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Thanks, @leadville -- while I'm experiencing AFib, it's really reassuring to hear that you got through it. I'm a fitness geek, too, and I was hoping my training would help me recover more quickly and easily. It almost feels as though my heart is trying unsuccessfully to get back to its old...

Unfortunately, today I'm having more AFib, so I'm trying to chill out and focus on something else, without much success.

I would like to know what percentage of mechanical valve patients require another OHS during their valve's expected 50 year lifetime. Of course, I just got a mechanical valve, so the answer wouldn't change anything for me. I think my surgeon told me it was something like 15% in ten years. I...

I agree with you, and I called my surgeon's office asking for more documentation of the INR target. The PA is supposed to call me back -- my surgeon is always in surgery or seeing patients, which is a good thing. I'll get this worked out. As of my last check, yesterday, my INR was 2.0, measured...

I won't shoot you down, but when I started going mostly vegan, I mentioned B12 to my primary care physician, and he said not to worry about it. He said he had patients who had been vegan for decades who didn't have a problem with B12. I do have a B12 supplement that I can take, but I seem to be...

My favorite music makes me a bit weepy now -- I had heard this was going to be an effect of valve surgery. It's a good feeling, nevertheless: the emotion isn't unpleasant.

Yes, I agree, and I'll mention it to my cardiologist in my next appointment on the 23rd. I also really want to get on the self-testing regimen.

Thank you for your concern! I'm not strict, and I'm eating some eggs and dairy during my recovery. I asked the PA if there were specific foods I should eat to deal with the anemia, and she said no, it would resolve on its own. I'm looking into non-meat sources of iron, but if I really have to...

In my case, I suspect it was caused by stress from trying to apply for California state short-term disability benefits.

I have to make myself eat more. I was 141 lbs/~64kg just before surgery; now I'm 133 lbs/~60kg and still dropping slowly. Even though I'm relatively short in stature, (66.5"/169cm), that's a little below my target. Maybe I'll adopt a hobbit meal schedule.

I had my post-op appointment at my surgeon's office yesterday, and things seem to be going pretty well. I'm getting basically constant migraine auras with no headache -- normal-ish, I guess. Transient AFib not a big deal. Sternum is not fully healed yet, but looking good. Resting heart rate is...

My surgeon said, "You may not want to pursue a professional career in extreme sports, but other than that, you can do anything you want."

Thanks, all! I had an episode of atrial fibrillation yesterday afternoon/evening. When I called the surgeon's office, the PA suggested some more tests tomorrow at my post-op visit, but was reassuring. Apparently, the main risk of Afib is increased risk of stroke, and since I'm already on...

It's been a week and a day since surgery, and mostly, I'm feeling pretty good, knock on wood! I'm taking lots of short walks, but since I live on the top of a hill, I haven't ventured off it yet. Sternal pain is not too bad, and I've been handling it with Acetaminophen/Paracetamol/Tylenol...

Yes, I have a St. Jude Regent mechanical valve, and I'm on Warfarin. Tylenol is fine for me, but it's important not to take too much. I'm currently taking 2600mg/day, which is fine.

Sure -- happy to try to answer any other questions, given that my memory of the hospital is so fresh. Like @Catie, I switched to Acetaminophen/Tylenol as soon as I could, because opioids make me feel yucky. One of the nurses opined that Acetaminophen is the best pain reliever for cardiac patients.

I've been home since Saturday afternoon. I had isolated AVR, and I only have a 3" incision, so YMMV. It's not too bad. Not hard to walk up a flight of stairs. Basically normal to shower, except that I'm supposed to limit time with my hands up above my shoulders, which makes washing hair...

Five days after AVR, I had six ocular migraines painless migraines with aura today. One yesterday, and possibly another one a day earlier, but I hadn't started keeping track. They don't last long (some just a couple minutes), and they're painless (so far, knock on wood), so I'm not super worried...

I'm five days out from AVR, and your docs' explanation makes a lot of sense to me, intuitively. If that's true, once the left ventricle remodels back to its original size, HR and diastolic BP should return to lower values. I had a relatively low resting heart rate (high 50s) before surgery, and...

Apparently I'm going home today after all! INR is still only 1.6, but the doctors think four doses of Warfarin hasn't been enough time to get it to 2.0. BTW, the discussion of INR in Valve Decision For 44-year old who loves beer is truly fascinating. I need to have a conversation with the...