Search results

Help Support ValveReplacement.org:

  1. T

    Severe Aortic Regurgitation Leading to Second Surgery

    Cool questions! First, I am not in pain for any significant amount of time. And when I do feel pain it's a 3-ish. Example, my half hour walk this AM I maybe felt some 'pain' for about a total of 20s (couple seconds here, couple seconds there)? Maybe 🤷‍♂️. I feel pain when laying down for...
  2. T

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    Thank you so much for posting. Very much. It's important that individuals can come here and see both points of view. That's what this thread is all about. And you're right on! I don't need to understand it (although I like to made sense of things). That said, in your case case I do...
  3. T

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    Thanks for the support. And Wow! - totally interesting on your surgeon's "in the moment" call. It was my understanding that the On-X is generally a more bulky valve and it's easier to achieve a good Patient Prosthesis Match with the St. Jude. To fit the 23mm in me (and I am 5' 10") they had...
  4. T

    Severe Aortic Regurgitation Leading to Second Surgery

    Thanks Skier! Like you, I went into surgery in good shape. So happy you replied because context is so darn important. 1) I haven't taken a single pain killer since I left the hospital. Nothing. So now I don't feel so bad if you say "it hurts pretty bad if I'm late". 2) WOW! Your...
  5. T

    Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

    :oops: Wow. Ok. If that is considered mean-spirited then I don't know what to say. There was nothing mean in my explanation of how things will most likely turn out when choosing a tissue valve at a younger age and expecting NOT to have another OHS. It is extremely important that individuals...
  6. T

    Severe Aortic Regurgitation Leading to Second Surgery

    Congrats! I’m 5 weeks tomorrow and started Cardiac Rehab this past Friday. My 3 struggles at this point are 1) Musculoskeletal pain in the chest as my muscles, nerves, and whatnot are trying to come together. 2) Getting my lung capacity back. I can get my spirometer to 2500cc right now. But...
  7. T

    Severe Aortic Regurgitation Leading to Second Surgery

    Honestly - you’re lucky they held you hostage. My hospital released me with an INR of 1.1 with no real plan except to turn me over to the local Coumadin clinic. Completely irresponsible. I was out of therapeutic range for several days. Thank goodness I was already ready for self testing and...
  8. T

    Howdy - AVR coming up!

    Interestingly enough, that comment is very true. Lol. I do like my 7-9% New England hazy IPA beers though. Mmmmmmm.
  9. T

    Howdy - AVR coming up!

    Gotcha. If you need anything brother - feel free to hit me up. PM me or we can chat on WhatsApp. Others here extended that offer to me and truly it’s been a huge help. I’m willing to do the same. It was definitely difficult for me to go back to work - even though it was part time. I firs went...
  10. T

    Howdy - AVR coming up!

    For me - absolutely. No sense introducing alcohol if I’m not 100%. I’ve never had a need for alcohol so there’s no rush. I’m a 1 drink a week kinda guy. Sometimes 2. Lol.
  11. T

    Howdy - AVR coming up!

    I saw this and just had to reply. I am so looking forward to this too. I'm sure I could probably have one now but I am playing it super safe and waiting until I feel almost normal-ish. Hoping that might be at 2 months. But I'm also content if it takes 3.
  12. T

    Howdy - AVR coming up!

    Pretty good! I'm walking 2-3 miles a day. My chest scar is healing well. A lot of the weird little things that have popped up as challenges from week to week seem to have gone away. I still have challenges for sure - but new challenges are few and far between. My challenges at this point...
  13. T

    Howdy - AVR coming up!

    I would definitely advise getting one prior to your surgery. This was a really good decision that I made. Fact is, after surgery you’re gonna be pretty messed up. That’s ok and normal. It’s nice not to stress about how to use your device during that time. Get it PRIOR to surgery and practice...
  14. T

    Aortic aneurism with bicuspid valve - options in 51 year old

    FWIW, my surgeon primarily installs On-X mechanical and Inspiris Resilia tissue Aortic valves. I asked him - given my age and activity level - What he recommended for me. It was no contest - Mechanical. I’m 50yo. I turned the question back on him. Because he’s about 50. What would he choose...
  15. T

    Remote INR taking over Coaguchek

    I have two CoaguChek XS meters. Why? I’m a dork and I wanted a backup as well as a confirmation device. I purchased both on eBay. Used. They both work great. I’m the type of guy that buys new. That’s probably an understatement too. But, given the issues here in the USA, we don’t have a...
  16. T

    Aortic aneurism with bicuspid valve - options in 51 year old

    Pellicle is on the money so I’ll make my reply short. Replace the valve. Trust us, you don’t want to have multiple open heart surgeries. You already know your bicuspid valve is going to fail. Do it now. Inspiris Resilia valve? You’re not old enough to make it worth it. Maybe … maybe the...
  17. T

    Remote INR taking over Coaguchek

    Wow. I am 100% out of pocket and I have phenomenal insurance. Here in the USA, it's frowned upon by the industry to monitor yourself ... so insurance companies generally won't cover your POS INR machine as well as not covering your test strips. ... and I bought 2 machines (one as a backup)...
  18. T

    2nd Surgery coming Up

    I had mine replaced on May 25th. Your comment above, I vote as understatement of the year. Lol. No matter how much you think you know, no matter how much you’ve researched, and no matter how many people you’ve talked to … OHS with full sternotomy is pretty darn tough. Lotsa love to everyone...
  19. T

    Unique situation?

    This is all really good. You have come to a final choice based on a lot of factors that you are comfortable with. Additionally, you accept that you will need multiple open heart surgeries in the future AND you accept the ramifications of that (and that, truly, is the key factor here). Like...
  20. T

    2nd Surgery coming Up

    I'm looking for recommendations that are super easy to understand but can't find any. It seems as though it depends on your internal morphology prior to the surgery with a determination of your area/flow prior to the major stenosis. That said, I still even question my 23mm size. There are...
Top