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Hi all. MVR 18 years ago. Did (and doing) well and drifted away from the forum. Well, I’m back again. I’m having a minor outpatient surgery, rather than a longer inpatient stay; we’re going to bridge with Lovenox. The directions are short and sweet, basically stop warfarin 5 days prior...

15 years post MVR yesterday, and doing fine. I often say it was the best thing to happen in my life (after the fact). Made lots of changes to the better. I just heard that a friend and colleague was just admitted for mitral valve surgery planned in the next few days. I hadn’t been on the...

Medicare announced that it will begin covering home INR testing for patients with atrial fibrillation and with thromboembolism. There are many more folks with these maladies than with mechanical valve replacements, especially in the Medicare aged population. This should greatly increase...

In one of my many emails back and forth with the Hemosense folks, they sent me this tech bulletin: http://www.hemosense.com/docs/5500330_TechBull109_ClinicalExpPTRevB.pdf with regard to the differences many of us are seeing in INR results. According to WHO standards, a difference of +/- 30% in...

I spoke to Der Biermeister today (day after surgery) and he sounds great :) . His voice is normal and energy level seems fine. He had a tissue AVR and some bypasses done and is "feeling no pain, don't need any meds". He's been up and about just a little bit, but for the day after; wow, I'm...

I thought this was interesting, so I posted the article abstract as the site is access controlled to members: March 14, 2006 ? Coagulation factors are activated more during prolonged air travel than in other immobilizing situations, according to the results of a crossover study reported in the...

My cardiologist still thinks I'm imagining the cognitive changes pre vs. post surgery. I know we've discussed it here off and on but I came across this in one of my ramblings around the net. (I spend too much time on the computer!:D ) It's from the New England Journal of Medicine, Feb 8...

A while back I posted about having an INR on the PCP's CoaguChek of 6.1. The lab came back with 3.8. My INRatio gave 6.1 (all taken within 30 minutes of each other). Being as the sample sat in the courier's car for most of the day (this was a cooker of a day on August) before getting to the...

At my most recent caridologist visit, he wanted to check the INR with a blood draw vs at INRatio (he's not to trusting of the home units). No problem as they were going to stick me for a bunch of other stuff too. Went to my PCP the next morning and he just got a new CoagCheck S for use in the...

Got my INRatio meter today. VERY easy to use, came with DVD and well written instruction book. Was supposed to wait until QAS nurse called to do phone training, but I was chomping at the bit waiting for this thing. Here's the circle story... Asked my cardio about home testing about 6 weeks...

Before surgery, my resting HR was around 60-65. Right after surgery in ICU it was around 110. Gradually has been decreasing and now with 4 months post-op and finish cardiac rehab, I feel much better, less SOB (still crash and nap each day) and resting rate is around 85. Went to see cardio...

How much change in INR do you see with increased exercise? I'm just at the point where I'm walking at an almost brisk pace (vs the slow stroll I'd barely been able to do a few weeks ago). Currently up to 1 1/2 miles each day. Not scheduled for blood draw until next week (last was 3 weeks ago...

For those who are doing home testing... What are your opinions on the unit you are using so far as accuracy, ease and need of calibration, maintenance, and cost and availablity of the testing strips. I'm currently in the early stages of getting together data on units and such to submit my...

I'm 10 day post MVR with St Jude and slowly catching up with life. I realize from reading the postings here that my mental fogginess is common at this point, but my spelling is awful. I've had to recorrect about 10 times so far in this post. Also I went to write out some directions today in...