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Hopeful heart - I'm 39 years old as well and have been taking warfarin every day for the last 6 years (I was 33 when I had my mechanical valve put in). The medicine itself is really no big deal. You do have to take it every day but it soon becomes a routine akin to brushing your teeth. The...

Hello everyone. It's Wes from Osaka, Japan. I was active in the forum 6 years ago when I had my AVR. My heart is doing great by the way! The lungs? Not so good. I've come down with tuberculosis and have been hospitalized in Osaka. The treatment is pretty standard (a lot of antibiotics for a...

getting the shot in Japan getting the shot in Japan I'm going in for my H1N1 shot on Thursday. I've been on a waiting list since September and the vaccine is finally available in Japan. I'm a teacher and am constantly exposed to sick people of all ages. Fingers crossed for no nasty side effects.

Greetings to all! I was at the Cardiologist the other day, and realized that readers might be interested to know about some of the common medical terminology in other languages. I'll start with Japanese. If any of you ever find yourselves in this country, you'll be relieved to know that most of...

thanks to everyone for your comments (and words of encouragement) the asthma has gotten a bit better thanks to the recent stable weather. not looking forward to winter though. it's comforting to know that there are other valvers out there with respiratory issues, though I'm sorry we have to go...

Well, it's been exactly 2 years since undergoing AVR and the good news is my heart is looking great! My latest echo showed great results and the arrhythmia I had a few weeks ago has subsided. Now for the bad news. My lungs have taken a beating this past year and my asthma is out of control...

thanks to everyone for your swift and encouraging replies. Yes, I afraid the abnormal rhythms can come at any time. The doc said that it could be related to stress or fatigue, two things I've had a little too much of lately. I've got an appointment on Monday with my cardiologist anyway and...

come to Japan! They'll insure anyone regardless of pre-existing conditions. It ain't cheap though.

Greetings everyone. Well, I'm just about 2 years out from my AVR and last night I had my very first bout with arrhythmia! I held out for 14 hours before going to the hospital. I know that most of them can be benign, but just wanted to make sure. I had no other symptoms, and luckily it showed...

an update an update thanks to everyone for their swift and extremely helpful replies. this morning I still didn't feel well, so I decided to go to a hospital near my house that has a cardiovascular dept. I met with a cardiologist and got a chest x-ray, ECG, blood test, Echo cardiogram and...

Greetings everyone. Sorry it's been ages since I last posted, but I've been secretly lurking here occasionally to try to keep up with things. Unfortunately, I'm writing with a question about my health in hopes that other people may have experienced the same thing: I've been suffering from a...

I climbed Longs Peaks about 10 years ago. It's an amazing hike and a lot less technical than the Tetons. Pikes Peak is also good, but you can drive to the top, so you might be disappointed with the huge souvenir shop and restaurant on the summit. Good luck with whatever peak you decide on.

greetings everyone. I am about to fly halfway around the world to visit my family, and I have an interesting question that I hope you can help me with. I normally take my warfarin dose around 7:30pm each night, and was wondering if I should adjust my dosage time to the new time zone I will...

Woah. All of these toilet stories have brought back memories of a trip I took through the Yunan Province a few years ago. Those of you who think that Choudoufu is exaggerating, think again! China really is an amazing place, though. You shouldn't have to worry about the toilets Post Op if...

I don't keep track of my heart rate (well, at least not officially). I do keep track of my pace and breathing however, always making sure to breathe deeply from the diaphragm - inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. The most important thing with any post op aerobic activity...

Happy November everyone! I'm preparing for a dental visit, but I have a question, so here goes: What antibiotics does your dentist typically prescribe before a dental visit? The last time I had a prescription written it was over 8 years ago, and at that time my cardiologist prescribed...

Japan also doesn't recognize savings time. One one hand, it's easier to keep track of because you don't have to worry about changing your clock. However, making phone calls to the states is tricky, because I always seem to miscalculate the time! FYI, there's a 17-hr time difference between...

I do a fair bit of modelling, and sometimes the designer/photographer wants a shot with the shirt open/unbuttoned. They usually scratch that idea when I show them my scar (I always tell them upfront about it, but I think they're always surprised by the size when I actually show that it to...

1 year post op video link 1 year post op video link thanks for all of the support. here is a link to the video about my hike http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qB-3uhaY-LA

I can't help you with the supplement question, but the neck hair will definitely have to go. The facial hair should be ok as long as it's not too long. Be prepared to be shaven from your neck to your knees though. Don't worry - the nurses will help you with that :D The reason for shaving the...