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Dear Friends, I haven't been to the forum in a long time. It is hard to believe that it was almost three years ago that I started pestering folks here with my annoying questions. I have a question about weight gain. Obviously, right after surgery I lost weight and was too thin. Since...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/sports/19racers.html

As you may know, I was born with a BAV. Last year I had surgery to repair a 5 cm aortic root aneurysm. My valve was spared. I was wondering if anyone knows of studies showing what percentage of those with BAV connective tissue syndrome end up having aneurysms further up the aorta. I am...

So yesterday I was at Hopkins for a baseline CT-Scan of my whole aorta. The good news is that my aorta's measurements are all within the range of normal. I received a prescription for the blood pressure medication, Avapro, that is supposed to have a prophylactic effect by blocking receptors...

Dear Friends, It has been a while. Brief background, last August I had surgery to repair my aortic root aneurysm and spare my BAV. I am doing great. I've met with the wonderful Dr. Dietz at Hopkins and he and his staff are suggesting that I go on an Angoitensin Receptor Blocker, specifically...

I had surgery almost 10 weeks ago (10 weeks Friday). Last night I pulled out the recycling and the trash (not lifting anything). I didn't think this was too much, but in the middle of the night my chest felt very sore. As one gets back into things is it typical to feel soreness like real bad...

I had my post-op check-up with Dr. Cameron on Thursday. The man is such a class act. I brought my daughter with me who is 5 and wants to be a cardiac surgeon now! She's got a great example in Dr. Cameron. Everything looked good. The post-surgical echo showed trace leakage, but basically the...

Did anyone else see this article by a writer who is doing triathlons with an aortic aneurysm? I was quite surprised that his cardiologist cleared him for this. I had one cardiac surgeon tell me that I could run marathons with my aneurysm. Are these guys nuts or is the risk from aerobic...

I had the David Procedure about 6 weeks ago. It has been an uneventful recovery. I returned to work today for a half-day. One question I had is about chest soreness and pain. I believe I have come close to lifting over 10 pounds on a number of occasions. Being a hypochondriac I worry that...

Here's a nice tribute video to Dr. Duke Cameron on his being award the 2009 Antoine Marfan Award by the National Marfan Foundation: 4xVw1RU89T4

This may sound weird, but I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a phenomenon after surgery of your heartbeats feeling fuller. When I get up and walk to the bathroom and notice my heartbeat, it just feels more powerful and full. Dr. Cameron told me that he got rid of all the leakage that...

Is anyone else surprised that Aaron Boone has been cleared to play baseball again and has in fact returned? I imagine he is weightlifting to some degree, at least doing toning to himself in baseball shape. The reason I am surprised is that the genetics lab at Hopkins has told me (I seem to...

I may be a bit paranoid, but I am worried I might be catching a cold 15 days post surgery. (I am hoping that it is just the change in weather.) Is there anything special I can or should do if this is in fact happening? Is there any special worry about a cold during recovery? Any help or...

I notice that most people's posts include a signature line showing what sort of surgery they had. Now that I've had mine, I'd like to add that. Can someone tell me how to do that?

I was wondering if any else experienced similar pain when sleeping on the back. About 6 hours into sleeping on my back, I usually wake up because I have lower back pain and abdomen pain. It almost feels like the pain you get when you are really constipated. After I am up and about for an hour...

I had numerous (water) bowel movements at the hospital. I think 6-7 in those last two days. I returned home on Wednesday afternoon and it is now Friday morning and I have yet to have a bowel movement. When should I get concerned? I am not yet partly because they have me on stool softener...

The nurses kept telling me that in their experience the younger patients bounce back more quickly, but also experience more pain because of more tuned in neurons (non-scientific way of putting it). Any truth to that? This seems to match up anecdotally with the older folks I've talked to who...

Sorry to be so frank here, but I was wondering if anyone else had issues with urination post-surgery, post-Foley catheter. I was released out of the hospital today, but I almost had to stay because ever since the Foley was removed on Sunday, I've had issues with urination. I don't have an...

I know MaryK posted, but I just wanted to give you my own update. Surgery was on Friday and took about 4-5 hours. Post-op, the immediately hardest thing was that darn intubation tube. My father relayed the great knews that the valve had been spared. Dr. Cameron told me the next morning that...

Dr. Cameron called tonight. He seems like the Sully Sullenberger of surgeons. The veteran that you have total confidence in. A priest friend came over and I feel so at peace. Operation Chest Cracker here we come!