Search results

Karlynn - My scar from the mastectomy is flat as a pancake - does that mean I don't have scar tissue problems? Or could there be problems on the inside that I don't know about? I "only" had chemo for the breast cancer - no radiation. Is that what you were referring to? I guess the coumadin...

Shelly - congratulations! I too got my date - 10/22 at Lankenau in Philadelphia. My doctor also feels he can do the minimally invasive surgery and the tissue valve. I vote on flying - I can't imagine driving that far after surgery. Good luck.

Oh God, I hope I don't need all that! Well, I already had the wisdom teeth out, so that's one less thing. :) I made an appt with the doctor my sister works with - for some reason I never went to him - he is an hour away, so that's probably it. She finally convinced me to see him instead of...

Saw my doctor on Friday - surgery is scheduled for 10/22 at Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia. The doc said he can do "minimally invasive" surgery - said he just needs to see the aortic valve, not the whole heart - and he suggested a pig valve. I liked the guy - he seemed very confident. I'm 50...

What is scaling? I'm almost as nervous about going to the dentist as I am about the heart surgery! Is that the dumbest thing? I had a molar pulled last year after an attempted root canel - the tooth broke (which the dentist said it might, but I wanted to preserve it if I could). It was the...

Thanks, Dan. That sure is common sense thinking. I always feel that the doctors went to medical school for alot longer than I did! LOL I just can't wait to see what he has to say. 48 hours to go. That's just for the surgeon appt - I can't imagine how nervous I'll be waiting for the surgery!

Nope, I didn't read the whole thread till just now! Sorry. Sounds like you have a great trip planned! Have a great time!

wow - the things I've learned on this site! I've been thinking I need to go to the dentist - darn! I hate the dentist!

Hi - I live in Pennsylvania and last March visited my son just south of Orlando. Being Phillies fans, we wanted to go to Clearwater for spring training. It was a long boring ride, clear across the state. There was a ton of construction in the Tampa area and made the traveling even less fun...

Wow, that's great! If she can do it, I certainly can at 50! Thanks!

To those of you who have concerns about the affects of surgery and the recovery please don't fret too much. If you're in decent shape you too can recover quickly. I know that I never expected to be able to do the things I've done so soon. I had those fears. I'm just blown away that I could...

Karlynn - that would be wonderful if I could use a machine myself. I don't know how long my arm would last if I had to get tested every month!

B - thanks so much for sharing your research! I checked out a few of them - still confused! :( LOL I guess when I see the doctor he'll have more specifics on what he thinks would be good for me. I feel like I am at least going in pretty informed. Good luck at your appt too.

I'm inclined to do this too- trust the doctor. I haven't met him yet, but heard lots about him. Unless he really turns me off, I'll go with him and ask his advice - but I want to be as informed as I can be. This site is great - thank you all for your help and concern!

Curves? Curves? Marguerite - I picked up on your Curves quote - I currently go to Curves and love it - how soon after surgery were you able to get back to it? Since March I've lost 15" and 12 pounds watching what I eat and doing Curves 3 days a week. Slow and steady.

If my HS basketball playing son saw that last quote, he'd have a fit!

I have an appt on Friday (9/21) to meet my surgeon for AVR. I am so confused as to what type of valve to get. I am 50 years old and had breast cancer when I was 35. I had a mastectomy at the time - which means I only have use of one arm for bloodwork, etc. My veins are shot - I have a difficult...

I had my appt with my 2nd opinion guy. He confirmed everything my first doctor said - I need the aortic valve replaced. He told me I do have a bicuspid valve - somehow that made me feel better knowing it isn't something I did to myself. He asked where I was thinking of going and when I told him...

Thanks Jan - you are so right - waiting is the worst part. I remember the worst part of the breast cancer was not knowing if it was cancer - the time period between the biopsy and diagonosis - awlful. I sure am praying that they do the Davinci for AVR at the hospital I go to!

John, I take lisinophril and the simvastation - same dosage even. At first I was taking them in the morning and I felt dizzy and stuff. My doc said I can take them before bed - haven't had any dizzy spells since.