Recent content by Yankeeman2

Don't be afraid. I was also when I had my surgery at about your age. You will never really have much pain, if any. And hospital personnel will help you deal with recovery. Consider the alternative: possibly dying about 30 years before most women in the U.S.

It has also been my experience.

I'd be wary of agreeing to take whatever pills any dentist offered. I always remember to take my meds before having teeth cleaned.

OK. Try to Google "Average life span following implantation of mechanical aortic heart valve" and see what you get. Key word if course is "average" meaning some live a long time and some don't, of course depending on whatever unrelated health problems they have. I didn't just make up the...

Valve installed July 3, 2007 at Beth Israel in Bodton. As for the 25%, I just got it off the Internet. Google " Percentage of people who have lived 17 years with mechanical aortic valve."

I had aortic stenosis and had surgery many years ago to install a St. Jude valve in Boston. I do know that only 25% of people getting a mechanical valve live as long as I have. The need for daily blood thinners is not really a problem, and neither are regular INR tests.

I had my teeth cleaned yesterday and tested shortly thereafter. Just got the call from the coumadin lab and it came in at 3.2. I didn't change warfarin routine at all and there was no blood coming from my gums.

I also got my St. Jude valve in 2007. I self-tested at home

Amen. Also got my St. Jude's many years ago. The surgeon said it will last a long time, and he wants it back when I'm through with it. But he's dead, so I guess I can keep it.

I prefer actually entering a lab and having blood drawn face to face with a phlebotomist. Drive-up finger sticks probably are OK, but I'll tolerate sitting and waiting. Adds a little humanity to the process.

I formerly tested at labs (got my artificial valve in 1977) then switched to home testing for years, but recently stopped being able to do that correctly (I got old!) so switched back to labs. Labs are less convenient and time consuming, but more likely to provide accurate results. (The general...