First Post

[R&N Brown]

This is my first post, although I have been reading along as a guest for a while now.

Your sharing of experiences has been a godsend to me over the past couple of months. I would be remiss if I did not thank you for the time and patience that everyone here has put into helping folks like myself.

I am a self-proclaimed control freak and a great deal of my anxiety comes from the unknown. This board has helped to answer many of my basic concerns as well as posed and answered relevant questions that I would never have even considered.

My OHS is scheduled for July 16th in Portland Maine. My AV + is to be replaced with an On-x valve and I have chosen to be part of the ongoing study. After reading a great deal about my choices, I see value in both being part of the study and the possibility of a Coumadin free life in the future.

Once again, thank you for your dedication to assisting others, through my own experiences I hope to be a positive contributor.

Rob Brown

 

[Ross]

Hello Rob and thanks for coming in out of the shadows. I wish more lurkers would. Seems they do in time, but it's always nice to get to know someone before they go for surgery. Makes it all much more personal.

If you have questions, ask away. Other then that, welcome aboard!

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome, Rob. I'm so glad you posted before surgery and I will add you to the calendar.

 

[Cooker]

Welcome to the Zoo....will be wishing you well all along the way.....glad you joined us

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome! I'm glad you "came in from the cold"!

 

[Superbob]

Welcome, Rob! Look forward to your posts. There are a lot of friendly and well-informed folks here, so if you have questions as you prepare for your July date, ask away.

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome to VR, Rob. Glad you found us and decided to post. Best wishes and good luck.

 

[ctyguy]

Welcome ! You are having the same procedure I had and for the same reasons, stenosis. I also had the On-X installed so if you have questions please feel free. Lots of experience on this site, odds are if one person can't answer a question certainly someone will come along who can.

 

[khawkk]

I didn't know about this site before my surgery.

I went in like that German sgt. on Stalag 17;

I see nothing
I hear nothing
I know nothing!
What was his name?

Anyway*****Lots of prayers your way. You'll do just fine.

 

[ruth]

Welcome Rob!

Welcome Rob!

Welcome to the forum. I hope you continue to find support and comfort here, there are a lot of very knowledgeable folk for when the inevitable oddball question comes up. Don't hesitate to ask.

I wish you all the best for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery!

Peace,
Ruth

 

[Guest]

I didn't know about this site before my surgery.

I went in like that German sgt. on Stalag 17;

I see nothing
I hear nothing
I know nothing!
What was his name?

Sgt Schultz was that endearing character, Hogan's Heroes.

 

[Guest]

Glad you joined us. I also have an OnX valve and I'm very happy with it. I was not as brave as you are by joining the study. Several OnXers here are part of that study.

I'm hoping you and the others will share each part of your experience as I chose the OnX in the hopes that someday no coumadin. In the words of my surgeon though, he said he does not think we'll ever be coumadin free, but a reduced dosage is always a possibility. We have to wait for the clinical trial data to know for sure.

Welcome to VR.com

 

[R&N Brown]

Again thank you for your kind responses.

I have already received a wealth of assistance with many of my personal questions.
My wife, Nancy and I have read and reread a number of posts here on this site, Everything from opinions on valve selection, questions to ask the surgeon, to what to bring to the hospital and latest, how to prep the house for my return.

Your genuine concern and support for each other is very evident and we appreciate being welcomed into this group.

I am sure we will have questions as we get closer to my day.

I started the one week trial of Plavix last Wednesday. The first day was a 300mg dose and where I did not have a derogatory experience, I could feel something different. Thursday and Friday I took the normal dose of 75 mg. Initially I had a real rejuvenation of energy, it was nice to feel near normal for a couple of days. But yesterday I run out of gas very early in the day, again. Any one else have this same experience?

Rob

 

[marie]

I wanted to welcome you here and wish you the best. I cannot answer your question on plavix but I'm sure someone will be along that can.
Good luck
Earline

 

[dick0236]

Welcome Rob

You and I had our first heart surgeries about the same time. Hopefully, this should be your last one. Good luck and stick around this forum...lots of good information.

 

[hall]

Welcome Rob, I know nothing about Plavix so I can not help you w/that and I am sure someone will. I did not know anything about OHS until I found this site AFTER my AVR. You will sure get the information here and the people are GREAT! Always full of encouragement. Good luck to you and let us know the updates

Deb

 

[AngelaR]

Hi Rob and Nancy.

Welcome. My husband Ray has the On-X and we will hear 1 August which part of the study he will be on. I have been blogging our journey in the significant other's section of the forum.

The first day on the Plavix load it severely upset Ray's stomach but then he was fine. He didn't have a rush of energy or anything of the sort and he didn't notice a difference when he stopped taking it.

Good luck!!

 

[andrewg]

Hi Rob,

I had my aortic valve replaced with an On-X a year ago (June 21, 2007) at Maine Medical Center, in Portland, Maine by Dr. Quinn.

I decided to participate in the anti-coagulation study, and was chosen for the Plavix/Asprin group this past September.

I've been on the Plavix/aspirin regimen now for ten months, and have experienced no real negative side effects.

A few weeks ago, I had the one year echo-cardiogram follow-up, done by the study (Dr. Quinn) and the results were fine. I then had my follow-up visit with my cardiologist this past week, and that went well also.

You'll do well at Maine Med.

I had both bypass surgery (2004) and then the valve replacement there three years later. The care there is first-rate.

July is a great time to have the surgery done, as after a week or so of discomfort from the surgery, you should get at least 8 weeks off during the best months in Maine.

That's one of the highlights I remember the most (I had the bypass surgery in July of 2004). Lots of walks, fishing, gardening, afternoon naps, swimming after about 8 weeks,.....a little wine therapy in the early evening....now those are the good memories I have of the whole experience...

After your surgery, just follow the advice of Harry Callahan from that old Clint Eastwood movie, "A man's got to know his own limitations", and don't overdo it, and you'll do fine.

 

[Marguerite53]

Welcome to our wonderful community.

I love how you admit to being a control freak. Trust us...there's nothing like the prospect of open heart surgery to bring out the control freak in all of us!! Sounds to me like you are quite resolved, calming, and positive about your decisions....a fabulous place to be!!

You might want to ask the Plavix question in a new thread. It does sound like it is part of this study, though, too. Perhaps a new thread about this particular study would be very beneficial to our readers.

Thank YOU for joining us. We will appreciate following your story and happily cheer you on.

Best wishes.

Marguerite

 

[gerrys]

Welcome, Rob, and wish you the best with your surgery. I'm beginning the eleventh week post-op for an AVR. I feel great and look super (that's my estimation anyway).
Ask lots of questions. There are plenty of answers and experiences here that helped me tremendously particulary during the post-op sensations that I was having with my rebuilt heart.