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Hi there! Today is my 3-year valveversary :) I am happy to report that after they fixed the sternum in Nov. 2009 I am doing great! Latest cardio check-up said that I still have mitral incompetence, but no more pulmonary hypertention and I should outlive my valve-job. We are moving to...

Hi there to all my valve friends :) I am still here - did not go very far and doing great! It has now been 8 months since my sternotomy and I feel great. The last echo showed ZERO mitral incompetence and the zip is looking good. Was thinking about you guys/girls a lot... anyone around here...

I went back to work on Monday after a 2 month sick leave! It was high time and it feels great to be back. The first day was just hectic in so many ways. When I started my career there in Aug 2008 only the HR personnel, my close friends and Manager knew that I had OHS. I managed to hide the...

Hi there to all my forum-friends! Just a quick update from me: I am feeling so much better. Sternum has healed and incision looking good. I am working on a pic for "toots" :p I am ready to go back to work next year (4 Jan) and I am really looking forward to the New Year. But first, we...

Hi there VR friends ;) I am almost 3 weeks post-op (Sternotomy) and just had to pop in and report: I am doing great! The incision has healed very well and I can sleep on my sides now without a lot of discomfort! There is a big difference between the OHS I had last year to fix the valve...

Hi everyone! Thank you for all your prayers and I could "feel" my VR frends in my heart ;) I went into Hospital on the 8th and got discharged today. Long and eventful week. I can feel that I am getting stronger and more mobile every day. I had a Gastroscopy done minutes before surgery and...

Thank you for all the information on Talons. It looks scary! :eek: I tried to do a Google search on "Talons" in South Africa... non-existant! I thought so. We don't have that type of technology around here. They don't even do minimal invasive valve-ops or Robotic around here... Maybe in the...

A big thank you to everyone for the well-wishes and uplifting messages! You gave me that lift that I needed ;) I am a little anxious this time, because I know what to expect and I am a busy body and an absolute control-freak so I don't like to be a patient. But I promise to take it easy :p...

Hi VR-vriends, Cardio sent me for RT scan and I went to the new Thoracic Surgeon (alias Doctor Honey, the Cardio is Hunky) :p yesterday, with the idea of getting a consult on possibly removing the wires. I am 18 months post-op and still I can't sleep on my sides, without sternum pains waking...

Hi there to everyone! I had my annual Cardio check-up yesterday with Dr. Hunky :p I still have some degree of Pulmonary Hypertention (PH level 24) and Cardio is referring me to a Pulmonoligist for further tests. I had PH pre-op but I thought it would disappear so many months post-op. Valve...

I found this interesting link... http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/news/archives07/leaky_valve.cfm Imagine... If this can be the future of heart valve repairs and replacement! No more months and months of aching sternums and scars!

I had my mitral valve repair 17 months ago (annuloplasty ring was inserted). My Cardio told me, even pre-op that there is not need for antibiotics before dental or other procedures. So I had my rootcanal the other day - no antibiotics and I am fine. I have to go in for a CT, Gastroscopy and...

Hi there all VR-friends :p I have been battling with Chronic Appendicitis for the past 6 years and after severe infection last week, my GP is referring me to a General Surgeon to get an opinion on removing it! How will other surgeries affect me now? I am not on Warfarin or any...

Ah, this is a nice feature! Thanks! One of my work-friends' birthday is on the 31st of March and this year I remembered his birthday because it is also my 1st year post-op... funny, but when I explained to him and to some other friends why this day was also special to me I got these...

Hi there to everyone. Sorry I have been so quiet. Good things in life are scarce :p Unfortunately I just came out of hospital... again. This time not heart related. I had "Pleurisy" and a viral infection. Still not 100%, but getting there. Seeing my Dr. Hunky Cardio on Tuesday... will let...

Happy New Year to all! I almost didn?t make it? I am now 9 months post-op after Mitral repair and have had many ups and downs. Lately I felt very lethargic and shortness of breath and during Christmas I developed sharp chest pains. At first I tried to ignore the signs and took all the...

Hi there to my valve-family ;) I am 7 month post-op and I am back in the waiting room again... moderate mitral regurg and will go for another echo Feb. 2009 to monitor LV and EF. EF 56% at this stage. Pre-op my regurg changed from moderate to severe in 6 months? can?t help to sometimes wonder...

Hi there. Report back from 2 days of tests: echo, xrays, 24hour holter ECG, Tilt test. Echo revealed that I have a mild-moderate mitral valve incompetence. Was a bit of a shock because when I had my 6 weeks post-op check-up Cardio said there was a mild leak, but nothing to be worried about...

Hi there valve-friends ;) I am on my way to get checked out by my Cardio tomorrow... I'll book into my "time share" again but this time I am sure will be the last and I am going to insist on seeing a Pulmonoligist as well and get the proper treatment and diagnoses. I had 4 syncope episodes...

Wonder if you guys/girls can help me... the Medical aid that I was on during the time before and after my surgery (Renaissance) has been declared Insolvent and is now under "liquidation". I have been getting bills by the dozens (total about R150 000) and some of the Suppliers are now giving me...