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Chuck, Good advice .... thank you! Off for my 10k. 3rd State of Emergency for Tokyo starts tomorrow. Much more strict than prior ones, but the "out of doors" is still open! MIT study on indoors and COVID-19 spread states there is no difference btw 6 and 60 ft inside. First flight next week since...

St. Jude Medical GT 27mm (tissue). Edwards is popular in Japan, 21mm avg. valve size.

Interesting. I'll be getting the 1st AZN shot in Canada next month. Japan is at 1% of the pop. so far. Some interesting thoughts (more research required) on "mixing" vaccines with the idea being there might be a stronger immune response (antibodies). Good check up today, but some concern on my...

Interesting for certain. I had my BAV surgery 4 years ago at 50. Life expectancy was 80, although I tried to contractually "lock that in" my doctors could not do so. Stay healthy, trim and get your sleep was the main advice. The "event risk" of valve replacement (hopefully TAVI procedure) likely...

Chuck, Best wishes to a successful surgery. I'm just over 4 years in on my tissue value @ 50 and no issues.

Japan is closer than the US and a high standard. Cost ¥5,000,000 if OHS, less for TAVI procedure. Mine was covered under insurance, co-pay about 20%. St. Jude Medical GT 5/2000.

Full bill in Tokyo circa 2017 was US$53k. The St. Jude Medical Trifecta GT valve was $5,700 of that if memory serves. Same operation in the USA 500k+ given 35 day hospital stay. Universal health care in Japan. Co-pay system. Japan spends 10% of GDP on healthcare (1/2 US level) despite having the...

Great updates all. Glad to hear you are doing well, given the C-19 circumstances. Tokyo has had a better experience than most with the pandemic, but we are all keeping a mindful eye and practicing good etiquette (100% masks adherence here, social distancing and hand washing). Thanksgiving with...

St. Jude Medical GT 3.5 yrs ago at 50. Also hopeful of TAVI procedure when a replacement is required.

Even though heavy (95kg) I run daily. Pre AVR surgery I was faster, but still find that with my doctor mandated max of 145 bpm I enjoy it. My best 1/2 was 1:47 and best full 3:59 (at 45). My 10 k is currently a leisurely 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Gregg, This is good news as far as I am concerned. I'm just over 3 year in on a St. Jude Medical GT tissue value, also 27mm and hope my next 2 rotations are TAVI (both procedures are covered under the universal healthcare systems of Japan and Canada). Good health! JCG

At 50 I had a tissue value (St. Jude Medical GT) installed in Japan. No air time given to mechanical. So far so good. Minimal meds. If it lasts < 10 years and OHS required I'd likely go with mechanical though.

Wondo, You are keeping your sense of humor, key. I was not awake or in such a social setting for my shearing, but it was on of the post-op surprises. I was 3 years post op from May, all good. A positive attitude is key. Caleb

I have a daily dose of Sawacillin (250mg) since my AVR surgery. My IE came from my own mouth (tooth plaque). I have a mandated cleaning every 2 months, but comes around quickly!

Seastreet, I'd get some online / e-mail advice as to what to apply to it and send some pics in. Way pre COVID-19 but I had some issues with the scar area here where I went to local clinics to get it looked at, but I'd be reticent to do so currently. Hope you are feeling better with less pain...

Seastreet, My AVR was just over 3 years ago in Japan. I was like a caged animal after 2 weeks but was kept in for almost a month to treat my infective endocarditis that caused the whole issue (bacteria bored a hole in the value). Very little in the way of meds, had to plead for a couple of pain...

That is why this is a great site. Even with "tribes", as noted, all keep an open mind and remain cordial. My AVR procedure was just over 3 years ago in Tokyo. Severe regurgitation from infective endocarditis meant I was effectively at the stage of heard failure upon admittance. As the Japanese...

Tom, Very true re: questionable testing along with the angst of getting the test done port mortem would likely more new stress than closure for the family members in question.

My Dad passed away 10th January 2020 of lung failure in hospital in Florida. He fell ill on 18th Dec 2019 aboard a Panamanian cruise which departed from Ft. Lauderdale. Family members are still insisting it was COVID-19 related, but the timing is more than a bit off (his illness being so early)...

IE (Infective Endocarditis) can be very dangerous to numerous organs. In my case, the bacteria came from my own mouth, tooth plaque. Often a result of oral surgery it can come from flossing or aggressive brushing as well. I was diagnosed in April 2017 and had my AVR surgery May 1, 2017 (3 year...