Recent content by gerrychuck

I use a Garmin Vivoactive, and it seems to get quite confused on heart rate with my combination of some chronic AFib and a pacemaker. If I crosscheck with manual pulse and/or a chest strap, it tends to be quite accurate when walking or on the treadmill, but is completely out to lunch on the...

My range is 2.5-3.5 and I aim for as close to 3 as possible. I react very differently when my INR is close to the lower limit of my range than when it goes high, simply because my experience has been that when it trends low it will usually come back toward the target without intervention, but...

She "might" be able to get an opinion from the likes of the Cleveland Clinic, but that would definitely fall outside the normal practices of the Canadian health care system, and there would not likely be any funding. There would absolutely not be funding for surgery in the US unless it could be...

I'm a little puzzled by the reaction to your EF; falling below 40 only just gets you into the "moderate" dysfunction zone, and all the internists and cardiologists that I've seen, including the heart function clinic that follows me now, only start bringing up the sudden death spectre with EF's...

I think you are taking the most productive approach you can, Protime. Inform yourself as best you can in preparation for the conversations with the specialists, get the best info you can from them, plan accordingly, and then move on with living the best life you can. I am sending, quoting the...

Excellent summary. I discussed biventricular pacing with the surgeon who put my pacer in; he acknowledged that right ventricular pacing could affect function for the reasons you describe when I asked directly about it, and said that they would look at that option were my EF to drop. He also...

I needed a pacer about 5 years after my mitral replacement. I had a left bundle branch block, and with occasional gaps of up to 3 seconds between beats. Currently I'm around 70% paced,mostly at rest. To clarify regarding an upper beat limit, a pacemaker can only control maximum heart rate if...

God forbid the good doctor be embarrassed by exposure to reality as regards anticoagulation lol. I certainly would never be allowed near my Japanese kitchen knives, never mind an innocent activity like shaving, if the instruction I was given 9 years ago was true! Actually, I probably shouldn't...

I had a flail leaflet and had emergency mitral valve surgery in late 2012. Mine was emergent, and wasn't accurately diagnosed until I was in deep (intubated) trouble. So glad you have some time to adjust to this new reality. I ended up with a mechanical (St. Jude) valve, and therefore on...

I had to figure the acetaminophen thing out on my own (as many of us have). Doesn't mean I don't take it, just means I take it in moderation and expect that I will see a rise in INR, and compensate accordingly. True of other factors as well, like alcohol and exercise. What else can you do when...

I had my first dose of AstraZeneca in March, followed by Moderna 2 weeks ago today. My INR had been well stabilized at 3.0 + or - on 6 mg/day prior to that, with predictable variation according to alcohol intake, etc. The week after my second dose, it was 3.4. No big deal; I had been off my...

That is probably the best explanation of this phenomenon I have seen (and I've read a few). Your sister has a gift for explaining a very complex situation clearly and simply. If only more docs had the ability, or desire, to explain things so well to their patients. Brilliant.

Yup; eBay. Interestingly, one seller I've used a couple of times is in Germany, but I got the strips as quickly as if it had been a North American seller. I wind ip buying from different sellers almost every time. No problems so far.

Will be thinking of you, Protime.

Bingo. That's what I fly. Nosewheel RVs have a bad habit of summersaulting on the ground when the nose gear fails. A friend of mine had it happen and ended up with neck fractures and other badness, but survived to rebuild his plane and fly another day. AntiSplat sell several products that...