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I've considered red yeast rice but have been a little hesitant - my wife took it for a while and had severe side effects and had to discontinue. But that doesn't mean it would affect me the same way - I'm thinking about giving it a shot. Thanks for your reply.

I slept in a recliner for 10 days or so. I'm not a back sleeper either, but the recliner is comfortable. My recliner is a powered model, so getting up is much easier than getting out of a bed. Just press the button and you're sitting up straight - from there it's a simple matter to stand without...

Sorry to hear about your accident - best wishes for a speedy recovery. My life has been hellish due to meds - we can't find anything that controls BP and cholesterol without making me dizzy and queasy to the point of being unable to function. I've been working with my cardiologist: quitting...

My wife has lots to say about my sleeping, but apnea is not among her complaints.

I have been struggling with BP meds since my AVR on 7/26/13. I'm working closely with my cardiologist, and we have been adjusting dosages and medications, but so far everything we have tried makes me feel drugged (dizzy and nauseated) to the point of being practically non-functioning. I'm...

Others have said it better, but let me chime in also. The thought of open heart surgery is pretty scary, but in fact it's very common and has a very high probability of success. This is a once in a lifetime experience for most of us, but remember it's just another day at the office for the...

I was very short of breath and couldn't walk far for the first 4 or 5 days. I walked several times daily for 10 minutes, then 15, etc. Within about 10 days my endurance was much better and after about 3 weeks I could walk pretty much normally. Hang in there- you'll improve rapidly.

At Washington Hospital Center when each room is made up for a new patient a big red heart pillow with a schematic graphic of the heart is placed prominently at the head of the bed. I remember that being a cheery sight when I was wheeled in from ICU following my surgery. I kept mine after...

I spent the first 8-10 days at home in a recliner. I tried the bed, but it was not comfortable and getting in and out were difficult. We have a big sectional in our family room with electrically operated recliners on each end. Just push a button and you go from reclined to sitting upright with...

I think we're pretty good at keeping the door closed on unpleasantness. But every now and then it pops open for a little while.

Depends - I've seen different accounts. In my case, I saw my surgeon for a followup at 3 weeks post-op, at which point he discharged me from his care, and then saw my cardiologist 3 or 4 weeks after that. I got a new baseline echo, ekg, and thorough exam from him and he pronounced me good to go...

My blood pressure was well regulated on 5 mg amlodopine and 20 mg Coreg CR before and after my AVR 3 months ago. Suddenly a couple of days ago my BP jumped to 216/105 :eek: - I called my doc and he told me to double the Coreg to 40 mg. I did that, and my BP dropped back to normal in a few hours...

The tubes and leads are not so bad. I remember waking up in cardiac intensive care with the breathing tube still in place, but was sedated enough not to really notice it. Removal wasn't at all unpleasant or uncomfortable, and over the next couple of days all of the other IV's and pacing leads...

I was doing great post-op until my division director called me in and informed me that my hours are being cut to 50% from now until the end of the year, and if I can't find coverage on a new contract by then I'll have to retire. My plan was to continue full time for another year, and then go...

The last thing I wanted after surgery was a bunch of people visiting. I asked my wife to keep everybody away, which she did, and we had a big get together after I got home.

+1 - 8 weeks post surgery I was feeling strong and well healed, and then was wrangling a 40 pound bag of topsoil and experienced a nasty pain in my sternum right at the bottom of my incision. It hurt when I did it and continued to hurt for a couple of days after. It has resolved ok, but I have...

I had a followup visit with the surgeon 4 weeks after surgery, and with my cardiologist 4 weeks after that.

Could be - I'm a not so young, not so slim, arguably not so attractive male and I didn't have even a twinge

As a relative newbie myself, welcome. You'll get lots of useful information and support here. Oh, and if you're a UT person, hook 'em!

Heart/lung machine is a standard part of the process - they've done it thousands of times. There's really nothing to worry about (any more than anything else, anyway). We've all been through it, and you will come through fine. Best of luck to you.