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A warm hello! I've returned, because I learned this week that the bioprosthetic valve I received during surgery at CC in late 2016 is failing quickly. I wonder whether there may be someone here who has needed to walk this path. My cardiologist says there is no way to find out what is wrong...

Probably I was remiss for not checking my heart rate for a few days, maybe a week, I dunno, and just trusting that my assigned medications were okay. But I have been doing so much doctoring for this, that and the other issue. Checking where incisions popped open a bit; following cellulitis and...

I'm very new to taking warfarin. Haven't had a nosebleed in many years. Now two of them in the last few days. Set off by sneezing the first time, coughing the second. Does this happen to anyone else?

Hi All, I'm grateful to be on the other side. Have steered through a few bumps and I'm still in Cleveland as they work to help me resolve things. With Cleveland Clinic, you meet your surgeon the day before your operation. That day, the surgeon worked on a man's fifth open heart surgery and...

Finally... I fly to Cleveland this Sunday. It has been a long, complicated and challenging journey, getting to this point. Appointments run Monday through Wednesday and surgery is expected this coming Thursday, Sept. 29. to fix the aortic aneurysm and replace my dilated aortic root and...

Ack! So many unknowns. I *think* after a conversation with a nurse today, they're getting me scheduled. New surgeon's last date available in September. Nurse mentioned he said my valve is borderline and he wants another echo. I know the numbers tipped into "severe" at the echo in June. There...

If anyone replies, please be gentle with me. I'm hurting emotionally. Saw a well-established local surgeon today. The previous consult had been long distance with a Cleveland Clinic surgeon who reviewed all my records, CTs, echos, etc. Local surgeon says my aortic root is dilated and will...

A short article posted this month caught my eye, because it's something I didn't realize and Miconazole is in many OTC antifungal creams for jock itch and athlete's foot. I used several last year. I tried to see whether this topic was covered in the drug-interaction sticky already, but that...

I know there are several books available, dealing with heart surgery. Some reviewers sound like these may not be that helpful. If you read one and really benefited, I'd be interested in knowing.

I am going to need a valve soon, and I have questions and concerns about Coumadin. I'll mention that my mother experienced a catastrophic Coumadin-induced hemorrhage 9/16/14 from which she passed away after a month in ICU. She had taken it mostly successfully since 1991. Also, she missed a...

At this stage in my life, I have no family and/or friends who could accompany me for surgery. Has anyone done this completely on their own or maybe know someone who did? I live in Texas, and the Heart Hospital in Plano is an option. I've scheduled a consultation with William Ryan there. But I...

Hi. I'm back after remaining in the waiting room awhile. I didn't find a place here to reintroduce myself. I recently received a remote second opinion indicating that it's time to address my aortic aneurysm (4.9 cm at largest spot) and at the same time to get a new valve. I haven't decided on...

This may be a silly question. But I've been having reflux that isn't being controlled by 60 mg of Prevacid a day and I'm needing to have an upper GI endoscopy. Does anyone know whether there are any special precautions or concerns about having that procedure when you have a thoracic aneurysm...

Hi. I know we're not supposed to let our BP go too high with an aneurysm. At what point is there cause for concern and possibly need for medication? Mine used to always be super low all my life till the last couple years. Today at CVS, I registered 129/70 and then 120/70, the highest ever for...

This may be a goofy question but I'm wondering whether there are any concerns with an aortic aneurysm about bending over. I've had a longterm problem with my patellar tendonitis, so it's less painful to bend over than to have to raise up after squatting down. But I'm wondering whether it...

Hi. I'm glad to find this site. I've known about my faulty aortic valve for 35 years, and have tracked it with echos and cardiologist visits. The aortic aneurysm is a much newer and scarier development. It's at 4.5 cm but has been stable since dx in late 08. My cardiologist has not been able to...