Recent content by karen14

:) Hi Cherie', So glad you shared, and with honesty! While I had known I had the same as you (BAV, etc) for about 15 years, it still didn't prepare me when told out of the blue that I needed surgery within 2 weeks! I had deteriorated quickly prior to this I guess. BAV progressively worsens over...

Hi Valerie, I used Vitamin E capsules and they work excellently! I'd poke a pin on one end of each capsule and rub the oil on the scar. The scar faded notably within a month or two! Best wishes, ~Karen

Rest, sleep, eat and be happy! Congrats to you on a successful surgery! ~Karen

LOL, funny stuff! Nice pic Neil! Woowhooo, lol!

LOL Andy & Bina! Funny stuff!

Hi Catie, welcome to the forum! I was told the only exercise I could do (prior & post surgery) was walking. No lifting of heavy items! Hope this helps, and best wishes to you. ~Karen

Hi LAK, welcome to the forum! I didn't feel anything at all when they did my cath. They gave me something to relax first, then the local. So I say to you, no worries! And I was a smoker before surgery as well. I had quit for only a very short time prior to surgery, and found it so amazing how...

Aw Norma Jean, that's terrible! All packed and ready to go.... but yeah, glad it didn't happen during the trip! God does work things out in our best interest (even if we don't see it yet). Plus you're very special to many people, and I'm so glad you're doing better! ...Lol, and the comment by...

LOL, good one Greg a. Luv it! LOL.

Thank you Bob, I had a REAL sense of both of your ideas here when listening to my doctor (his wording changed greatly from the first visit, as if he had been talking to other doctor's)! And your suggestion of giving him a chance is interesting. I will give it some thought and prayer. My instinct...

Hi Luana, This doctor was not answering my questions and he wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise, I'm serious! I did ask why complicated and he was evasive. This makes me so mad & frustrated as well. I hadn't mentioned that before, but it was like that. So I do want to find someone else who...

Thank you Luana! I am going to look into going elsewhere for my cardio care. Just not sure how to go about that yet. You mentioned Stanford, and another guy on this forum gave me a surgeon in San Francisco that does re-op's. But how would I travel there? Is a long ways. Not quite sure yet on...

Thank you Maryka! I live in a smaller southern Oregon town and my choices are limited. I got a different doctor in the same clinic, but in my same town (was going to the city a ways over, & this clinic dominates all of southern Oregon; is called Southern Oregon Cardiology). But I assure you, I'm...

Hi everyone, Had my cardio appt today. My history is that I was diagnosed with prothesis mismatch, with the pressure gradient of blood still too high going through my aorta after corrective surgery. So today the new cardiologist I got (but same group as the past that did my surgery), stated that...

Welcome to the forum bkdamon! I was diagnosed around age 27 and didn't need my replacement until age 45. I went for echo's annually that whole time. It does vary from each individual as stated here already, as to when you'll need surgery. But it's most likely that you have time yet. And I...