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I wear the necklaces higher than the top of my scar. I also don't like things touching it. My scar is quite pale, so anything with a bit of colour draws the eyes away from it and makes it a little less confronting. :)

Wow, this has been very interesting for me to read. I have an appointment with my psychologist in half an hour. I am being treated for PTSD. My last surgery was nearly 2 years ago. It came at a time when I should have been looking after my newborn second child. So I missed out on a lot of time...

Not sure if this is the place for this, but I was just wondering what people's experiences were with airport security when you have a mechanical valve and/or pacemaker. I have lots of bits that show up on an x-ray, from sternum wires and pacemaker leads to the actual implanted devices. I went...

I have wires and never had a problem with them. Got my first ones in 2000 and redo in 2005. Actually, second time around the wires and the scar are less noticeable. But then, I have had two cesareans and I have heaps of stretch marks. I used to be self conscious about a mole on my back, but I...

Jimmy... talk to your doctor. What you are describing sounds a lot like depression to me. I have been there, and 18months after I had my 2nd AVR I started having anxiety attacks. The road to normality is hard, you have to work at it. Taking the sort of actions the others have mentioned will...

Way to go Rich :D And may I just say... you don't look old enough to have been married for 47 years!

Hi Teressa, Congratulations on your pregnancy :) I hope everything goes well for you. I will be watching your progress with interest, as I have been advised not to have any more babies now that I have a mechanical aortic valve, mainly because of the risk of warfarin embryopathy. I have read...

Hehe, the marketing crew at Mastercard have a lot to answer for :D

A few of you mention problems with contraception and periods while on Coumadin. I have found a great solution to both of these. I was going to have my tubes tied, but after discussion with my GP and Gyn I got a Mirena IUD. It lasts for 5 years and is a plastic, progesterone-coated IUD. I had a...

That is interesting... I found that when I had my OHSs they brought on my period, even though after the second one I had not started getting them again after pregnancy and breastfeeding (my bub was only 3mo when I had my second OHS). So who knows, perhaps it can. It is easy to blame everything...

I've had two cesareans as well as my two OHSs. While the cesareans were also very invasive the recovery was a piece of cake, even with a newborn to look after. I was out of bed within 12 hours. As mentioned above, with OHS it is your whole body on the line. Your blood is run through a machine...

Wow you are brave! I don't think I could support someone else through what I went through, although it might be good therapy for me I don't think I would be a very positive influence on another person going through the same thing! Good on you for looking after your friend like that :)

Hi Sona, and welcome. I am also a newbie, having only registered here yesterday. You are best off hanging on to your own valve for as long as you are comfortable. Once you do have it replaced, whether you get a tissue or a mechanical valve, you have other problems and risks to deal with. Both...

I'm glad I found you guys too :) It is odd, when you are preparing for surgery and first learning about your condition you are expected to understand what is going on and how it will affect you down the track. Then afterwards, with the bypass and the drugs, half of the information is not...

Has anyone else suffered from psychological issues after their OHS? I had my 2nd AVR in October 2005 and I was recently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I thought I was dying, but it turned out to be panic attacks. I still get them but at least now I know what they are. I had a...