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I'm ok--no tornadoes in my part of Atlanta. Alabama is my home state. I used to live in Tuscaloosa and I have family in Birmingham and Cartersville, GA. Everyone I know is okay so far. I have customers in Ringold, GA so I've been to that McDonald's exit they keep showing. My parents lost a...

I am 3 1/2 months post surgery and the scar is very red per normal healing. However, it was feeling pretty "ropey," and my dermatologist promised a wonder cure to flatten/soften the ropiness, speed up the healing and get rid of the redness if I needed it. So, I took one for the team and had...

Everyone here has already explained about the exhaustion the first few days/weeks. Everyone is different. When I got home, I was told to walk often (LOTS of mini-walks) during the day on a FLAT surface, gradually increasing the time by a few minutes each day. No hills/inclines for 4 weeks...

I was in a lot of pain the first 24 hours. I remember them telling me that they would control the pain to make it bearable, but that it would be impossible to make it totally go away. THis surgery hospital was good at managing the pain and did make sure I got meds at consistent intervals. DO...

Meet the other surgeons and then go with what you gut is telling you. When I was picking surgeons, I had two great choices but went with the one who had the most experience with the type of valve I wanted. He did not have the best bedside manner necessarily. What you want is a good...

Deepest condolences, Freddie. That is just unfair and horrible. I didn't hear about it on the news, I guess because it was in Canada? Is it an issue with Edmondton being dangerous in general? Or is there a serial killer? Anyway, so sorry for your family. Hugs.

Sounds like it!

Hi, Anne- I worried a lot about the scar visibility before surgery. I ended up with a 2 5/8" long scar - a mini-sternotomy. I'm 3 months post op, and it is healing nicely. I have already forgotten it is there a few times, and the placement is such that it aligns with cleavage. Most shirts...

I would have asked permission to have my photo taken immediately post op- while the tubes were all in. I did not sign a hospital release beforehand (didn't know I had to), so no pics were allowed in ICU. I blogged/documented/photographed the process, but there are no pictures from this early time.

Definitely find a cardiologist you trust. Age is not necessarily the most important thing. Sometimes the seasoned doctors are a little burned out. Anyway, I was looking at your AVA and your pressure gradients. Looks like you might be close to surgery sooner rather than later even without...

1 day for ICU. 3+ days step down. In on Thursday AM. Home on Monday PM.

Welcome, Amy- I just turned 47, and I got my On-X valve in January. Be sure to participate in the online survey. Not that it should influence your valve decision (I had already decided on ON-X prior to the surgery), but so far I 've gotten a t-shirt, $150 gift card, and a pyrolytic carbon...

I used to take Claritin, but recently switched to Zyrtec. It works well. I also take an occassional Benadryl at bedtime for an extra boost. AYR and Saline Solution and Vicks rub are good for non-addictive nasal sprays/ointments that can open up the stuffiness. Unfortunately, Afrin is...

3 months post op: 1. Yes 2. Yes- only tried 2 at one sitting so far. Have not noticed the coumadin making me tipsier faster. 3. Yes- 4. Yes 5. Yes 6. Yes. Post surgery I find I worry much less. 7. No more than usual.

Seems to me that they are using mechanical and artificial interchangeably in this piece, though the anticoagulation is obviously refering to mechanicals. May be a translation issue since the Dr only speaks in Korean in the video. In this case, a tissue valve is also considered "artificial"...

HI, Bryan- Sounds like you are doing great and on track--maybe a little ahead of the curve, even. I have the pounding heartbeat and irratic bp, too. I started cardiac rehab 3 weeks ago. I have been suprised at how gentle they are with adding exercise to the program--much slower pace than I...

I enjoyed your videos-great idea. Good luck with your surgery and your recovery. Sounds like you are ready. Keep us posted. I know you are going tissue, but just as an FYI-- The On-X valve is manufactured in Austin, TX.

Hi, Jason- I went to the ER with afib 2 weeks after my valve replacement. I clocked over 200 bpm in the ER with PVCs. Resting was 130-150bpm. I stayed the hospital 10 days while they figured out the right meds to control my heart beat and treated me for CHF. I'm now 12 weeks post op. My...

Hi, Halley! I know who your cardiologist is (same as me). I developed afib 2 weeks after valve replacement and have been dealing with it ever since. I've tried several meds including Multaq. I took Multaq about 30 days, then cardiologist switched me to something else. Any meds I've been on so...

Hi, Eva- Like you I was unfortunate enough to have a drill happy dentist when I was a child. All of my molars were filled with ugly silver fillings. I had horrible allergies and ear infections as a child, but I never associated it with the fillings. I also had the heart murmur. Now I'm 47...