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My daughter had Maryland bridges for many years after braces. She wasn’t born with her lateral incisors. Her orthodontist planned for implants, but after the braces came off, the space for the implant was too small so she got Maryland bridges. They looked great and did her well until 14 years...

My echos also take approximately 30 min or more. My latest a couple months ago said my aortic valve peak gradient is 11nHg, the mean aortic valve gradient is 6mHg. My valve was placed during a 3rd surgery in 2009. (Carbomedic top hat mechanical)

Hopefully, your wife will get hers taken care of when she’s ready. Mine were pricey, as they are if you don’t go with the free Medicare covered ones. I see just about anything I want to see. But, I need a magnifying mirror for eyebrow plucking and makeup. Also, I can’t see my armpits anymore...

I was lucky I lived in a single story ranch style home for all 3 surgeries. I don’t remember preparing at all for my 1st, then I was caught off guard for my 2nd, going into it from the ER, and so for my 3rd I really just got stuff down that was stored too high since we can’t reach after surgery...

During my appointment with the eye surgeon, I said I wanted to read music and indicated the distance a music stand would be from me. I know a few people who need glasses to read music with their native lenses. I am able to read my music, look up at the maestro 3 rows away, drive and read small...

I was used to mono vision with my years of contact lens use. My surgeon did the mono vision for my cataract surgery and I can read the tiny writing on bottles and see clearly for driving. It was an easy surgery and recovery for me. I saw beautiful colors during my surgery! I have no need of...

I was told by the doctor my risk of getting bacterial endocarditis was 1%. After I got it and was treated, he said my risk was now 2%. That was in 2008.

I don’t have knowledge of sinus infections and endocarditis. Medical people don’t seem to give detailed advice on preventing endocarditis, only take antibiotics before dental procedures. I got bacterial endocarditis 8.5 yrs after my mechanical valve was placed. It was a very rare, nasty...

When my daughter and I first moved to SoCal, we didn’t know of a dentist or GP. She went to a dentist in Calabasas that tried to get her to do a deep clean that would take 2 appointments! Also wanted a sleep study. She left there having only X-rays from a tech who had dirty fake fingernails...

The chewing gum info is very interesting. My daughter has many health issues due to autoimmune disease. Often she’s too tired to brush, but she’ll grab a piece of trident almost daily. Her dental checks are always good. She’s only ever had 1 cavity. No gum issues and she’s got 2 implants...

I’m happy you met your surgeon and you feel good about what’s ahead. The first (maybe only) surgery is a mystery until you go through it. Kind of like giving birth the first time, except it really can kick your butt! I also had to wait 6 weeks before my first surgery in 89, as the surgeon...

I had my 1st ohs at age 34. In 1989, my surgeon said after a round table of surgeons met, that half would do mechanical and half would do tissue for me. That surgeon who was part of my medical group, ended up giving me a porcine valve because he had seen them last 15 years. I came thru surgery...

I don’t have personal experience with a TAVR, but I’m in the process of finding out if a TMVR is doable for me. I sit next to a clarinetist who had a TAVR at age 80. He came back to rehearsal within 2 weeks and is doing well. He and his wife just took a trip with a granddaughter to Amsterdam...

Just recently, my daughter was researching slipping ribs and other things and she came upon PEX and told me about it. All my growing years at home I lived with a Dad who must’ve had this. He told us the deep pocket in his chest came from being run over by a wagon when he was a child. His parents...

Thanks for the thoughtful, kind replies. I’m not feeling the pressure to make a decision right away as I did before the second opinion. He said I have time and to really pay attention to my symptoms.

That’s a good question. All the surgeons I’ve had or spoken to for my latest issue have mentioned risk due to scar tissue. One recently mentioned greater stroke risk or other complications because of repeat surgeries. I think your surgeon can answer that if he’s (or she’s) done multiple redos.

This is my update. I got an appointment with another heart surgeon. The visit went well and gave me some answers to questions on what to do next. This surgeon was also recommended by my cardiologist and GP. He spoke about a possible 4th surgery to get a mechanical mitral valve. BUT, he said 4th...

I have always tested once a week, since 2000. Studies showed we stay in range better testing once a week. I’m surprised they want a lab draw. The Coumadin clinics I’ve been to always test with a Coaguchek meter like the one I have. When I’ve changed to a different cardiologist and they say...

Before my heart surgeries, I had an inguinal hernia repaired. The general surgeon gave me some kind of nerve block and then Valium to relax me in the operating room. It was all done without me going under, unlike the second one I had at Kaiser, where they totally put me under. I liked the first...

I’ve been in afib since 2014. I don’t have a pacemaker and my cardiologist just said I would live my life in afib after the cardio version didn’t work. I feel fatigued a lot, but is it due to afib, hemolytic anemia, severely leaking mitral valve or all of the above? Sometimes my hr goes to 110...