Search results

I spent hours and hours on this site in 2013 prior to and immediately after my aortic valve replacement (mechanical). Hadn't been on the site in years. My neighbors son is needing AV replacement, so I thought about this site. Anyway, life's good. I feel great. Anticoagulation is just...

I was off for 9 weeks. My job is not as stressful as yours, but it's not stress free. The stress didn't bother me, but my lack of endurance did. The first week, it was all I could do to make it to the car to go home. I was shocked at how exhausted I was.

GO with your gut and don't apologize for it. It's your body and your life.

This is a very personal choice. Gather your information and you'll know in your gut which type you want. I'm 10 years older than you and so my choice (mech) may not be valid for your situation. I would caution you that a lot of the cardiac surgeons are pushing patients toward tissue as they...

The pain was not bad, maybe 4-5. The "being hit by a bus" description commonly thrown around (IMHO) isn't really about the pain, it's about the loss of stamina, inability to do much for awhile, dependency on others. Some may disagree. After two days, I wasn't hitting the pain 'clicker' for...

I didn't need much help after 3-4 days at home. It's going to depend on how you feel. If you can get around and especially in and out of bed by yourself, you should be fine. Do you have someone else that you can call if you have a problem when daughter is gone?

First off, you will be fine. I was 54 when I had surgery two years ago. Yes - it's a hurdle and it's stressful. You're in the worst time - when you are told you need surgery and you're scared, full of questions and doubts. You likely will not have much pain. After the second day, I only...

Mine only one was done with no sedation until they started with the probe. Once they got it past my tongue, they pushed something into the IV and I was out. If I have to do it again, I'd ask for options to be sedated earlier. I had to sit there and gargle some gorp for 15 minutes off and on...

I seem to get a different answer everytime I ask what my target range should be. The discharge papers from Mayo say 2.5 - 3.0, same as that listed in the graphic posted above. My cardio told me it's 2.0 to 3.0. Frustrating.

You'll have to buy the strips off EBay, unless you can get a Rx. I've started dosing adjustments myself, since I'm using a Coaguchek at home. I'm still getting a lab INR once a month.

I too have Aetna. I got so frustrated with this that I just bought my own meters and strips. Yes, I didn't want to spend my own money, but I found all the rules and structure to be maddening. I don't remember all the details. I did work through a Roche 'salesperson'.

This was the worst time for me. Walking out of the doctors office in a daze, my wife crying the entire way. Unlike you, I knew I had a murmer, but the echo every year or two was routine. Kind of like getting the physical or a blood work up. See how your echo looks. I'd start looking at...

I really believe that working out will lower your INR. I don't have evidence to prove it, as I've always worked out 30 minutes four mornings a week.

Good question, Dale. Can't answer it. I did cut back on the KS for the past two weeks and the INR hasn't moved. Now i'm thinking that the gouda cheese that I started eating twice a day about the same time may be causing the INR decrease. I'll look into it more.

I had surgery 250 miles from home and I rode home 5 days after surgery. We did break it up into two drives and spent the night halfway. I could have made it all the way, but my DW and chief caregiver was as tired or more so than I.

I wouldn't do any heavy lifting for 6 months. Your sternum needs time to heal.

The cardiac rehab helped me get over any fear that I was going to hurt myself if I got my heart rate elevated. I didn't go that many times, but it did help. I wasn't left alone much for about a month, which drove me batty. I was fine by myself after a week. Yes, I was still recovering, but...

Well, our senior statesman will need to weigh in on this. I'm sure he'll post soon. As others have already pointed out, a tissue valve is going to last a finite time. The time is lessened by the patients activity level. I'd be very hesitant to agree to one at 20. I didn't want one at 54...

I stayed off the sauce for a month or so after surgery. I have a belt or two most nights. Enjoy and don't overdo.

I found Kate Rheaume-Bleue's book on Vitamin K2 and Calcium to be quite good. This has been discussed in other threads, so I won't rehash here. I decided to start taking it. I am on Warfarin due to my mechanical valve. See the image. This is my INR, both from the Coaguchek and from the...