Recent content by danlo5o

Ditto to Herb M's post. The advice you received to double your dose and take two Lovenox shots is really quite frightening especially given that your INR was 2.2 which is within the recommended range. I think your INR would be in the 5-6 range if you did as you were told. I was at 1.9 taking...

My grandmother had a BAV as did my uncle (her son). My mom (her daughter) did not but I did (and had it recently replaced). I was advised to have my kids tested. My younger daughter was born with very mild pulmonic stenosis but no BAV. My son just got tested and does not have a BAV. My other...

My appettite and sense of taste has improved noticieably since I stopped taking Oxycodone for pain 24 hours ago. Strictly Tylenol for me now. Better sleep for me last night. Close to 5.5 straight hours. Dan

One week post-op myself today. The sleeping thing is a big issue for me as I can't do it for more than 3 straight hours. I usually feel like crap when I do wake up and feel like I neeed to get up and move around. Lack of appettite coupled with a dulled taste palate is another issue. I rarely...

The VHN nurse took an actual measuremet of the incision scar today and it is closer to 8cm in length. (The sugeon had said 6.) May try to post a scar pic later this week. Thanks Lyn for the heads up on the pill bottles. Dan

Luana: Ministerotomy. A vertical incision about 6cm long.

Had my BAV replaced with a 25CM On-X mechanical valve on Wednesday by Dr Shekar at The Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston via Minimally Invasive procedure. I arrived at 7:30 AM, was under sedation by 9:00 and awoke again post surgery at 8:00PM (though I'm told the surgery was completed at...

Judy: I'm 49 and will be undergoing surgery this coming week. I will be going mechanical with the On-X valve. My surgeon recommended tissue but said mechanical would be fine as well. My two cardiologists favored mechanical. I made the decision early and haven't revisited the choice since. Good...

Andy: I don't know if we can offiicially tab you the 'bionic' man since you're really a 'St Jude' man. Don't you have to be 'By On-X' to be bionic? I'll settle for better and healthier. As for the stronger, faster, smarter stuff...not happening! Dan

I recently started a thread called 'Surgery Before Symptoms' as I had been recommended for surgery even though I had never experienced any symptoms. HOWEVER, I have recently been experiencing occassional bouts of 'lightheadedness'. They last 10 seconds or less and they never make me feel like...

Welcome Becca. I'm new to the site myself but have found it to be extremely helpful in the brief time I've been aboard. If you have any questions just throw them out there and I'm sure you'll fine someone with some useful information. Your son sounds like a real trooper. Best of luck to both...

Pat: I just had an e-mail exchange with my B&W surgeon, Dr. Shekar. I had asked if he had a recommendation or a preference for a particular mechanical valve, and he replied that he thought the On-X would be best for me. I don't yet know his reasoning, but I thought I'd pass along this...

Pat: Dr. Shekar will be my surgeon. I had a good meeting with him earlier thois week. He was recommended by both my cardiologist and another cardiologist who I know well. I'm leaning toward a mechanical valve even though Dr. Shekar favored the bio valve. The two cardiologist both recommend the...

Thanks to all the respondents. I am resigned to and accepting of the upcoming surgery. Just wanted to see how common it was to be asymptomatic prior to surgery. I have confidence in my cardiologist and surgeon and will be having the surgery at a great hospital most likely this summer. Still have...

Thanks for the helpful response. My surgeon is at Brigham and Women's. Dan