My Hemoglobin/RBC/Hematocrit at the time of discharge were depressed, and actual numbers (and pertaining discussion) can be seen here:
https://www.valvereplacement.org/th...ocrit-rbc-remain-depressed.889702/post-935371
A few weeks later, they were all in normal range. I went for another exam just last week at 3 month anniversary, in which they were rechecked as normal: RBC = 4.95, Hemoglobin = 13.9, Hematocrit = 44.4
Now the Rx. During discharge, there's a whole boatload you are sent home with, but most/many of the bunch are temporary in nature which you stop after a while (days/weeks) e.g. Lasix, pain killers, etc... and others as applicable e.g. GI-track rx (pantoprazole), potassium, stool softner, etc etc which you also stop soon after..... Then there are keepers, one too many in my case which I hate and hope to trim down some eventually:
- Beta-blocker: My understanding is that it's a must after aortic surgery. I was on Metoprorol initially, then they replaced it with stronger Carvedilol perhaps because of some post-surgery issues I noted in my original email
- Losartan: Now this was a negotiation. As I noted in my original email, my EF post-surgery was lower than the one before. Surgeon didn't think that was an issue and something which would come up within 6 months after surgery. But as I was handed back over to the cardiologist a month after surgery, he scared me with the CHF conversation and contemplated stronger drugs like Entresto and Jardiance. I asked for some time and see if heart would come back-up on its own as surgeon had suggested. A couple more weeks later I had an echo and it showed some improvement (as I noted in my original email), so we settled down to adding Losartan only (for now). Time will tell if my cardiologist is happy with the return of my heart function, EF etc or not, and if those other stronger drugs will be needed or not.
- Coumadin: For obvious reasons (mechanical valve). I would've loved to only take this and nothing else (that's what I thought before the surgery).
- Plavix: As I noted in opening message, I also got a stent unexpectedly (issue encountered during/after surgery). I will need to take this for 1 year, and then stop.
- Statin: I've been offered statin but I've politely declined (for now). As I noted earlier, I never had any coronary artery issues and my lipid profile has always been text-book perfect. Then multiple CT angiograms before surgery demonstrated very good coronary arterial health. But now that I've stent, my cardiologist doesn't want to take any chances and think that I should take statin anyways. May be I will, have not started yet.
So I'm currently taking 4 Rx. Most people probably only take 1 or 2 (Coumadin and beta-blocker/BP).
I also take vitamins and supplements, always have - before the surgery too.
What's your current situation?
). I'll post any further activity update on the other appropriate forum, if any at all. And save this important Post Surgery space for many other urgencies or updates our fellow patients face during most critical times (days/weeks) after the surgery.
