F
Fran
Hi, my name is Fran. I am (almost) 46, female, mother of three amazing kids. I was dx'd with a leaky valve three years ago, but it was only in March '07 that my bicuspid was discovered along with the ascending aortic aneurysm. Dr. John Armitage encouraged me to receive the Onx valve. My surgery went beautifully, I was home and so strong in just a few days. But had to return five days after due to a clot in my upper right arm. That was removed (hurt more than the sternum!) and I've had to have a bypass on that upper arm this past July. 24 metal staples in my upper leg where they harvested a vein for it - I cried!
My issues have popped up here and there, even though I regained a very healthy lifestyle again, just like Dr A promised (I love that man!). I do treadmill, bike, lost 60 lbs and feel like a million bucks. HOWEVER, the Coumadin I was on to address the arm clot put me in ER in Feb because our GP (he didn't know better) gave me Z-pack for flu symptoms and my INR shot up to over 13. Fresh frozen plasma and Vit K took it back down within a day, and that was when I went on the Plavix study. The whole idea of the Onx valve for someone my age is to lessen usage of Coumadin.
Plavix and aspirin, however, just landed me in ER again with a horrendous stomach ulcer over T'giving. Had to receive 4 units of blood but the MIRACLE was them finding a clot in my left ventricle - "vegetation" is what it's called, ugh. Heparin drip for a week to dissolve that, TEE's and scopes for the clot and ulcer updates. I am scheduled to start Coumadin again (dread it, as my INR last year was all over the place even though I was a really good girl the way I ate) start Coumadin again once ulcer is checked on 12/24.
My wonderful cardiologist says I can get a home-monitoring unit. We have a fantastic Coumadin clinic but it's many miles from my home (rural area).
My husband and kids (2 still at home, one in Coast Guard in Michigan) have been so supportive. My family of origin, however, except for one faithful younger brother, has been nothing but a nightmare - very abusive situation that they don't want to stop even in light of surgery/medical history.
I sometimes have 2nd thoughts about the mechanical valve because my bloodthinners have caused me all of the emergencies since the surgery. But to face another valve replacement later on - that stinks, too. I am hoping somehow this time around the Coumadin will be managed better. I am taking Lovenox 60ml shots to the belly twice a day right now, that can get old, but better than "vegetation" in the wrong place.
I am so glad to find this forum! I don't know why I didn't Google it before.
The right arm is as good as new, thanks to Dr's Brad Ryan and Robert D'Addio who did my surgeries. I almost lost it last year.
Many close calls between the aneurysm that didn't blow, the arm, the bleeding. But still here, more determined than ever.
Thank you for this fantastic forum. I've been a member of a forum of childhood abuse for some time, and it's a marvelous thing to share stories and understand that every day is a new chance to spread some compassion and empathy.
My issues have popped up here and there, even though I regained a very healthy lifestyle again, just like Dr A promised (I love that man!). I do treadmill, bike, lost 60 lbs and feel like a million bucks. HOWEVER, the Coumadin I was on to address the arm clot put me in ER in Feb because our GP (he didn't know better) gave me Z-pack for flu symptoms and my INR shot up to over 13. Fresh frozen plasma and Vit K took it back down within a day, and that was when I went on the Plavix study. The whole idea of the Onx valve for someone my age is to lessen usage of Coumadin.
Plavix and aspirin, however, just landed me in ER again with a horrendous stomach ulcer over T'giving. Had to receive 4 units of blood but the MIRACLE was them finding a clot in my left ventricle - "vegetation" is what it's called, ugh. Heparin drip for a week to dissolve that, TEE's and scopes for the clot and ulcer updates. I am scheduled to start Coumadin again (dread it, as my INR last year was all over the place even though I was a really good girl the way I ate) start Coumadin again once ulcer is checked on 12/24.
My wonderful cardiologist says I can get a home-monitoring unit. We have a fantastic Coumadin clinic but it's many miles from my home (rural area).
My husband and kids (2 still at home, one in Coast Guard in Michigan) have been so supportive. My family of origin, however, except for one faithful younger brother, has been nothing but a nightmare - very abusive situation that they don't want to stop even in light of surgery/medical history.
I sometimes have 2nd thoughts about the mechanical valve because my bloodthinners have caused me all of the emergencies since the surgery. But to face another valve replacement later on - that stinks, too. I am hoping somehow this time around the Coumadin will be managed better. I am taking Lovenox 60ml shots to the belly twice a day right now, that can get old, but better than "vegetation" in the wrong place.
I am so glad to find this forum! I don't know why I didn't Google it before.
The right arm is as good as new, thanks to Dr's Brad Ryan and Robert D'Addio who did my surgeries. I almost lost it last year.
Many close calls between the aneurysm that didn't blow, the arm, the bleeding. But still here, more determined than ever.
Thank you for this fantastic forum. I've been a member of a forum of childhood abuse for some time, and it's a marvelous thing to share stories and understand that every day is a new chance to spread some compassion and empathy.