Recent content by Tom Berning

Hi Mike, I went into a-fib about 2 weeks after surgery, had a cardioversion the next day, I also got put on Amiodarone. Over the next two or three weeks I had 2 short bouts of a-fib that went away on their own. That was in January, I stayed on Amiodarone until the end of May. I haven't had...

Hi Mike, Welcome to the club! I'm 54 and had my AVR and Dacron graft done in December. Mine wasn't discovered until about ten years ago. I was mostly asymptomatic until a few months before surgery(ran my last marathon in 2009). I'm now 3 months post op and feeling really good. Waiting for...

Hi Dale, Welcome to the site. You're in good company. I waffled on valve choice right up to the week before surgery. For me the fear of taking Coumadin became the lessor of the evils and at 12 weeks post-op I can tell you that it's just not that bad. It took me about 6 weeks to stabilize, I...

lmazur, The only difference is you can get a mechanical valve with the Dacron graft already attached, if you go tissue then the surgeon has to stitch the valve to the graft themselves. So it's a bit less work for the surgeon to install the combo unit, but I know my surgeon told me he was happy...

Hi Laura, I'm going to echo what most everyone has said about cardiac rehab. It's a confidence builder, especially if you're not sure about what and how to exercise. I was going to do my own rehab, I'm a runner and thought I knew enough to go about it myself and didn't need official rehab...

I got the neck to knee shave, it's amazing how fast it came back. If you have especially hairy forearms you might consider shaving them too. One of the biggest pains I had is when they took the IV out of my right forearm and pulled the tape off after it had been on for several days.

Hi Mad, I'm nine weeks post-op and I seem to have stabilized at 35mg a week. I'm a little older than you, 54, but still fairly active. My coumadin clinic has finally let me go to two week testing intervals. Tom

I'm also going to weigh in on the positive effects of cardiac rehab. I wasn't going to do it, I thought it was for "old people" with heart disease. I thought I could get back into shape all by myself but my cardio talked me into going and I'm glad he did. It's not like going to boot camp, the...

Good for you for practicing! I didn't realize until about 4 or 5 days post surgery that there was some technique involved in using the #@$& thing :). I wouldn't get to hung up over the number, it'll give you something to shoot for after surgery. Tom

Ovie, An oops is appropriate from me to, I made the assumption that you were female also. Thanks for the explanation, I'll second the idea that you should enjoy parenthood with whatever valve you choose. Tom

Welcome Yvonne, Just as everyone else has mentioned, the initial shock of finding out that the time is finally here for surgery and then waiting for it is the hardest part. The second hardest is valve choice, but whatever you choose don't look back and be happy with it. I'm only a few...

Nancy Jane, Best Wishes for a smooth recovery. Tom

Ovie, The issue with women, mechanical valves and childbearing is the coumadin usage that it requires, which makes childbirth riskier. I'm not sure about coumadin's side effects on a developing fetus either. Hopefully someone here with more knowledge will weigh in. I'm sure that it is...

Ovie, Just wanted to reinforce that there is no right or wrong choice when it comes to picking a valve, it'll be better than the one you have and all valve choices are a compromise. Two things come to mind though, do you plan on having children? if so you'll want a tissue valve. Even though I...

Both of the surgeons I interviewed said they thought most of the mechanical valves were very similar. The surgeon I ultimately chose said he thought the On-X aortic valve did have slightly better flow, but if he had to implant a valve/conduit combo he liked the St. Jude version better. You do...