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I haven't visited VR in a long time, but need to ask a question...... The past month or so I have noticed that I am getting out of breath very easily. Just tonight I walked up our driveway (which has only a slight slope) and was so out of breath I checked the pulse oximeter (which I have for...

It's been over a year since my uneventful AVR and over the past month or so- maybe a bit longer- it seems to me that I'm getting short of breath when I go any distance or carry anything, etc. I noticed it this morning when I had to go to the mall (where I never go) to pick up something and...

I want to introduce our new little granddaughter to VR: Catherine Emily, born at 3:44 am on May 26th to our daughter, Elisabeth, and her husband, Brian, in Baltimore. She's their first- and, much to everyone's surprise- weighed 9lbs.6oz. No one expected that! They all went home from the hospital...

When I woke up this morning, my husband leaned over and said, "Happy Anniversary!".........well, that really got me awake because our anniversary isn't until July. He, however, was remembering that last year on May 15, by this time in the morning, my AVR was well underway. What a difference a...

I just got in from clearing our driveway and front walk and am so excited! We had 5"+ of snow last night and before my surgery(8 i/2 mos. ago) I couldn't have imagined feeling up to it...but I now do! Granted, I did it slowly and did sweeping more than lifting, but the job is done. Got my...

Today marked my last cardiac rehab class- and, while I'll miss the extremely nice folks there, I'll be glad to get my days back in their entirety. 36 sessions is a lot of drives down Elm Street! Now my job is to keep up my recently acquired good habits!

At cardiac rehab last Friday they were having me go over some paperwork to make sure it was correct (insurance stuff, I think) and I noticed that, in addition to AVR, they had listed "endarterectomy of the ascending aorta" in the diagnosis space. That was the first I had heard anything of that...

My brother, Bud, age 67, is now 9 weeks out from AVR and is now back in the hospital. He had just returned home on Monday after a 5-day stay for dangerously low potassium. The potassium seems to be ok this time, but SOB persists. He has a pleural effusion and they drained off 1200ccs. this...

go here: http://www.or-live.com/BrighamandWomens/1127/ I watched it after my surgery and was amazed! One of our sons had asked my how big the hole in my chest was: he had unearthed this on the web and remembered a large chest opening and was quite surprised that I have just a small thin line...

Does anyone know if you can donate blood after having an AVR? I had been a long-time giver of blood until my cardio said "no more" a few years prior to my surgery. I just saw a notice on tv for a blood drive and am wondering if that ban applies to me now. Guess I'll ask when I see him next. Have...

I've written about this a bit before, but hope you folks can give some comfort and info-or whatever - to me. My brother and I both have recently had AVRs , me on 5-15 and he on 6-4, and he just continues to do poorly. Last night he was admitted to the ER and is now in the ICU while they try to...

Thanks for all your advice in the recent past concerning my brother and his post-AVR difficulties. I just got off of the phone with him and he mentioned that he's been having some trouble with high blood pressure- kind of being not very consistent. Before AVR it was well controlled, but isn't...

I've been wondering if it's ok to go ahead and get the shingles vaccine now that my AVR is history. Does anyone know if there are any dangers to my new (2 month old ) valve in getting the vaccine? Thanks , as always, for your input!

My brother had AVR on June 4th and has seemed to be doing all right, but not great. He's been released by the surgeon and is now in the care of his cardiologist about whom I know nothing. I'm hoping she's knowledgeable! He's most recently had trouble with elevated blood pressure (as high as...

Hi All! I'm starting to get antsy, but don't go to my cardio for two more weeks at which time I'll be 8 weeks post-op. I'm assuming I'll be released to drive then. Have any of you driven at 6 weeks?

Hi folks! I've been putting stuff away here at home after my AVR and have come upon a big bag of wonderful assorted earplugs, individually wrapped, which I ordered from the earplugsuperstore.com (!). I don't anticipate needing these in the near future and would be happy to share them , 2 -3...

In the last week or so I've acquired pretty noticeable pain on the right side, to the right of my sternum and also my right shoulder blade. There's nothing visible and I have no fever, but it hurts like crazy, particularly when I try to get settled in bed. It's a bit tender even though there's...

My husband found an article suggesting that vitamin C may prevent atrial fibrillation after coronary bypass surgery. Possibly this would apply to valve replacement as well. The reference is here. You may want to show it to your doctor. Ruthie...

Now that you're finished helping me though it, would you please remember my brother, Bud, in your prayers? He's scheduled for an AVR on June 4th with Dr. Scott Goldman at Lankenau Hospital (Phila. area) and will be part of a clinical trial with a new tissue valve from St. Jude. That makes me...

Hi! I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced what I did this morning. I was just sitting in the recliner and all of a sudden the vision in my right eye got very odd. I couldn't see anything in the top half of the vision field and the bottom was quite blurry. It lasted about 5 minutes. My...