Recent content by jds

Had a mitral replacement (bovine) May of 2007. Now, I'm starting back to school to become a PA. Start in January 2010. Inspired by a PA on my surgical team, I have completed biology and chemistry pre-reqs, worked as an EMT and a home health aide, and volunteered in an ER. I hope to go into...

So what are YOU doing for the rest of your life? So what are YOU doing for the rest of your life? Hello - Thanks for all the encouragement about becoming a PA. I'm interested in other people's stories. Are you going to resume life as it was before heart disease and surgery or are you making...

Beta Blockers are supposed to lower HR. Beta Blockers are supposed to lower HR. Beta Blockers are supposed to lower HR. So the reduced dose would be expected to have less effect and, unsurprisingly, your heart rate went up. If you do not already have one, ask your cardio or PCP what your...

There have been some reported occurances of titanium sensitivity There have been some reported occurances of titanium sensitivity There seem to be cases of sensitivity to lots of metals. Nickel is a (relatively) common one that interferes with stent-implanted "umbrellas" for septal defects...

I have four scars. Sternum, right side (tube), and two small ones a little under my sternum where the wires went in. Most of mine are hidden though since I have a hairy chest and belly. Maybe with a little hormone therapy...

In Yoda's words. There is no old. There is dead and not-dead. In Yoda's words. There is no old. There is dead and not-dead. An excerpt from the 2007 Senior Olympics in Maine results. See http://www.coolrunning.com/results/07/me/Sep8_2007Ma_set1.shtml. Event 9 Men 75+ Javelin Throw 75+...

See if you can switch to a non-beta blocker See if you can switch to a non-beta blocker I was on a fairly low dose (25mg) of metoprolol and concerned about its effect on maxHR. I talked to my primary care doc and he just switched me to an ACE inhibitor (lysinopril). He said that in my...

If you cannot get the quality go for the quantity If you cannot get the quality go for the quantity I just walked my a** off until I got cleared for running and biking. I'm more a biker than a runner but my surgeon said to wait for 3 months to let the sternum solidify before risking a fall...

Hello - I had an MVR in May 2007 and recovered pretty quickly and well. I'm back to running, biking, and climbing. My illness and operation served as a "come to Jesus" moment and I thought hard about what I wanted to do with my life. I didn't think I would do well as a retiree and I'd been...

Premedicate for any Invasive Procedure Premedicate for any Invasive Procedure Dental or otherwise. So far, I've done it for dental checkups, a colonoscopy (routine), and a minor cyst removal by a plastic surgeon. The gastroenterologist who did the colonoscopy told me to post-medicate as...

I've had many lumps I've had many lumps I get nervous, too. I've had three kinds that I have identified. Lipomas (some pretty good sized) on my arms, legs, belly, and a large one on my back. These feel like little lozenges embedded right under the skin. They are pretty firm and move around...

bovine pericardial (Carpentier Edwards) took coumadin 2 mos post surgery took an extra day in hospital post-surgery to drain a pleural effusion no afib or other complications back in good shape (run/bike/lift) about 6 months after surgery

Another cardio license to lift weights Another cardio license to lift weights Hello - After my MV replacement (bovine pericardial so I am off coumadin now), my surgeon, cardio and PCP told me: month 1 - walk as much as you want but don't drive, run, ride a bike, lift, or otherwise stress or...

Bad transfusion was in the early 80's - screening started in 1990 Bad transfusion was in the early 80's - screening started in 1990 Hello - I don't know exactly when my cousin contracted Hep C through a transfusion but it was sometime in the early 1980's. A quick web search showed that Hep C...

Rejoice in the life my cousin had Rejoice in the life my cousin had Hello - Several people have said my cousin was unfortunate to go so young (55) and that is true. Also true, however, is that he lived a good life in spite of his life-long heart problems. Rich was born in 1953 and had his...