Arnold Schwarzenegger released from Cleveland Clinic
(WJW) – Arnold Schwarzenegger is “doing great” after surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
The ‘Terminator’ shared on his latest podcast, Arnold’s Pump Club, that on Monday, March 18, he had surgery to get a pacemaker and by Friday, March 22, he was already at a ‘big environmental event’ with Jane Fonda.
“(I) became a little bit more of a machine,” joked 76-year-old Schwarzenegger. “Nobody would ever have thought I started the week with a surgery. I want to thank my whole team at the Cleveland Clinic. All of the doctors and nurses took amazing care of me and made the surgery as painless as possible.”
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The former professional bodybuilder was open in the podcast about his health and a genetic heart issue that has required multiple surgeries over the years.
In the podcast, Schwarzenegger explains he was raised in a culture where people did not talk about medical issues, but said he has opened up publicly because so many have said he gives them “courage and hope to deal with their own.”
Schwarzenegger shared in the podcast that both his mother and grandmother died as a result of heart issues. He said his mother refused to have heart valve replacement surgery but said back then it required open heart surgery.
“Today they are replacing valves with non-invasive procedures where you can go home the same day. I had my valves replaced for the first time in 1997 which required open heart surgery,” recalled Schwarzenegger. “They told me both valves would last 12 to 15 years.”
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In 2018, it was time to have his valves replaced again. He had replacement surgery for one heart valve in Los Angeles and the other valve in 2020 at the Cleveland Clinic.
Now, according to Schwarzenegger, a pacemaker was needed because scar tissue from a previous surgery had made his heart beat irregular. He said the developing issue was monitored for several years with annual in-person checkups in Cleveland.
“That’s life with a genetic heart issue, but you won’t hear me complain,” said Schwarzenegger.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a pacemaker helps stabilize abnormal heart rhythms and prevents problems that can disrupt or endanger a life.
“Since I know that going against my secretive instinct and being transparent helps people, it only feels right to talk about this,” said Schwarzenegger. “I want you to know you are not alone. And if you are putting something off out of fear I hope I inspire you to listen to your doctors and take care of yourself.”
CLICK HERE to listen to the full podcast.
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