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“Where should I travel to once I'm through all this ****?” Hmmm - personal preference. Where do you want to go? Not much of a traveler myself, but I visit Mom in upstate NY on the way to visit my daughter in VT. While in VT I either go hiking or skiing depending on snow coverage. Robo-heart...

Should have mentioned that the new job was a year post surgery, after recovery. Hope to be done with all that!

My symptoms - it was a super active weekend. Friday, I rode my bike to work-46 miles round trip. Did volunteer work carting wheelbarrows of mulch uphill. Saturday ran a 10k and carried heavy ladder to remove toilet paper from tree in front yard. The girls softball team celebrated the last year...

Hi there MattyO - similar story. My first surgery at age 11 for sub aortic stenosis- build up in ventricle. Valve replacement in 2014 at 48 yo - chose a bio valve at the time. Had complete recovery until valve failed - broke in 2022. Got the mechanical valve in June 23 and again fully recovered...

There’s a method to get INR testing similar to glucose testing on the phone - we do not have a large enough population to warrant the investment in the protocols etc. Plus what would they do with all the test strips.

Setting a pretty low bar for THAT celebration!! 😵‍💫 Be well!

Welcome Ric - sounds like you have all the info you need - nonetheless… I opted for bio valve - surgeon put in the bovine first, did not like the function, so traded up for porcine. Haha - no blood thinner! Haha on me - I am very active - porcine valve could not keep up and failed after 8 years...

I’ve heard the vit K diet and grapefruit can mess with INR. Personally have gorged on pizza and various meals from time to time and only feel it in my belly. My personal INR target range is 2-3.5 and I move all within that window.

Good questions! This was my third surgery & I went mechanical. Second surgery at 46 was bio prosthetic porcine valve that REALLY increased my appetite for bacon. Haha. The valve failed - leaflet broke - which made TAVR impossible - that works for stenotic failure/calcification if I understand...

Hi there Brodie -just a year into the mechanical valve experiment and I’m a satisfied customer. I had my first open heart surgery OHS at 11 for fibers in my ventricle, then got pig valve in 2014. I led an active life until pig valve broke last May. Went through 3rd OHS last June and figured I...

Thank you - All sorts of information and feedback. I do not have any reason NOT to test weekly. The test kit sends me a reminder about weekly testing - I can carry on. One test I did drop to 2.0 over the past 6 months since I’ve had home test kit, and once I was up to 3.9. Generally 2.5-3.5...

Correction on antibiotics- my INR went UP - an initial rise to 3,7 rather than dip - I took 2.5 mg less of my favorite rat poison, and the next day INR was back at 3.1.

Thanks - that is interesting insight. I have not had variation outside of antibiotics- at that point I tested a couple extra times and adjusted the dose that week. So there is an initial dip, take an extra 2.5 mg, then back on target. I have no issue with weekly testing or bi-weekly testing -...

Last year Father’s Day I underwent my third open heart surgery, and this time got the mechanical valve. Everything seems to be doing fine - got a nice bike ride with my son yesterday for almost 28 miles. Warfarin routine and weekly-biweekly INR testing is keeping me safe from risk of stroke...

Yes good luck - you must be through all that and resting. Hope it went well!! Traded in my porcine for the mechanical version - last Fathers Day. A year will fly by and all so good😎

Wow this is a long recurring thread! I was considering extending my football/soccer career lol but the bruises just linger too long. I had my soccer time with the bicuspid valve then with the pig valve, but now with mechanical valve I’ll stick to jogging/cycling & skiing. Works for me.

The choice - in 2014 I was facing my second open heart surgery OHS to replace my bicuspid aortic valve. I was pretty adamant about avoiding Warfarin and planning on TAVR replacement in 10-15 years, so I decided bio valve. Surgeon first tried the bovine, but wasn’t pleased with results so...

Wow that’s interesting - I noticed the three beat rhythm last week in myself. Woke up dizzy - room spinning - so went to GP and they suggested BPVV - some sort of inner ear Crystal realignment. I think my chokrah was impacted. 🙄 Reached out to cardio - they suggested drinking more water and less...

Or go porcine and break that valve in less than 10 years. Mine broke after a weekend of hearty physical exertion. Now I am 6 months out from mechanical replacement and living well.

Chuck - someone on this site sent me a unit - I still owe them shipping charges! - but I can sure pass it along to you. I never fired it up - insurance supplied me one and I have been testing weekly ever since. Thought I may have skewed my results with a lot of skiing over the past week...