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I have a Medtronic Mosaic (Porcine), 13 1/2 years old (surgery June 2004). I had my annual echo and heart check-up last month and my cardiologist said there was no signs of deterioration whatsoever - it was functioning as well as when it was put in. Needless to say I was very happy to hear...

Cholesterol levels Cholesterol levels Lowering one's cholesterol below acceptable levels via meds like Lipitor is a concern. My cardiologist already said we will check my cholesterol levels next month and keep monitoring it as required along with adjusting the dose as necessary.

Are any of you with tissue valves on Lipitor (or similar drugs)? My cardiologist recently put me on a low dose (10 mg) of Lipitor because of the anti-calcification effects it has on the blood (not specifically to lower my cholesterol which is usually OK). He said it is a relatively new therapy...

I ended up being diagnosed with a dilated ascending aorta of 5.5 cm just 2 months before AVR surgery during a MRI. Prior to that, it was NEVER detected in any test. In fact, that dilation was one big reason I immediately wanted the surgery - I didn't want to suffer the same fate as John Ritter...

I showed the article to my surgeon and he said that this technology is only for special cases (people too weak for surgery). In addition he said that there is a VERY high mortality rate (>80%) for these types of surgeries - similar techniques have been tried in the past. Nevertheless, we...

Mr. psychosomatic.. Mr. psychosomatic.. I forgot to add - the IV insertion problems are ALL IN OUR MINDS - they don't really exist!!! Tweak, tweak...

Fear the IV, not the test.... Fear the IV, not the test.... I have to get a MRI next week to thorougly check everything out - from the outside the Drs. say everything sounds great but the MRI will be the true status indicator (I am 5 weeks post-surgery). Of course I will be a little edgy that...

It's all in our minds... It's all in our minds... I guess when all else fails to yield a plausible medical explanation, the response they teach in med. school to tell the patient is "maybe it's all in your mind"... However, I DO wish my heavily calcified, stenotic aortic valve and dilated...

Well, it is now 4 1/2 weeks since my AVR surgery and I am still having bouts with those pesky breathing problems. What happens is that my breathing becomes shallow and rapid without me doing anything - it just hits me seemingly at random. When it really hits it becomes very difficult for me to...

Thanks for all your replies.... Yes, I've had a low grade fever for over 10 days now. As for all of the drugs that people suggested might be he problem, I am not on any of them. I am seeing the Dr. today and this (the cough) will be the major topic of discussion...

I'm sure this topic comes up a lot, but I've lost about 17 pounds (about 9% of total body weight) since surgery, 15 of which has been since discharge 10 days ago. Since I've discontinued the diuretic 2 days ago the weight loss has leveled off. I've been eating very well, even being forced to...

Good news, my recovery is finally progressing. :) The thrush and ensuing canker sores are gone so I am eating better.. I am also sleeping better (albeit it with a slightly improved dry mouth problem) and the pain is now very tolerable w/ meds. However, I am still often getting the sweats...

Although my family gave you some brief updates on my recovery, I am finally home and only now able and ready to tell you what my often hellish recovery has been like ? the real story. Thanks to everyone who sent their well wishes. Quick review: Date of AVR surgery: 6/18 Procedures used...

Surgery went very well today. It started @ 12:45 (he was the second patient of the day for the surgeon). The replacement valve (pig) and graft for the aorta went as planned. He was on the heart/lung machine for 1 hour, 43 minutes. Surgery in all took about 4 hours. 1 hour after he was...

See you on the other side... See you on the other side... The day of reckoning is almost here...finally... 12 hours from now I'll hopefully won't know what is going on. I have to be at the hospital at 8:15, surgery is at 11:45... The sooner they get me on the happy juice the better... I'll...

I had my cardiac cath. test yesterday which went very well - very little pain like everyone said. However, because I was a "rare case" where they could not plug or stitch the incision because it was not at the aortic head (or something like that), they had to use old-fashioned direct pressure...

Gordie: I'm having it done at Royal Oak Beaumont. The surgeon is Dr. Francis Shannon. I live in Shelby Twp., about 25 miles north of Detroit. Thanks for the well wishes...

Thanks for all your best wishes. I just had a pre-op and pre cath. exam and consultation and got to speak with an anestheolgist which made me a little more at ease with what is to come... Bob, as for the "freshness" of the Freestyle valve/root, the surgeon said he had an old sales sample...

I just got my official surgery date yesterday - it is this Friday (6/18). :eek: :eek: They originally had it scheduled for 6/29 but I told them I didn't want to wait that long; the sooner the better. The MRI results I got last week were not good at all - the AVA is 0.5 cm2 and I have a...

Afraid of widths? Afraid of widths? I just had an MRI on Tuesday. Luckily I am not the least bit claustrophobic so I had no problems at all; I actually thought it was pretty cool. As a kid I used to wiggle through parts of caves that were tighter than that so maybe that was my training. I...