Recent content by Bev

I've asked my thrombosis specialist the same question about the effect of stress on INR. She said when we're stressed we don't eat the same, and that could be the reason for INR's to get out of range. She's seen it a lot in her patients over the years. The way we eat and drink on vacation is...

Good for you Rachel. My valversary is tomorrow, two years for me too. Like you, my recent echo was perfect. Such a relief, isn't it?

As far as I know, they will not work past the expiration date. My husband had the same problem with his blood glucose strips. He just got an error message, and there was no way they would work beyond the expiration date on the box.

No problem for me travelling with my Coaguchek recently through various airports in Canada and the U.S. Be sure to keep it with you in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage, as extreme temperatures can damage the machine.

Mike, get a referral to the Thrombosis Clinic @ Hamilton General Hospital. The staff there is amazing and they will assist you in getting your INR in range.

You can buy the Coaguchek XS machine and test strips at the Victoria Pharmacy on Victoria Ave. N. in Hamilton, across from Hamilton General Hospital. That's where I got mine.

Thanks everyone! So far, so good. I had my one year echo last week, and I see my surgeon in a few weeks. Hopefully everything will look good on the echo (fingers crossed) :)

Today I'm celebrating one year since my AVR surgery, and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the help and advice you provided via this website.

The Coaguchek units are available in Hamilton. It seems like a lot of lab people are not well informed about self-testing. My sister in BC was told by a lab tech that the self-testing units are only used in Europe. (Really??) I look forward to getting my own machine soon.

Christmas ornament!!! I love that idea!! I think I'll send them an email too:)

This surgery knocked the hell out of me. The first month was basically awful. I was so weak, emotional, anxious, unable to sleep, you name it. Some people progress so quickly post-op, (sending emails from ICU etc.) but I was not one of those people. Tell your husband to give himself LOTS of time...

Sorin/Carbomedics was my surgeon's choice as well. He's had a lot of experience using these valves and has had excellent results in his patients. That was good enough for me:) I was told there good for 200 years! LOL

I wasn't given any special instructions except in the early stages, don't let the water hit the incision directly. Just let the water run down over the incision, then gently pat dry. I didn't use any soap on it for a long time, and when I did it was a very mild liquid soap (Cetaphil). I was also...

Thanks Bina and Lyn for the replies. Lyn I have never taken amiodarone, so that's not the cause. Everything I've read says how common it is in families, but nobody in my family has ever had thyroid issues. I'm going on Tues. for a Thyroid Uptake Scan, so we'll see what that shows. I was kind...

Out of the blue I have been diagnosed with an over-active thyroid. This condition does not run in my family, so I wondered if this is another thing that can happen after OHS. It does explain some of the things I've been feeling over the past 3-4 months like shortness of breath, rapid heart rate...