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@DaveLee - did you mean to add something here?

Hey Adamlee, another (rather overweight!) Brit here. I had my aortic valve replaced at age 48, in 2014. I think it is entirely natural to fear major surgery, and to think the worst. When I had my valve done there was a surgical complication, and I ended up with a pacemaker too. Last week it had...

Just a quick report of a procedure I had done on Monday, in case of interest to those few of us who got a pacemaker as a bonus with our mechanical valves. In 2014 my aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical, but there was a surgical complication and I needed a pacemaker too. It's never been...

My mechanical valve was done as an emergency, having gone into hospital by ambulance. If they had told me the valve ticks I wonder if I would have still gone with it - I don't even have mechanical clocks in the house as I don't like them ticking. However, I really have to pay attention to mine...

Hi Canton, and yes, pacemaker here too after my mechanical aortic valve was inserted in 2014. In fact just coming up to its first replacement. I didn't think much about the pacemaker - it was very much the "B movie" of my hospital experience, and frankly I didn't even think about it for several...

Once the skin has sealed (about 6 weeks), apply something like Bio Oil daily to reduce the appearance of the scar. Avoid exposing the wound to the sun for a year, I was told. Comparing my scar with a guy at a BBQ who had his surgery within a month of mine, the difference was very significant -...

It is good to know he has done a whole number of aortic valve replacements. If he had done 11,999.50 I would be more concerned ... ;)

Welcome, billD. I shall join the bandwagon for self-testing. Whilst some people react differently to diet changes, I have generally found my INR remains pretty stable. The greatest effects on my INR are when I have a cold (a significant drop in INR even preceding symptoms), or when I am on...

It is an interesting question, but not quite sure why it is a problem. I think I cry at things quite readily - be they dog rescues on Facebook videos, or dramatic scenes in films. Since reading this question I have been wondering if this has increased since heart surgery, but can't remember...

I had a mechanical aortic valve inserted in 2014. After initial, more frequent checks, it soon settled into an annual pattern of echo, ECG and chat with cardiologist. All good so far.

I agree! I self-manage my Warfarin dose, but I don't think I am supposed to!

I test weekly with a CoaguChek XS, and every 6 weeks I send that week's result to my GP, who also provides my anticoagulation clinic service. Every 6 months I go there and do a test on my machine at the same time as they do a test on their multi-patient machine, to compare accuracy. It is...

AAA? Yep, you don't want a battery there ... :LOL:

I don't like Kale either! :LOL: PS Anyone got a medical excuse to decline Quinoa? .

I am partial to a nice sausage myself, but refrain from looking at the ingredients because they do rather put you off ... :unsure:

I find there are more significant factors when I change time zone, such as a change of diet or increase in alcohol consumption. I tend to take my Warfarin when I have my evening meal, and continue to do that when abroad, and so increase my testing frequency anyway. Ah, the joys of self testing...

There are two other issues worth being aware of when going mechanical: the valves tick, and limitations on the use of anti inflammatory medications. In my case, I have to really listen intently to hear my valve. But some others have posted that it is loud and annoys them. Others will know more...

Thank you ****, and I agree. And to be clear, it is not just her valve that means she is of this view: this is only one of several health issues mean that her quality of life is very poor now. Whatever valve any of us choose gives us more life than if we didn't have that done.

I was 48 when I had my valve replaced, in 2014. Went mechanical - no regrets, and hopefully no more surgery as I get older and weaker. I test my INR weekly at home or wherever I am, using a CoaguChek XS (model now superseded but they're still the same basic machines and use the same test...

These two statements should be in a banner headline on this site! (suitably corrected for typos!)