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Yea...walking into a cardiologists' office can be like walking into a minefield. Sometimes it pays to trust your gut instinct.

I would discuss the option of replacing the ascending and BAV with a one piece prosthesis in more detail prior to surgery. I agree that driving might be the way to go, a lot depends on how you feel after the surgery. I'm assuming you'd have some time in the hospital post surgery so they can...

Taurine and magnesium work synergistically, as calcium channel blockers that can aid palpitations, afib etc. Check out this link from a MD who had AVR: http://www.drjanson.com/djhl-html/2010/news-2010-03.html Taurine and hypertension Ever since my heart surgery in 2003 to replace a...

Mechanical. The recovery is long and difficult and the risks increase with every surgery. And then there is the downward phase when a tissue valve starts to decline (with attendant risk of damage to the left ventricle and the cardiologists' view that 'more medication is needed'). Consider an...

If your aorta has a substantial leak, back off any strenuous exercise, particularly cardio. The excess blood volume from the leaking valve (combined with blood filling from the mitral valve) will cause your left ventricle to dilate. Heavy cardio will only exacerbate the issue. With regard to the...

As almost_hectic mentioned, you need surgery. Sooner rather than later to prevent further dilation to your left ventricle. I would go with an On-X Ascending Aortic prosthesis. You only want to go through the surgery once if you can help it. Given your age (and lifestyle choice to quit smoking)...

TAVR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vf9TwktzTk "The major risks of the procedure are related to delivery of the valve to the aorta and then the actual deployment of valve" Sometimes convenience comes at a cost. As barbaric as a sternotomy might be, it may have advantages in terms of open...

The loony tunes at the hospital where I was recovering from OHS screwed up my Warfarin dosage one day and my INR was 8.8...they administered IV vitamin K to bring it down...

I think that sums it up pretty nicely right there. When the tissue valve starts to fail, the left ventricle also suffers, and that can quickly lead to heart failure. Then the cardiologist will more than likely jump in and try and add some (debilitating) medications to the mix. With a mechanical...

Yes, I recall you mentioning that. There was a post from someone here recently who described how a leaflet on his tissue valve 'snapped'...perhaps Warfarin could add longevity to a tissue valve?

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/doctors-discover-potential-problem-with-implanted-heart-valves-1.2596071

From what I've been told by an unbiased member of the medical community, a lot of cardiology (and its focus on neurohormones and drug treatments) is not based on science. The medical community is too fond of labels, "failure this, disease that"...creating fear and dependence, treating the...

That does make sense. That looks like what I had done. Thanks cldlhd. .

Question (Pellicle, anyone), would an ascending aortic Dacron sleeve repair and mechanical aortic valve replacement reduce the odds of any potential future aortic root dilation (where the aortic root is left intact, and connective tissue conditions like Marfans are not extant)?

Your surgeon is telling it like it is...that's a good thing. From my experience, it can quickly escalate into a serious situation when the severity of the situation is not recognized.

The one time I had temperature issues was when the beta blocker medication was titrated to 5mg from 2.5...intense night sweats, chills during the day. It didn't agree with me, and went back to 2.5 mg without issue (I have since come off beta blockers entirely). When anything like that does...

There are athletes really pushing the envelope with mechanical aortic valves. From a performance angle, it should suffice for most non-athletes.

Try and have someone be your advocate and look out for your best interests. Stand up for your rights and make sure you are listened to and receive the care you are entitled to. You will come through this.

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I passed on the cardiac rehab and just cut to the chase and purchased a treadmill. No travel time, just step outside onto the patio, breathe the sea air and get it done.