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Reading some of the other posts got me thinking more about mine - it's 2 years old... all my other scars have healed up nicely... but there's one area of this one that's a hard bump. I do not like it. It doesn't itch or hurt, but it's pink and just blech. I would never have my scar removed...

Hello all! It's been a while since I've posted, I hop on and read occasionally to see what's going on in here, tho... My valversary was just a couple weeks ago - 2 years on the current On-X mitral valve that I had put in. Things are going well for the most part, though I do have some things...

Hello all! I was curious if: a) - any of you have been on Enalapril (ace inhibitor) and b) - if you ever experienced ear ringing with it?? I've noticed the ear ringing for a few months now, but I'll be honest, I thought it was the new sound system in my car lol. :) However... it's just plain...

I'm super frustrated with my cardiologist. I called yesterday to talk to them about my dizzy spells, which seemed more important to me. I mentioned that they started after some palpatations and I had another bout of palpatations that night. That was now two days ago. As of yesterday I had been...

Hi all! I haven't been in here in a while, other than to come and read from time to time! My 1 year valversary for my new mitral valve is tomorrow so that's exciting! Anyway... the last few months I've had some off and on weird sensations... kinda dizzy feelings at times, but more like a...

Hi everyone! Question for those of you who have the lovely zipper... I'm 8 months out from my surgery and the top part of my scar is still pretty red, where the bottom of it is flesh colored. No itching or anything it's just the color that I find weird. Even my pacemaker scar healed nicely and...

Ok so I've had my monitor for a few hours now and am struggling with getting enough blood to get a good reading... Tips, suggestions, etc? I had a blood draw today (and my INR was over 5, at that), so I'm trying to test the home machine to get a good baseline reading... You'd think with my...

Hi all, I had surgery back on July 14th and I just have swollen feet that don't want to go away. I wanted to see if anyone else has ever experienced this. They're not horrible, but I can't wear normal shoes (and now that we're heading into the colder season, it may be a little more of a pain)...

I've been on this board for 4 years now, and that's when I first learned about home testing and just didn't think that my doctors would ever approve of it. Then I finally asked about it last year, went through the application process, and the company told me my monitor would cost over $700 after...

So before surgery I was taking 6mg pretty consistently with no issues - my INR was always in range (I have a mitral valve so they want me in the 3.0 area). But since I've been home my INR is just crazy... I started with 6mg/day and my INR jumped to 4.2. They lowered it to 5.5/day and it went...

So I've been home a couple weeks now, thank goodness... after 4 weeks in the hospital with all my complications! I was on lasix when I came home, and I came off of that a week and a half ago with no problems. However, I went back to work and did some shopping yesterday, and have been out and...

So they took out the catheter today and removed me from the bladder irrigation. It was time to go to the bathroom on my own, which I had no problems with at all (after being on a cath for two weeks). However, I am passing some huge clots - like quarter size. I don't know if it's the hematoma...

Hi all! I'm still sitting here in the hospital - tomorrow will mark 3 weeks. :) It's actually not making me as crazed as I would think, and it's probably just because I know that I have to be here. I've lost about 30lbs of water weight so far, and am soooo glad to have that off of me! (from all...

Hi all! Just wanted to say hi and post another update on how things are going here. I'm still in the hospital - got out of ICU last night and moved to a normal cardiac room (they're all private and renovated, which is nice). I have at least 30lbs of water weight/swelling from my tummy to my...

Hi all, I hadn't really given it much thought, but I am going out to dinner tomorrow night and doing a "floating trip" down a river Sunday afternoon... all of which could involve drinks.... but with surgery on Tuesday, I probably shouldn't huh? Is there any law out there - my paperwork...

Well here I am two weeks out from surgery, and the cold symptoms are starting... scratchy/sore throat and some sinus pressure... I really don't get allergies, so as much as I'd like to think it's just that, the chances are unlikely. So I've been drinking airborne and popping vitamin C tabs all...

What kind of restrictions do we have after surgery? I remember sitting down when taking a shower, but I think I washed my own hair (?)... can I put on shirts over my head once I'm home or do I need more button up shirts? (last time it was winter, so my attire will be very different this time...

So they're talking about me giving myself Lovenox injections the few days prior to surgery... stopping coumadin Saturday and starting Lovenox either Fri or Sat, then taking my last Lovenox shot Monday morning, surgery Tuesday morning. Just how scary is giving yourself a shot in the belly?!? It...

Ok for me it's been almost 12 years... and I'm nearing the corner to go in for surgery again. If all goes swimmingly, how should I feel about 4 weeks out? I LOVE Taylor Swift, and just found out she's coming here on August 9th, just barely 4 weeks after my surgery. I would love to go, but just...

So have any of you gone through heart surgery while already on coumadin? I'm curious how they'll handle that with me - for my cath they had me hold it for a couple days... for my pacemaker replacement I was admitted and put on a heparin IV 2 days prior... for heart surgery... eeks... I have the...