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I play music in a wind symphony 2 1/2 hours a week to forget small stuff and people’s comments which can be triggering to someone who had a husband with anger management issues for 32 years. After my endocarditis and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 08, my cardiologist no longer wanted me to self...

After my 2nd surgery, a resident came in to remove my 3 chest tubes. He did it with the most painful method. I said to him ‘That was more painful than having a baby natural. He looked at me and said’ I doubt that’ and left. So, for my 3rd surgery when I had 4 chest tubes, I asked for the most...

I take 7.5mg daily, except on Tues&Thurs I take 3.75mg. This keeps me in range. About the only time I go out of range is if I’m sick and take acetaminophen or other medications.

I got a porcine valve at 34. It lasted 11 years and that was more than the 8-10 years it averaged. I do not downplay the ticking noise. I hear it now while writing this. My cardiologist could hear my valve sitting across the room from me. My clarinet buddy thought it was someone’s watch. But I...

I was correctly diagnosed a week after my symptoms of endocarditis. The ER I went to in SoCal diagnosed me with the flu! I drove home to NorCal and was tested for so many things including blood cultures. So I was started on 3 antibiotics in the hospital and then sent home with a picc line to...

It should go fine as mine did before the one I had when the nurses were on strike. Avoid doing it if that’s the case!

My oldest, closest Sister came to visit from Sarasota, Fl with her daughter who just got her masters in astrophysics. We went to Queen with Adam Lambert and it was fabulous! My dear niece got 5th row seats, so when Adam and Brian May came to the front of the stage to do a song, it was like we...

I lived in the Bay Area most of my life. When my aortic aneurysm was discovered, my cardiologist recommended Dr Miller at Stanford. They tried to set it up but told me he was on sabbatical. I went with my cardiologist’s 2nd choice. So, for my subsequent 2nd and 3rd surgeries, I was still...

When I lived in the SF Bay Area, I would get together for lunch with a couple of nice women from the valve replacement. We all lived nearish to each other and would have lunch at a restaurant and gab. I didn’t organize it, being an introvert, but luckily one gal was always the woman who got us...

Oh dear, sorry to disturb you. I didn’t realize I was concerned about my outcome until I was ready for surgery and the anesthesiologist came in. I asked him if the intubation tube was tapered. He chuckled and said no one had ever asked him that. It was my 2nd hernia surgery but the first time I...

I am glad to read your posts and you are ready to go home! That first week at home is the toughest, I think. Sending positive thoughts for a good recovery!!

Maybe you’ll get a kick out of my story of surgery at Kaiser. My best friend, who had Kaiser since she was a child and then was a RN when I worked there, talked me into getting a hernia repaired as outpatient. She said the surgeon was excellent so I agreed. I had the surgery, but when I awoke...

I disagree. The personal stories of these friends I knew who had Kaiser and are now no longer with us told me a lot. Besides my neighbor, my friends husband fell over and died on a bike ride. His clogged arteries were missed by Kaiser. Another trumpet playing friend had a stent put in. He had...

My surgeon said the same about the weakness in my legs. He said that would’ve told him nothing, but it’s what got me in. I had this weird weakness starting after the birth of my baby. When I picked her up from the crib I often had to lean against it until the weakness subsided. This also...

Interestingly, when I was 34 and having symptoms of weakness in my upper legs, I went to 5 different doctors in the Bay Area. The last one I went to said if he couldn’t reproduce my symptoms in his office, I obviously didn’t have a serious problem. My friend recommended her family practice...

I have known friends over the years that chose Kaiser. Some are very happy with it, others, like my neighbor, are dead. So, I have only had Kaiser when I worked as a pharmacy tech there and we also had my husbands plan which was a ppo. My neighbor had months of symptoms and with each doctor...

I have a concert today. I’ll think of you while playing and hearing beautiful sounds! I remember for my 3rd surgery, I wasn’t nervous until they woke me up at 5am the morning of and I needed to take another shower with the plastic scrubber and special soap. When done, and I was getting a fresh...

I didn’t realize they are higher and it was going in my daughters bathroom. She’s 5’4” and found the new toilet too high. She ordered a squatty potty! I’d never heard of it.

Don’t worry, I’m not that sensitive! I forgot to mention the artwork on the walls at the hospital. So uplifting!

Well, I got the regular Toto toilet no frills. It is a very good flusher for the amount of water used. My friend got a Toto topper that does a lot. She had her guests use it and I must say it’s a nice toilet. Heated seat, bidet w a remote! I just don’t have the strength to do these things. I...