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It was over a year ago, on an easy to remember date --- 08/08/08 --- that I had an Aortic Conduit replacement and one bypass. That was the date the 2008 Olympics started, but I certainly remember the date for a very different reason! In the days and initial weeks after I had my surgery, the...

I found out I had to have OHS on July 16th and did not actually have the operation until August 8th. I started on disability leave right after I found out I needed the surgery and did not return to work until mid Sepember. I work for a large Fortune 500 company with a generous disabilty...

Hey, thanks to everybody for the kind comments. I hadn't been on the forum for a bit and just now noticed the posts. The "bionically powered" T-Shirt is just a Word document that you could edit and then print out on a T-shirt transfer. I guess 08-08-08 was lucky, things are progressing well...

Let me join everyone else in welcoming you to the forum. I am a "newbie" too, just had my AVR in August, but I have found this forum to be a great help. I was on a diuretic, actually still am on it, if you aren't taking one now ask your doctor. I also found a wedge pillow helpful. And yes...

I wasn't allowed to drive for about six weeks either; I questioned my surgeon about this and she told me the reason was even a minor fender bender, if it triggered the air bag, could --- as she said --- "mess up all my good work." :) Out of curiosity, was that what was meant by "safely" drive...

As others have said before me, welcome to the forum. I am another Medic Alert user. You can get "dog tags" from them as well as bracelets and even now a watch with the information engraved on the back of the watch. The engraving will state the most pertintent conditions. They also provide a...

I would be a member of the minimalist school of thought and would second the opinion that if you bring a bag [of any size] you probably won't use the stuff I brought very little to the hospital, in fact left a lot of things behind on purpose ... for example my wedding ring and another ring I...

Well, depending on the time and details as we get closer to January 17, I would try to attend. :)

As Steve says, "Chicago" is a big area ... My cardiologist is Dr. Patel in Park Ridge, Illinois and out of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. I have been very happy with him and the hospital.

It's great to hear from your peers! It's great to hear from your peers! Thanks for everybody's input! That's one great thing about this forum, I appreciate and respect the opinions of people in the same situation as I am. Everybody pretty well confirms what I had been thinking, that...

I have sort of an oddball question. I currently have a Handicap Parking placard that was issued over two years ago, well before my OHS surgery, because of the various other difficulties I was having. Now that I have had the surgery, I am morally conflicted about whether or not to keep using...

I love the shirt! Hurray for Hawaiian and/or beach attire! :cool: And congratulations on your one-year milestone! :)

The first night I was moved out of the ICU and to the cardiac unit, I paged the nurse and asked her how to turn off the bed vibrator :) My valve seemed so loud and the blood "whoosing" that it felt like there was a vibrator and it was turned on! Needless to say my nurse got quite a laugh out...

After my initial diagnosis on July 17 I was in the hospital, awaiting OHS, when I told them I had a cavity. This had been discovered at a dental checkup but hadn't been filled yet (an appointment was pending). They released me to have the dental work done first, then readmitted me for the...

I was in a similiar situation; after my initial diagnosis (on July 17) I was in the hospital, and it was determined I needed an Aortic Conduit replacement (valve + aorta, I assume that is the same as "aortic root") and one bypass. However when they found out I had a cavity that had been...

I'm not as knowledgeable as most of the other members of the forum, but I can jump in with my personal experience ... I just turned 60, and just last month had an aortic conduit (Aortic valve and aorta) replacement along with one bypass. The surgery and recovery wasn't nearly as bad as the...

Well, I am one of the newbie members of the forum and certainly not as knowledgeable as so many of the others. However I can tell you that I have Type II Diabetes and that in discussing my warfarin dosing with both the cardiologist and my PCP, who is initially managing my INR testing and...

Just an update, I will be going back to work next Monday, September 15th, which will be about 5 weeks after my AVR on August 8th. Heh, I have actually enjoying NOT having to go to work but the flip side is I am so fortunate to be recovering to the point where returning to a normal life is...

Today in the mail I received a plastic, customized ID card from St Jude. My AVR surgery was on August 8, 2008 so it took them a little over a month to send it to me. The information they had on my cardiologist (which wasn't on the card, but on a a supplmental form included for me to use to...

Today I happened to stumble upon the web address where you can update your information and request a new card from St. Jude: https://www.sjm.com/devices/updateyourrecord/login.aspx I thought this might be useful information to have in the forum, I haven't seen the reference anywhere else.