Recent content by Gail in Ca

We were discussing a mitral valve replacement for me and I had said the surgeon suggested bovine but I wondered about a mechanical since I already have an aortic mechanical. I’m not sure if I was specifically asking about how long bovine would last and related it to that test, or if I just asked...

Last week I saw my cardiologist and asked him about this Lp(a) testing and if I should have it done. His opinion was that the research isn’t there and so he didn’t order this for me. He’s a well respected, recommended cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai.

I never remembered to ask why my incision was longer with each surgery. It is 10” long after the 3rd surgery. A lot was done and 3 hrs of cutting thru scar tissue. Maybe they just know it needs to be a longer incision or the dr doing the incision knows it needs to be longer than the last. I...

The more surgeries the more scar tissue in there. Also, some of us have had endocarditis after 2 surgeries requiring a 3rd we weren’t expecting. Be open for another surgery or 2 down the road. You never know. Taking warfarin is just another pill and a self test once a week. Plus, I got chronic...

My incision got longer with each of my 3 surgeries. I also had more chest tubes with each, 2,3,4. I never concerned myself with the length of my incisions. My surgeon knew what was needed to do the job.

It seems most that have mechanical valves say they don’t hear it or it’s just in the background of everyday living. I have a Carbomedic top hat aortic valve that’s 15. It’s loud and I do hear it. Over time, I’ve gotten used to it but it’s always present. I’m thin, so maybe that affects the...

My wonderful, big shot surgeon saw me before surgery. After that 3rd surgery, the chief surgical resident who was the 2nd on my two surgeon job, came to chat when I was awake in icu. He was very kind with a good bedside manner. My big shot surgeon, (who is now retired), went to talk to my...

It’s always a good feeling to find a reason when our dog companions start having symptoms like peeing when they used to be fastidious about going out. Just a couple months ago, I found that my smooth fox terrier has gone completely deaf. It’s old age, as she’ll be 14 in May. This is a learning...

Oakland Coliseum, sigh… My family had great fun going to events there like Raiders, A’s, concerts. I would ask to go to a game on Mother’s Day!

My a-fib started 3 years after my 3rd surgery. I was cardioverted back to rhythm. Two years later, back into a-fib but cardio version didn’t work. I’ve been in chronic a-fib since ‘14. It took some getting used to , but now it just beats whenever it wants and I don’t much think about it. Not...

In 2009 my surgeon told me to expect 10 years from a homograft. I was in my 50’s. You got a good long time from yours. I got another mechanical!

That suppository photo made me laugh and remember my time as a pharmacy tech before you had to take classes and be certified. Mine was on the job training. We used to type “Insert one suppository rectally etc.”. Over time the instruction on the box changed to “Unwrap and insert etc”. I used to...

I’ve had 3 aortic valve replacements. At 34, surgeon wanted to give me porcine in case I wanted another child. Then after he saw my aorta fall apart in his hands during surgery, he still gave me porcine but recommended I not have another pregnancy. He said he’d seen porcine last 15 yrs, but...

My 3rd surgery was a two surgeon job. When I woke up I felt very good. No renal issues, but I had a partially collapsed lung which resolved and also a pressure sore on my heel! That was annoying and took a long time to heal.

I had my mitral valve repaired in 09 and it’s now leaking moderate to severe. Not sure if it’s like comparing apples to oranges with the different valve. My cardiologist only said to me that they see the repair fail.