Recent content by charles g

I'd never heard of this until approx 2 days after AVR which went very well but then it happened. A ICU PA decided that I was ready to have the draining tube removed which she did..a few hours later I was rushed back to surgery and reopened to relief the huge pressure on my barely beating...

I called the research team and will not participate. Your very helpful suggestions and comments did the job and it was the way I was leaning anyway. stressing alittle today :) ...it's a 0630 in the morning procedure so I'll hopefully be back in a week or so for post surgery comments but for...

Needless to say I was quite surprised two days before surgery today dr.aldea at the uwmc seattle gave me an option for an Investigational Pericardial Surgical Aortic Heart Valve. Apparently I am a qualified candidate for the clinical test (650 candidates worldwide) using the medtronic Model 400...

As I get closer to the big day I have less and less energy so I've been drinking a few cups of coffee in the AM but wonder if I should even be using caffeine..I might be putting to much on the already restrictive valve?

Thanks epstns for *reminding us how important coming back to the forums -after surgery..really is the core reinforcement we're all hoping/looking for and thanks ajc1991 for the most recent update..please continue as far as therapy is concerned.

Would renting a powerlift bed or recliner or relearn to use the big LB which is already here but somewhat hard to get out of ?. How about a walker..I'm sorta going to be on my own at home so I'm looking for aids. ..I should have started a separate thread sorry.

I'm assuming most AVR only surgeries start with pain and blood issue prescriptions. I'm just trying to get a handle on outofpocket costs the first few months.

I'm hoping I can manage the costs of the after-care stuff without adding D but I will if it's needed... hopefully go back to supplements and diabetic needs eventually.

For some reason me thinks 'Guest might have asked it seriously.. but then maybe not? I suspect many people today are trying good'ol homegrown today to relieve stress and maybe even physiological pain relief to a degree. I mean if it works...

Greetings all I'm scheduled for pre-op 2/3 and surgery 2/5 at UWMC for this AVR, I'm covered via medicare/suppl F but not part D. What can I expect regarding this procedure medication costs and would I be advised to add D?

I'm transitioning to pre-op on feb 3 then surgery the 5th. I finally settled for my experienced AVR mechanic whom I'd found via a very roundabout way and the advantages of getting it done closer to home certainly made sense. I got a call from UWMC head cardiothorascic surgeon Dr.Aldea on Xmas...

sorry everyone for the multiposts :Tongue:

I'm lucky so far in that I've had time to hone down surgeons who do the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement so I wanted to qualify for what seems a much less trauma minimally invasive approach mainly because Cleveland Clinic and and a few other well respected *valve shops* are now doing...

I'm lucky so far in that I've had time to hone down surgeons who do the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement so I wanted to qualify for what seems a much less trauma minimally invasive approach mainly because Cleveland Clinic and and a few other well respected *valve shops* are now doing...

just an update to this thread. I learned here you don't try and change a surgeons technique, :) I'm lucky so far in that I've had time to hone down surgeons who do the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement so I wanted to qualify for what seems a much less trauma minimally invasive...