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I'm just over 8 years out from bioprosthetic AVR, with a Dacron replacement of my proximal arch (rather than the root, unusual, I know). My BP has roughly averaged around 138/78 for years. (Over the last decade, I've seen as low as 115/70 and as high as 150/90, under normal physical/emotional...

I know we had a post in this section from 2017, but this news from the NIH seems even brighter. I should have another 5 years at least with my 6 year old Epic. By the time I get my bioprosthetic replaced, I imagine low-risk/asymtpomatic TAVR patients will be common. Now I had a blimp of an...

My BP is regularly 130-145/80-90. I take 75mg/day metoprolol. I'm about 30lbs overweight (5'6", 180lbs) and since the start of 2018 my exercise routine has been non-existent. I don't really watch my salt intake, though I don't go crazy with salt. I have naturally low total cholesterol (~130) I...

This is really a two-parter. 1. After my AVR in 2013 the physician's assistant who removed my post-op pacemaker leads screwed up. The lead slipped from her fingers and snapped back into my chest. My surgeon's lieutenant assured me it wasn't a problem and especially not compared to opening me up...

I'm 4.5 years out from my AVR now, bioprosthetic , so I take aspirin. There are other contributing factors, but I am sure that the aspirin is the worst, consistent factor giving me regular soreness and then the occasional full blown gout attack just by adding in three or four units alcohol. I...

I'm almost 4 years out from my AVR with a bioprosthetic valve and a chunk of my proximal and innominate artery replaced with a Dacron graft. Right after surgery I had a lot of PVCs, that's to be expected. After a few months the cardio and I finally settled on 75mg/day for metoprolol. I am very...

Hello VR friends, I did some searching on VR.org before I wrote this question and all I saw were answers in reference to questions about warfarin plus NSAIDs, not doubling up if you already take 81mg daily. So, obviously, I take 81mg daily, and no other thinners, for my bioprosthetic aortic...

Since surgery (11/05/2013) the symptoms have improved. I'm not too worried and atelectasis was ruled some time ago with an x-ray about a week after going home. To be honest, I haven't been the most consistent with the breathing exercises (with those plastic inhale/exhale devices). At 9 weeks...

Just wanted to relay my experience for getting better sleep. I hope this helps someone. Being post-op was such a relief for me. I can finally fall asleep without all sorts of crap swimming through my head. In fact, I've had to go to sleep with, at first, music and then podcasts and talk...

For those who remember my struggle with valve choice, any everything else pre-op, thank you for all your replies. In a nutshell, I had the huge aneurysm in my proximal arch repaired and aortic valve replaced by Dr. Vincent Gaudiani on 11/5/2013 at California Pacific Medical Center in San...

This one: http://mayo.img.entriq.net/htm/MayoP...articleID=4071 by Dr. Hartzell V. Schaff @ Mayo. So I watched it fully. It was interesting but I wasn't overly impressed by the continuous stream of survival rate graphs where mechanical valve data was always on top. I've read a lot of studies...

... and I still haven't decided. I think I know what many will say when done reading this, as most of you out there are on the other side of this decision and have a vested interest in maintaining a positive outlook on what is and will be the AVR reality for the rest of your lives. But I...

After hearing about potential back and shoulder injury before open heart surgery, I've been wondering (with 8 days left) if it would help to acutely stretch those and/or other areas of the body. Any experience or advice with this? Any physical therapists on the forums?

I've seen and tried more than a few pill reminder apps from Google's Play Store. I've also looked into more generic reminder apps too. I cannot seem to find one that has a combination of these features: 1. Will sound an alarm during a reminder no matter my current sound settings. 2. Will...

Hello. I'm glad to have found you all. I've (mostly) enjoyed reading your posts (as some have scared the crap out of me) since I found out about this place after I learned of my need for AVR on Sept 9. My bicuspid aortic valve (fused leaflet) has been a known part of my physiology since I was...