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When I was having surgery this past winter at the Mayo Clinic, I met a woman who had her tricuspid valve replaced with a pig valve of some sort. So, it can be done. I do now know how often tricuspid valves are repaired verse replaced. I am sure someone will come along to answer your questions...

Three words: HEART-LUNG MACHINE

Hi, I would fully expect it to take you longer to stop feeling sluggish after your second OHS in two years than compared to your first OHS. Two traumas of that degree to the body in that short of time will take a bit of time to recover from. You are only four weeks our right now and are not...

I've heard that Mederma (an OTC scar cream) and vitamin E both work well lightening scars. Brad

Hi Pathfinder! I am thrilled to hear that everything went ok, even if you had a couple setbacks. I was beginning to worry about you when you hadn't posted in a couple weeks. Good luck with the rest of the recovery and keep us updated about your progress Brad

Hi, I know what your son is going through. I was very active my entire childhood and adolescence, but had to have an aortic valve replacement at the age of 17 during my senior year in high school. Like your son my first choice was a repair, followed by the Ross Procedure, and then by a tissue...

Hi Gina, Thanks for the advice. Good idea anout the prescriptions Gina, although who knows how easy it will be to get them filled if something does happen to my pills. Also, I forgot that my doctor said he was going to write me a script for antibiotics and that I should take them with when I...

Hi All, Just thought that I would share with you some news in my life and ask for any advice. I have found out that I am traveling to Cameroon for 6 weeks -- September 7th through October 20th. I do research on the genetics of the malaria mosquito -- Anopheles gambiae -- and am going to...

It's time to find new doctors. period.

Your doctor is simply wrong about the fact that you are "only allowed 2 OHS's in your lifetime." This is an old saying in cardiac surgery, but it is outdated. Although no one wants to have 3 open heart surgeries in their lifetime it is certainly not undoable. Third surgeries are becoming more...

Hi, I flew home from Minnesoto to Florida 6 days after my surgery and 1 day after I was realeased from the hospital. Best of luck. brad

good luck ivo, i will be thinking of you.

My sternum wires set off the airport metal detector about 1/4 of the time that I go through it. Then they use the wand which starts beeping as they wave it over my chest. Then I show them the scar and they are very contrite. Kind of a pain, but whatever. I haven't ever tried the magnet trick...

Have you had problems with beta blockers in the past? Maybe you should try it out and see how it goes. I am sure the cardio in Boston will write you a script. Then you can see if you have any bad side effects. It won't hurt to try. Brad

Excellent thoughts Marguerite. You put into words for Niki exactly what I was thinking. It can be hard to be the lone heart patient at work or even in a social group. But like Marguerite I have come to believe that everyone in my life is treating me the best way they know how. Brad

That is an awesome story Chris! So glad to hear that everything worked out how you wanted. Keep the smooth recovery up man! Brad

Cort, I just finished getting my summer team together. We will be playing on Mondays and Wednesdays starting in June. Hopefully we can take the championship this summer. We ended up finishing second in the spring. Brad

Niki, Just curious, but what is a video race? And I agree if you should do the things in life that you enjoy. If not, what's the point? Sorry about all your problems. good luck brad

Hi Bill, I would ask the following questions of ALL of the prospective surgeons: 1. If I just get the aneurysm repaired, what are the chances that another aneurysm will occur in the homograft? 2. Why did I get an aneurysm in the suture line in the first place? Does this have anything to do...

I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing or not, but I will let you know what I had. Over the years since my first surgery I have had 3 "uninfected cysts" underneath my scar. This is the term my doctor used, I am not sure if it is the correct term. For me, we decided to wait and see...