Search results

Update - I took another test. This time, I took the home test 20 minutes prior to the blood draw. Home test was 2.5, blood draw was 2.1. That’s still a big difference (I would expect .2) and I have no clue which is correct.

Thanks, all. It wasn’t a recalled strip. I use coaguchek patient services (for which I pay $101 per month so it better not be a dud strip!). I have been testing for over four years, so don’t think it’s a problem with the sample, either. I have it down by now.... anyway, I will try again. My...

On Saturday, I went to lab around 1030 am to check my INR via a blood test in conjunction with my annual physical labs. I do this about once a year to compare the lab results with my coaguchek. I should have done the home test immediately prior....but it ended up being about 4 hours later. In...

Where is your surgery?

I had the same surgery at 41. St Jude 21 mm valve and valve conduit. My surgeon told me younger patients feel it a little more (particularly if you are lean), but just like childbirth you will not remember that later! I found the first few weeks to be difficult, but then you really turn a...

St Jude valve conduit. 3.5 years ago. No issues! I was 41 at the time.

So it was 3.1. Maybe I didn’t forget, or only forgot one day and not two. I did take extra strength Tylenol on two days due to migraines, and I had a beer which I never do! Weird. I am back to using the pill box.

I filled the pill box this week 😀. Will test tomorrow. Thank you!

You guys are great..... Yes, I normally use a pillbox and have a pill reminder app on my phone where I have to press a button once I take it, or the alarm keeps ringing. Lately, I have forgotten to do the pill box but always “check the box” on the app when I take my pills. We had a sleepover...

So I never do this....but last night I might have forgotten my warfarin. Now I can’t remember if I took it tonight! I home test and I was a 2.4 on Friday morning. Should I test tomorrow? I just can’t remember if I took it and I’m afraid to take it twice. Think I need to start using my pill...

Best of luck. Looking forward to your successful post-surgery update!

My understanding is with bicuspid, rupture can occur at lower diameters. I am tricuspid but only 4 ft 10 inches so my aorta was considered small for a normal sized person but big for me (can’t recall exactly, but it was high 3 or low 4). I have the st Jude aortic valve conduit, which is the...

Me too, but I take iron a few times a week. I’m not sure if it’s from damaged red blood cells due to st Jude valve or the increased blood loss in my monthly cycle.

In my case, metoprolol made my hands leathery and peeling horribly. I was only on 25 mg but once I stopped taking it, I was fine. I have the visual aura and migraine.

I have the same issue - ocular migraines starting the week of my surgery 4 years ago. Several times a week after surgery but now maybe one a month. If I take two Tylenol within 5 minutes of seeing the sparkles and visual aura, it goes away and I don’t get sick. If I don’t immediately take...

Best wishes. St Jude for me - I was 41, 4 years ago. Still going strong.

My surgeon said it was something like 40 years - i corrected him and mentioned you!

Yes, I became highly anemic. One day, I was so very tired that I knew something was wrong. My blood test revealed an iron level of 7 when my doctor said it should be more like 180-200. I started iron pills (Vitron C) and it eventually improved. In my case, I think it was all the blood I was...

I was about to say the same thing as Pellicle. I was 42 (a week shy of 43) at the time of my surgery and was told that my st Jude mechanical valve conduit would last the rest of my (hopefully very long) life. My children were were 6 and 8 at the time of my surgery. I wonder why they both said...

I’m curious what others have been told by their doctors about snow shoveling after AVR. I was told it’s fine. However, it definitely affects me. Luckily, my husband was here and can help with most of it but that’s not always the case. I’m okay while I am shoveling (most of the time) but feel off...