Recent content by CCRN

Good Surgeons Good Surgeons If you're considering Nashville you might want to contact St. Thomas Hospital. That's where I had my surgery and it is considered the place to go in Nashville for heart surgery. They do twice the number of valve/aortic procedures Vandy does. I know this because I...

Good Doc Good Doc HI! You have a great Surgeon and hospital. I know because I work there and had the exact same surgery......(I guess I am a little biased) :) I hope everything goes well for you. It looks like you're on track and the right things are being done. Wish I had checked in on the...

What? What? Can someone tell me the exact difinition of a "Visual Migraine"? I had visual disturbances of double and kalidiscope (sp?) vision for years before my valve and aortic replacement and still have some of the same when my INR is low. I'm not sure if I should vote yes because, even...

To cut or not to cut........ To cut or not to cut........ I say find a cutter and a good one. The number "5" is a ballpark figure for an average size male. Listen to the good experienced people here. I did and I'm a nurse actively working in cardiac surgery. I challenged my surgeon with all...

Duh! I just posted an air travel question. Thanks "Rob that's me" for the info. CCRN

Anybody out there recently traveled via air with their INRatio machine and have any pointers so I can go through the checkpoints without hassel? I know I need to keep it with me and not put it checked baggage. Thanks in advanced for any advice. CCRN

Opinions Opinions Get a second surgical opinion. I'd find a doc who does a lot of aortic surgery. Call Cleveland clinic. I don't recall where you live but if you're in range of Nashville, TN we have quite a few docs who regularly do Bentals, aortic repair and redo operations. Your guys might...

Beta Blockers Beta Blockers I came off Toprol about 4 months post op because I just couldn't take the fluid retention any more. My surgeon wanted me to stay on it in order to "preserve the valve" and I asked him "What is there to preserving a mechanical valve?". He didn't have an answer to...

I agree with Ross I agree with Ross Get the cardio's opinion AND a surgeon's as well. Only A SURGEON can determine if your mother's case is inoperable and a CARDIOLOGIST can treat her appropriately medically. Many elderly people have aortic stenosis and live wonderful productive and active...

Aneursym Aneursym Hi I had my ascending aorta replaced when it was at 4.7.......but I'm probably a much smaller person. Size is relevent here. The only symptoms I had was a weird fullness feeling in my chest every once in a while. The first time I felt the feeliing it stopped me dad in my...

? ? I wonder what her INR was BEFORE she drank the tea. I mean, do they know whether she was therapeutic or not? She could have just been really high on the scale ("thin" before she drank the tea) and that could be the cause of her problem.

Suggestion Suggestion Since you asked.....here's the suggestion: Get a SURGEON's opinion. Seems like your cardiologist is waiting for you to get to the symptomatic stage which may not be the best thing with your root being so large.....as the nice girl from Australia so gently told you. Your...

Mri Mri If you have a bicupid valve problem you might want to insist on at least a CT with contrast of your ascending aorta. My root was "slightly enlarged" according to echo but my cath 4 days prior to surgery showed a 4.7 mm aneurysm......pretty big for a person of my size. Hind sight is...

Eyes Eyes I had visual distubances for years. Three to five minutes of double or uneven vision.......like one eye seeing the picture at a more elevated level than the other. I started taking an aspirin a day and most of it went away but all of that stopped after my valve replacement. I had one...

Good! Good! I'm so excited. I am so happy your daughter is finally getting the attention she needs. I sure hope everything goes well. I'll keep praying for your both.