Search results

Valve Replacement Forums

Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
  1. drivetopless

    60YO woman with BAV and severe stenosis

    I get it. . I was in the same boat…lot of anxiety waiting with little to no symptoms for YEARS until age 49 . .had my AV( minimal 3inch incision, mechanical- On-X valve, which has a lower warfarin dosing protocol() 13 years ago and it was not until after the surgery I could really tell a...
  2. drivetopless

    Got some disturbing news today from a new heart doctor here in Bangkok

    Im no doctor..but agree you should ask the doctor for research to support what he says…I’ve never heard of eventual rejection of mechanical heart valves. My understanding of aortic stenosis is that less than 1 cm is when it becomes severe. 2.5 cm is normal. It can hang out for a while in...
  3. drivetopless

    26 year old 3 months after surgery (on-x aortic valve)

    Congrats on your new valve. I got my On-X 11 years ago this month. I was 47 at the time. I’ve been very happy with my choice. I recall my sternum felt mostly normal after a year. I don’t even think about my valve or scar anymore. Others sometimes hear the clicking when I don’t..but it’s a...
  4. drivetopless

    Extreme Anxiety, Minimally Invasive, Ross Procedure, and Life Expectancy

    A little late but thought I would share my experience… I was diagnosed withBAV at 37, was monitored yearly and had an ON-X valve via minimally invasive (3 inch scar. Center chest) at age 47. I was only in the hospital 3 days post surgery…10 years later I would make the same choices and have no...
  5. drivetopless

    how long can you go without it?

    Thank you so much, Pellicle....your chart where you are the guinea pig is fascinating...
  6. drivetopless

    Failure of Onx valve and problems with lowering INR

    Hi, Cherie! I remember you. I got an On-x in 2011. thanks for sharing your story. I ttied to maintain INR at 1.5 to 2 and found it very difficult. I asked doc to expand the range to 2,5 years ago and maintain on the higher end with he aspirin therapy. This is great info you shared. I’m...
  7. drivetopless

    Tobagotwo has died

    So sorry
  8. drivetopless

    On- X valve is superior to outdated one like st jude and ATS

    I think the point here is technology evolves to our benefit over time And aren’t we blessed to have more that 1 great valve option. The skill and preference of the surgeon is also a factor. I would want a surgeon who is comfortable and skilled with SJM type to do that over an on-x install...
  9. drivetopless

    Covid 19 Vaccine For Post Op

    Thanks, Doc!
  10. drivetopless

    my self management results for 2020

    Great chart... I may start doing that...are you testing weekly? I’m testing biweekly. I’ve been self testing 10 years....it’s great....no waiting.... And I’ve learned what affects my INR adversely.
  11. drivetopless

    Age of Mechanical Valves

    Got my On-x valve (AVR for bicuspid aortic valve) at age 46.8 in 2011. January will be my 10 year Valvesary. I would choose this valve again. 3 others in my family have/had BAV.
  12. drivetopless

    INR has been 1.77 for two weeks...

    Yes- wondering what kind of valve you have? I remember that my INR did not settle down for a good year after surgery. It helped when I strated taking a multivitamin with vita K every day and when I started eating a salad/greens EVERY day. The greens part is about being consistent. When my...
  13. drivetopless

    Mechnical AV and Corona Virus Risks- March 2020

    This may be a dumb question, but I have not talked to my cardiologist about it and do not plan to go to his office any time soon because of the social distancing. With the Corona Virus, is someone with a mechanical heart valve,10 years post surgery, and otherwise in good health considered high...
  14. drivetopless

    Reinforcing the need for weekly testing

    Thanks for the advise. I will take it to heart. :)
  15. drivetopless

    Reinforcing the need for weekly testing

    Curious as to what type of valve you have.. I think that determines the ideal INR level. I take warfarin and a daily baby aspirin. My therapeutic INR is 1.5-2.5 because I have an ON-X valve. 2.5-3.5 would be overkill for they type of valve I have. I did have an INR target range of 1.5-2.0...
  16. drivetopless

    Second-guessing the timing of a second-surgery

    I waited and watched 12 years before surgery at 47. I had bav with stenosis. It was interesting to me in those years I was always more symptomatic right before my annual check. I ultimately relied on the data more than anything and did notice a dramatic and consistent change in my exercise...
  17. drivetopless

    Warfarin and Asprin

    I have an On-X valve since 2011. At the time, the On-X valve had just been approved for lower INR (lower coumadin therapy). My surgeon and cardio but me on low dose coumadin plus a baby aspirin, in theory, because of the lower coumadin levels. I maintain my coumadin between 1.5 and 2.5.
  18. drivetopless

    Mechanical Valve - clicking

    I have an On-X. Sometimes I hear it, and sometimes I don't. Small quiet spaces are when others might hear it the most (elevators, bathrooms).. they think it is a watch. Immediately after surgery was when I noticed it the most. 8 years later I rarely even notice. When I do hear it, the...
  19. drivetopless

    New to Coumadin and vitamin K

    Congrats on your new valve! I've had my On-X since 2011 and it has been awesome. I like to eat a lot of greens and I found that as long as I am consistent in my diet and supplements, my INR is fine. I will say that right after surgery it took me several months to get the coumadin...
  20. drivetopless

    Here we go again

    A new valve for Halloween! Good luck with the redo.
Back
Top