Recent content by Kathleen

I have been on warafin for 25 years and had a pacemaker and two ICD's implanted within the last 6 years. My new ICD was placed in December. I took my normal dose and entered the hospital 2 days prior to surgery for a heparin drip. My warafin was held the evening before surgery. We went in...

Thats a tough one to answer since the surgery was 13 years ago. I had pneumonia in the left lower lung for about 8 months before the surgery since it was like yours collapsed. My organs began to move into the dead space so they had to re-inflate the lung and move some of the organs down into...

Bigfish I have had the diagnosis of paralysis of the diaphragm and mine is left hemi. I did undergo a plication of the diaphragm. If you have any questions please let me know. One thing to remember even after the plication paralysis is paralysis. My doctors said at times the nerve can...

Welcome from a fellow Minnesotan. Wanted to wish you luck in your upcoming surgery. I have been with Mpls Heart and Abbott Northwestern for my surgeries for the last 31 years. I chose to have two mechanical valves put in 25 years ago. It was my second surgery and did not want to put myself...

I had a mitral repair and 5 years later St Judes mitral and aortic valves put in. My heart had fused to my sternum and towards my backbone. It was a long and difficult surgery. I was given a slim chance of making through the night....that was 25 years ago. Kathleen

My two mechanical St Judes valves will be 25 years old in April of 2010 if that helps to ease her mind. I was 35 when they were put in. Kathleen

Had my second bivent implanted 4 weeks ago along with a new lead. Understood everything you wrote. Needing mine 99.9% of the time. Hope you do well and achieve a higher EF. They are utterly awesome units. I had the Concerto this time. Good luck and do absolutely keep that left arm close to...

Do give yourself what most of us don't do--give yourself time, it is on your side. Nerves can regenerate very slowly. You also can live a very normal life. Happy to hear they were positive in their diagnosis. Kathleen

I have left hemi paralysis of the diaphragm and had plication surgery to reinflate the lung and move some of the organs back into place when they moved up into the deflated lung space. It was 13 years ago. Paralysis will always be there with little lung function. We did the surgery to help...

My deepest condolences to your family. Kathleen

Gina I will miss your posts. I felt when I first joined with our ages being close and having multiple surgeries we had a kinship since not many have had heart issues for 30 years. If you decide to start a new forum please pm me. I would love to join you and share the knowledge we have. Kathleen

Gina I could never get mine above the 3.1 mark until they added Spirolactone along with the Lasix. I take 160 mgsof Lasix per day and have maintained 3.8-4.0 on the potassium after adding the Spiro and now only need 4-5 20meq of potassium. It has maintained itself for almost 3 years with the...

Bob congrats to you and what a lucky pup. We adopted a puppy mill dog that was in a rescue home. We drove 7 hours to get her sight unseen but I knew in my heart she was our dog. We named her Jamie June after my husband James since she loved him from the getgo. Jim passed away from cancer 5...

Welcome Kristian, I lived in St Cloud Mn for 52 years. I moved to the Twin Cities to be closer to my granddaughters 6 years ago. All my brothers and sisters and parents are still in St Cloud. Good choice to pick the Mayo and congrats on a positive outlook on surgery and recovery. I have...

I also have a paralyzed diaphragm. Happened about 10 years ago when they had to do a pericardectomy for constrictive pericarditis. I did have a plication of the diaphragm about 14 months after the pericardectomy. I had continual pneumonia in the collapsed lung and my internal organs were...