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All the best for your valve choice and surgery. Nov 3 is our 49th wedding anniversary. I’ll send good vibes your way.

I also have trouble sleeping. I’ve noticed that the valve sounds louder when I lay on my right side. So I try to go to sleep on my left side. I also keep a white noise machine on my nightstand that plays all night. The same constant sound helps muffle the valve ticking.

Cardionet charges me on$880 per month. Medicare pays $51.27 and my insurance pays $12.82. Since they accept Medicare I’m not responsible for the balance. They do charge my cardiologist’s Coumadin clinic $20 per month. Medicare pays $6.44 and my insurance pays $1.60. Again I’m not responsible for...

After making it through two rounds of endocarditis, I learned to ask my doctor to do labs—get my CRP and do blood cultures.

I am so sorry. Your cardiologist should have caught your infection sooner and put you in the hospital for iv antibiotics (just my opinion). Did anyone check your CRP? (C reactive protein) I am so blessed that mine was caught early both times and treated. My aortic valve and graft both survived...

I experienced this twice. Strep infection proceeded to endocarditis. Initial oral antibiotics only worked short term. I was hospitalized and put on IV antibiotics—then a PIC line for self administered antibiotics for 4 more weeks. (Both times).Fortunately they treated my infection correctly and...

I’ve been having the opposite problem. I have Medicare and private ins which pays the total cost. I have gotten bills 3 different times for an amount that my insurance company has already paid. 🤬. So I call, have to email them a copy of my EOB from my insurance co and then hear nothing more...

I had a rapid heart rate for 20+ yrs. I took verapamil which lowered pulse to 90’s and metoprolol which didn’t do much. Sometime after my ohs (1 or 2 yrs) my cardiologist put me on Bystolic. My pulse dropped to normal like magic. Not recommending for you—but it’s a thought. I have also noted...

I actually think the early anniversaries mean more—the memories are fresher and you go through more adjustments. So—hugs to you.

From someone who has had endocarditis twice (unknown reason)—taking your antibiotics is more important than lowering your inr. You do not want to introduce bacteria from your mouth into your bloodstream without antibiotics to take care of it.

Congratulations! May you have MANY more!

Thanks to all of you who contribute so much valuable information.

Today is the 12th anniversary of my aortic valve/aneurysm surgery. It was a 6 hour surgery and I now have a St Jude grafted aortic valve. I’ve had a few bumps along the way—lost the upper lobe of my right lung due to lung cancer (never smoked a day in my life) and 2 rounds of endocarditis. My...

I had an aneurysm of my ascending aorta almost 12 years ago at age 58. I’m assuming there wasn’t a choice back then. I received a St Jude grafted valve. I haven’t had any problems with it and hope it lasts as long as a need it.

How about planting a few fresh veggies around your house?

Welcome to the forum. When I was in your position 13 years ago I felt a lot like you described. But you are not alone. There are so many kind and helpful people on this site. Self testing has helped me immensely. It puts you more in control of what’s happening to you. If that’s the route you...

I would think that as long as you are on the same amount of fluconazole every day, you should still be able to stabilize your inr. I have been on cephalexin for a year and a half due to 2 bouts of endocarditis and don’t have a problem with my inr.

I was surprised that I needed insulin injections for a day or two until my pancreas kicked back in. I was on bypass for about 3 hours.

I called my cardiologist’s office this morning and left a message (previous messages were online through patient portal). Anyway—“Martie” from my Coumadin clinic called me about 6 this evening. Cardiologist evidently didn’t get my online message but did get the message I left by phone. He must...

Getting my cardiologist/Coumadin clinic to prescribe 1mg pills is my goal. I am willing to use ONLY 1mg pills if they don’t want to give me more than 1 strength. I will take 7 of them a day if that’s what it takes to make them happy.