine. I still don't feel that completely "well" feeling. I still feel like I need to take it very easy and slow. Comments, please.
Thanks.