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I imagine that it is pretty dose dependent. That just makes sense to me so I take some comfort in that.

My cardiologist prescribed hydrochorothiazide as a diuretic not because I have high blood pressure but to make me feel better as my aortic stenosis advances. Surgery for it is expected within a year. My question is does this drug actually help take some of the strain off your heart or does it...

Nusb22, I was just wondering what your quarterly checkups consist of. Do you get an echo everytime? I ask because they are expecting that I will need a valve replacement sometime within the next year.

Hello guest, I suffer from anxiety from time to time and I've had panic attacks before so I know a little about what you are experiencing. When is your next appointment with your cardiologist? I think the best way to get some piece of mind about your heart is through talking to him/her and...

Jwinter, Was your second surgery minimally invasive or full sternotomy? Wondering because I'm facing a second surgery. Thanks.

Hi doc, it looks like I'm facing a redo soon of my bovine aortic valve. It's 11 years old and showing calcification. I'd love to talk to you.

Hi doc, it looks like I'm facing a redo soon of my bovine aortic replacement valve. It's 11 years old and showing calcification. I'd love to talk to you.

Hello all. I recently posted that my bovine aortic valve was showing signs of age and becoming stenotic. I went to see my heart surgeon for a second opinion because I'm having an unrelated surgery August 30. I wanted some assurance that I would be OK for that. My heart surgeon did my first valve...

Hi Paleowoman, I did see the surgeon who seemed to be OK with allowing my cardiologist to monitor the valve every 3 months but I'm not sure how. How can they tell from a TEE if the valve is degenerating or not? Is that a different process from the valve becoming more and more calcified?

Didn't open for me either but maybe this is quite old now.

Hello, I've had my bovine aortic heart valve for 11 years this past March. A couple weeks ago, I had an echocardiogram that my cardiologist said showed moderate to severe stenosis of the aortic valve. When I asked him how long I had until it needed replacement, his answer was vague. I'm...

I'd be interested too in learning if anyone has had a particular valve replaced 3 or more times. I'm also curious about damage done to the heart when a valve starts to go south. I've only had one replacement so far but I remember that I did have some enlargement (don't remember exactly what) but...

I was wondering how many times a heart valve can be replaced whether tissue or mechanical. I know the answer would depend on a lot of factors but I'd like to hear feedback on this. Thanks!

Wow, I've only had time to scan all the comments but I thought this thread would be lucky to get one or two responses. I'll come back and read more carefully later. I do have a couple of questions that come to mind. Is it true that K2 has no effect on coagulation? In other words, is it true that...

I was wondering if any of you know anything about the following quote and whether there is a way to prevent warfarin from increasing systemic calcification. It sounds like over time, it could be a big problem but I'm hoping that's not true. I've been thinking a lot about if and when I need to...

My Edwards bovine pericardial valve is 10 years and 5 months old. It has served me well. My last echo was recent and it showed moderate stenosis. Even so, I'm hoping this valve has a few more good years in it.

My Edwards bovine pericardial valve is 10 years and 5 months old. It has served me well. My last echo was recent and it showed moderate stenosis. Even so, I'm hoping this valve has a few more good years in it.

I want to thank everyone for your wisdom and compassion. What a great group of people make up this forum. I'm especially grateful for your experience and strength. It's different talking to the people in this forum than it is with family and friends. You guys really CAN relate to what is going...

Hello folks, I don't know what is going on with me but I went away for the weekend to celebrate our wedding anniversary and sort of fell off the edge. Maybe my hormones are really wacky or something but I found myself barely able to keep from crying at times. I had a stress echo done about a...

I wonder the same thing cidihd. I'm not on warfarin but since K is a coagulant, I wonder even with a tissue valve if it increases your chances of a blood clot or stroke.