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Just got back from a vacation in LA and French Polynesia. I've logged 17 scuba dives this year including eight ion the Caribbean; two in Catalina Island; and seven in French Polynesia: Tahiti; Bora Bora; Rangiroa and Moorea. So I think I can safely say that I'm recovered from OHS!

Just a quick hello from St. Barthelemy this week. The diet went out the window when we landed. I hope there is not too much damage :) Wishing everyone a good week! Jim

You can get a lot of information about health criteria for diving at the DAN (Diver's Alert Network) web site. I'm not sure if they have information specifically targeted to those on anti-coagulants but you should have a look. I would be of the attitude that diving is something that you can do...

Returning to scuba diving after open heart surgery is controversial. Certain post-surgical conditions militate against diving, as does taking anti-coagulants (blood thinners.) Prior to surgery I specifically asked my surgeon about diving after my recovery. He assured me that there were “no...

Congratulations, Steve!

Tissue valves are treated to insure durability. For example, I have a St. Jude "Trifecta" bovine valve. St. Jude states: "The Trifecta valve is treated with the patented Linx™ AC anticalcification treatment during the sterilization process." Jim

That's great, Cooker...congratulations!

Congratulations on the weight loss, Superbob! I have read that we valvers have lifelong heart disease. With our native valves, it's bicuspid aortic valve disease, aortic stenssis, etc.. With our prosthetic replacements, it becomes prosthetic aortic heart valve disease. I suppose this is an...

"A heart will never be practical until it can be made unbreakable." - L. Frank Baum One year ago today, February 16, 2015, I embarked upon the most profound adventure of my life, as I put myself in the hands of a young heart surgeon at Temple University. He had told me that my heart condition...

I had a fall when I was on Warfarin. Smacked my head pretty good...resulting in a lump and a black eye. Went to the ER. They did a CT scan to make sure that there was no internal brain bleed. I agree that injuries of this nature should always be taken seriously. But on Warfarin is seems to me...

I was told to wait six months. I premed with AMox for any dental work. Jim

Keepin' busy, Superbob! Good for you. Me too. Had a doc appointment yesterday for a minor non-cardiac issue that we're treating with meds. Today we're getting flurries and expecting it to continue all day. I managed to reverse the weight bounce and I'm back at 181, just 1 pound over my ultimate...

"This systematic review supports the use of bioprosthetic valves in patients younger than the current recommendation of 65 years." - Interesting

Best news of the new week here in Philadelphia is that the 22.5" of snow we got last weekend is just about gone. Weight-wise, I bounced up a couple of lbs. off of my target weight of 180 and so I have to re-double my efforts if I want to finally reach the target. I almost made it, but not quite...

Glad you got a good report, Chris! Jim

Glad to read about your weight loss progress, SuperBob. I hope that Ellie recovers and that there is no further problem for her. Our little puppy got spayed a couple of weeks ago and yesterday the stitches were removed and she is fine. We're still in puppy training mode as far as housebreaking...

Visited my surgeon eights months post-surgery. He ordered a CT-Angio. See my cardiologist every six months but he indicated this may go to two or three year intervals if all is OK next time I see him. I would also not want a lot of CT scans.

Superbob - had a good meeting with my cardiologist...EKG was fine and I have no other heart issues. He wants an echo in July but if that is all good then he won't need to see me for a few years. We had a nice chat about TAVR and other issues. He told me that TAVR valves are still controversial...

We had a busy New Year's Eve and day with friends here in Philadelphia. The holidays were fun but I've been unable to break through my final weight plateau to reach my weight loss goal. Maybe now that the holidays are over I'll be able to make it to my goal. I have a cardiologist appointment...

Hi Fred, Welcome to the forum. It took a mild heart attack/stroke combination caused by my stenotic bicuspid aortic valve in my case to prompt the surgery, because my numbers were not quite in the severe range. Bottom line: have the surgery earlier if you can. You are symptomatic and that...