Anthony Pangilinan now recovering after successful heart surgery
Anthony Pangilinan is now on his way to getting better after a successful open-heart surgery.
On his Instagram account, the inspirational speaker and former TV and radio host uploaded a reel where he detailed his experience in undergoing surgery after he suffered from a mitral heart valve disease that had a "torrentially severe leak."
"It was shortness of breath that made me dig up my medical checkup results that I had a few months earlier and to show it to my neighbor cardiologist who, in one look, asked me to do further tests," he began.
"Long story short, I had a mitral heart valve issue that had a 'torrentially severe leak' and if not for a strong heart, which I think I got from running, I should've already shown more serious heartfelt symptoms," he said.
The mitral is one of the four valves in the heart, between the left atrium and left ventricle. According to the Cleveland Clinic, heart valve disease is a "fairly common problem with the valves that keep your blood flowing in one direction through your heart."
Some of the causes of this include rheumatic fever, heart attack, high blood pressure, and infection, among others.
As this disease would eventually lead to heart failure if not treated immediately, Pangilinan decided to get surgery at the Philippine Heart Center.
"With the help of dear friends and family, we prepped for the open-heart surgery with whatever hope and faith we could hold on to," he said.
However, some complications arose during the procedure.
"What was supposed to be a three to five hours procedure turned out to be 12 due to some difficulty in inserting the right tube into my lungs while they worked on my heart," Pangilinan said.
His week-long recovery in the hospital then stretched on to three weeks due to undergoing post-operation procedures to clear his lungs, regulate his heart rate and blood pressure, and initiate his rehabilitation protocols.
"It will be a long slow road to recovery. One doctor said that what I went through was like being beaten up by 10 guys and rammed by 10 trucks. 'To hell and back,' I describe it. Whatever way, I made it through by His grace," Pangilinan shared.
He ended the health update by highlighting that he is now preparing for the "next new season of my life."
In the comments section, many of his followers wished for his speedy recovery, including his son Donny Pangilinan.
"Been a tough past few months but we’ll get back stronger than ever," the Kapamilya actor wrote.
Meanwhile, his wife Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan shared during an interview with Boy Abunda for Fast Talk With Boy Abunda that her husband is "doing much better" and is back at work.
"Nagtatrabaho na, nagwo-walking, lahat. I mean, that’s the only way he will heal," Maricel said.