Recent content by lucky401

I couldn't take any statins and my cholestoral and triglicerides were off the chart. Finally my cardiologist tried Livalo (not a statin as far as I know) and within one month my numbers dramatically improved. Now 6 months later (with no side effects) my numbers are right in the middle of...

My father had his aortic valve replaced in 1963 in Philadelphia, PA. I was 13 years old and remember that whole time very well. It was a huge surgery and almost never heard of back then. My parent's friend researched the procedure for my Dad and they debated going to Texas to have Debakey...

I have taken it for bronchitus and a kidney infection and got severe pain in my calves.

It's been 2 years since my surgery. I was going every 6 months to the surgeon because I developed heart failure issues and had a very rough recovery. After my last visit I started showing improvement and he made it 9 months before I had to see him again. Since I am so much better I won't be...

Hi Folks, Hope you all had a great summer. I had my 9 month visit with the heart surgeon, Dr. Bavaria, at University of Pennsylvania Hospital yesterday. My echo was one of the best I have had since my heart surgery 2 years ago. I am thrilled. However, my wires are hurting me and are very...

I, too, have CHF but I am doing well. My EF went from 20% to 50% in one year. I go to a special CHF clinic outside of Philadelphia and they monitor my drugs, blood work, etc. I was going every 2 weeks but have now graduated and only go if I feel that my blood pressure is getting too low or am...

BarbJean, So sorry to hear your son will need surgery. I had my surgery at University of PA and Dr. Bavaria was my surgeon. I had a rather complex surgery that was 9 hours in duration. Dr. Bavaria was terrific. I had the aortic valve replaced, the mitral valve repaired, the ascending aorta...

It was suggested to me by a doctor that I might have Reynaud's syndrome. I never formally pursued it though. A finger on either hand would get a dark purple color and then swell up and would take a few days to go away. it would just happen out of the blue and was a very weird looking thing...

I got my H1N1 shot yesterday. I live in the Philadelphia area and work at a private school. We are currently experiencing an epidemic of the flu here at school with over 1/3 of the students out sick. We have elementary, middle and high school here. That's a lot of kids. Faculty and staff...

Thank you Barb for all your information. I do go to a CHF clinic outside of Philadelphia and they really got my CHF under control. Unfortunately since I got out of the hospital with the kidney infection my CHF has gotten worse and I spent Tuesday night at the hospital. My primary sent me to...

Hi Folks, Just thought I would give you an update. Since I wrote the post about my kidney function tests I have been in the hospital with an acute infection of the kidney. I had an appointment with my primary to go over the kidney function tests and when I got there they said I had a 102...

Thank you Ross for all your information - it was very helpful. I am seeing my primary today and am going to ask him if he thinks I need to see a kidney doctor. I looked at all my blood work for the last year and each time I had blood work done the numbers have gotten worse and the ones I...

Hi Folks, I have a question that is directed more to my CHF and my kidneys than heart valve related but I was hoping that since your all so knowledgeable you might be able to give me some insights as to whether I need to be concerned about these kidney levels. I don't know maybe these readings...

If you don't mind I'd like to give an analogy. My 1998 Villager mini van needed a timing belt change at 100,000 miles. The mechanic said that job was expensive and basically the whole engine needs to be taken apart. So he said that while the engine is taken apart he was changing the water...

Just thought I would chime in. My aneurysm was at 4.0 when I had my surgery. I am 4' 11" and weigh 120 pounds. My surgeon said he would replace the aorta along with my aortic valve because at my small size he felt the 4.0 was dangerous for me. He seemed to feel it was all relative. Barb