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Last year, (hey, tomorrow, June 30, is my anniversary:D) I had my aortic valve replaced with a bovine valve. Somehow, I ended up with a nicked phrenic nerve which caused a problem with my diaphragm. I also have developed a "touch" of asthma, which is well controlled. One of the places that my...

My cardio suspects that I may have diaphragmatic paralysis from the open heart surgery, and I am going for a Sniff test next week to confirm it. Five months post-op, I find that I am short of breath, (did not have that before the surgery) and have a dry cough that comes and goes. I had first...

I also had an aortic valve replacement at the end of June, followed by three bouts of a-fib, during the first couple of months post-op. I am now taking Multaq. For quite a while I had been taking chromium piccolinate as a supplement in order to control my weight. During the last few months, I...

I recently had a C-T scan of my chest. The radiologist mentioned "sternum staples". I honestly had not thought about that I had acquired some metal in my body, but something occurred to me after I read the radiologist's report. Can a person with sternum staples have an M.R.I. of the chest...

Apparently, I have had three bouts of atrial fibrillation since my AVR on 6/30/09. Once was right after the procedure, once five days after I had stopped the amiodarone (as per my MD's instruction), and one other time, while I was taking the medication. I have looked up the side effects of this...

I am about three months post op. One of the instructions that I received when I was being discharged from the hospital, was that I was not to exercise outdoors, if the temperature was over 80 degrees. Anyhow, I get my exercise in rehab, speedwalking in Sam's and Costco, and walking back and...

After getting a bovine valve on 6/30/09, I went into A-fib in the hospital. The docs gave me amioderone, and the problem resolved itself quickly. I was told by my surgeon to take the amioderone for a month. I did, and a few days after I stopped the drug, I again went into A-fib. My local...

Well, after doing the paper work yesterday, and discussing my case with the nurse in charge of rehab, I started my actual workout today. I am a person whose idea of a "nice walk" was four miles. When I went on a treadmill at the gym, I didn't get off until I heard my entire CD, which usually ran...

I am almost 9 weeks out of surgery. I find that if I push myself the slightest bit, I become short of breath. I did not have that at all pre-surgery. My blood oxygen is usually in the 93-97 range. I have had a number of ekgs in the last few weeks, and they are normal. Is my shortness of breath...

I am 8 weeks post-op. A couple of weeks ago, I had a bout of a-fib., which is controlled by amiodarone and metropolol. Understandably, I have become a bit neurotic about my heart rate. I bought myself one of those gizmos that give you your oxygen and heart rate. I noticed that at rest, my...

Since I had my operation, I have had a bout of a-fib. Right now, I have home health care nurses coming in, and they have set up a gizmo that records weight, 02, blood pressure and pulse rate. The equipment is set to record, and send the info to the health care office. I really feel more secure...

I am 7 weeks post-op. As some of you may know, from an earlier thread, I had a bout of a-fib after bronchitis, and was in the hospital for almost 5 days. My husband claims that I was "pushing" too hard, and that's why I got the bronchitis. The a-fib was corrected early, but I developed some...

I am now almost 7 weeks post-op. A couple of weeks ago, I developed bronchitis. After a number of days, my temperature, (which had been from 99.5-100.2 during the illness) was normal for over 24 hours. I felt better, and planned on resuming normal life. All of a sudden my temperature went up to...

Before my surgery, I had not had even a cold, for a couple of years. Five weeks out of my procedure, I came down with bronchitis. My neighbor told me that there is a lot of it going around in my area, although I have not mixed with people that much. Actually, last week was the first time that I...

A couple of weeks out of the hospital, I went and bought myself some Mederma, which is reputed to soften the look of scars. I am now on week 5, and have not opened the tube, because my instructions were to not put anything on the scar (except soap and water) for the first six weeks. I have a...

As many of you know, I had an AVR and single bypass at the Cleveland Clinic on June 30. When I had first found out that I might need the procedure, I checked the internet, (including this forum) and read all that I could about the different hospitals that do a lot of these procedures...

Had my operation on Tuesday.......Ended up with an AVR and a single bypass. I had a complication with air in my lungs, so I still have the chest tube in. Apparently, it is improving quite a bit, so I expect that it will be taken out soon. Just wanted to check in, and let all of you know that...

I spent two "lovely" days in the hospital this week. Now, as some of you know, I am going to Cleveland for an AVR, which is tentatively scheduled for July 1st. Last Wednesday, I awoke, in the middle of the night, with severe vertigo. I took a couple of drammamine and a valium, and went back to...

Preparing myself for the big day, I have been going over a lot of threads of members who have already had their surgery. A couple of times, swelling of the feet was mentioned. Years ago, I had a operation on the tendons of my toes. I was told that my feet would be swollen for some time. Before...

After AVR, how long did it take you to begin driving again, and doing grocery shopping? (how much lifting is allowed?) In the first few weeks after surgery, what are the practical limits of what a person can do?