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Hi Dale, When I had my surgery they never stitched the chest tube holes at all. In fact I don't remember them doing anything with them. I think they were trying to let them heal from the inside out to actually help reduce infection. This allows the holes to drain instead of trapping fluid...

Hello JCC, I had a valve sparing aortic root replacement. I had a tricuspid valve, but had an aneurysm. It is common when you have this type of procedure that they take off your coronary arteries with what is called coronary buttons and replace them back onto your new Decron graft. I did not...

What a nightmare! Having gone through your first surgery and being told we are doing another. We are all thinking of you. Imagine how much better you will feel post-op with a working valve this time around.

1. I remember being excited to get home and take a hot shower. WRONG!!! Two minutes in and my hands went ice cold. I was scared something terrible was happening. I mentioned to the visiting nurse the next day and apparently you aren't suppose to do that. Your heart is still recovering and...

Hi everyone. I have been back browsing through old posts and I hear the comments about people who have come and gone. I am one of them. Even though I haven't posted in a while I still like to keep up with what everyone is saying. Don't be upset with me. The information I received from this...

Sarah, how do you mentall handle having gone through so many OHS? I'm impressed.

Previous member who was looking over old posts. Does anyone have any experiences with Crohn's and aortic problems. I am just curious what your doctors have been saying coorelated these two problems.

You should see the other guy. My surgical crew kickstarted my heart (this is a spoof on Motley Crue's song "Kickstart My Heart")

All heart valves are compatible for MRI up to 1.5 Tesla. The force of your heart pumping creates more force than the actual MRI. There is extensive testing done every year and a good MRI facility will have all the reference material available for cross referencing with any implant care you...

Hi Tara, I am an MRI Tech at a large facility that has five scanners. When you describe the machine turning on/off you are describing the application of RF energy. Your St. Jude valve is MRI compatible. I am wondering if you may have a tattoo over that area or if you were wearing a...

Make sure everything you need is below shoulder level. I also used a two step step-ladder quite a bit to get a glass/plate out of the cupboard. Good luck!! Take any help that others are willing to offer.

If you feel like you have had good care up until now I would consider not jumping the gun on switching quite yet. I would let your physician know that you were not happy with the response that you received. A lot of times physicians forget that we don't know everything they do and they need...

Hi Valeria, I had surgery just over one year ago. I ended up having a wide scar on top and a hypertrophic scar in the last 1-1/2 inches. At the time I was told to wait eight weeks before putting anything on it then I used silicone strips. I ended up recently seeing a plastic surgeon who is...

I'm 10 months out as of yesterday, my scar looks great in the middle, wide and flat at the top, and hypertrophic the last inch. Go figure! I plan on seeing a plastic surgeon for the hypertrophic area and will let you know what she says when I see her next month. In the meantime, the wide/flat...

O.K. everyone I've been a Registered MRI Tech for over 10 years, so if you have any specific questions let me know. Technology is advancing quickly, so scans will become shorter, noise will be less, and they do have 70 cm short bore scanners now (which means more room/less of your body goes in...

Time to go back to work Time to go back to work I knew it was time to go back to work when I started humming the theme song to Law & Order while I was in the kitchen. :)

Step stool Step stool Get a small step stool so you can do little things like pour coffee into your coffee pot and get a glass down out of the cupboard.

One month before surgery One month before surgery I remember being one month out from surgery and calling my husband at work and telling him "I can't do it anymore." Meaning that I can't keep working and doing everything else I normally do in a day, I was exhausted. I remember having to plan...

Prayers have already been said.

My previous echo/switch to Coreg was in mid-July so I haven't been on it long at all. He does foresee this being a lifelong medication though.