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During cardio therapy I talked to a dietician and they were stuck in the 80's. No egg yolks fats salt etc. basically the American heart ass diet. I think the re is much more and better information out there. And be aware that fat free isn't always better. There is some concern that the 'free'...

Now they took me to 10mg / day for 1 week and my INR was 3.6! And I have a lot of blood in my stool this morning. The whole bowl was full and bright red. They want me to change to 9mg on tue and thur and remain at 10 for the rest of the week. This doesn't seem like much of a change to get me...

Heartvalvesurgery.com has a surgeon finder. Nice tool and website.

Neil. I disagree. The problem is that the five or so cardiologists I've delt with were not all that knowledgeable about this issue. In fact a couple were completely wrong about a few details. So relying on a single dr or cardiologist just isn't a satisfactory approach - for me. Discussions here...

Pellicle. Wow. Nice data and relevant information. As you have pointed out in some of your other very informative posts : the changer in INR is really much faster than the three days most technicians tell us. If so why is it taking so long for my levels to get in the 'safe' range? They seem to...

I am just starting on warfarin. Started at INR 1.1. It has been 6 weeks and they only test me every week but INR values have been 1.1, 1,.2, 1.4 ,1.5,1.6,1.8,1.4. With increasing doses. Now at 7.5 mg per day. My question is: doesn't it seem reasonable that the body has some natural control...

Is there a definite test for connective tissue disorder or is it just anecdotal based on what is happening to your valve / aorta? It seems like there are other possible causes of the enlarged aorta near the biscupid aortic valve. But if there is a conclusive test I would like to take it.

My first throw down. I am 5 weeks post AVR and am 18 lbs lighter. 263 at surgery on 3/2/2015 245 on 3/28/2015 But my appetite is returning and I feel like a pregnant guy. I'm eating things I never would have before. Potatoe chips, little Debbie snack cakes. I'm glad to have an appetite back...

Wondering if anyone has had any success using pot to help with this creepy 'pump-head' feeling post surgery? I have some visual changes and also a general fuzziness. I am stopping the norco painkillers to see if that helps. But the chest hole still hurts quite a bit during the night. So I'll...

I have been having a glass or two of wine almost daily starting 2 weeks post op. Just follow your body. No one I have talked to said a little alcohol could hurt anything. And I have asked everyone I come across

Heart of the sunrise, That seems like a pretty solid choice. It was that combination or the graft with the C-E magna ease that I had narrowed the choice down to fo me. I ended up going with the tissue and the graft. But I think either would have been fine for me.

Yes!! I have been getting the exact same thing. For 5 or 6 years pre-op. I'm only 11 days post-op so I don't know yet. I have had head MRI's. Gastro testing. No one can tell me anything. I kept a journal and two things seemed clear. 1) it was related to eating. 1-2 hours after eating something...

Hey what's up with another surgery? Why? Drainage? Fluids? Bleeding? I'm 10 days in recovery now and dealing with some low grade fevers every night. Not sure what causes them but they break each night. Drs say it could be the body reacting to bring anemic during the recovery process. So...

Thanks for all the good advice everyone. I tried staying in a hotel for a few days in Chicago. But the bed and the sofa and the chair were too uncomfortable. Last night we decided to drive back to Iowa so I could use a recliner. It was fabulous. First stretch of three hours of sleep I've had...

Hey pellicle. Where is over here? Are you from Boston?: ) I've been reading some old posts and recliner seems to be the big winner. Or $20k hospital bed. Tried the wedge pillow tonight. It is with its wrappings in the corner of the hotel room. Too hard not adjustable and unsteady. I'm ready...

1 day home. Had the training. I can't get out or into bed alone. Pain is high. Cold sweats. It was easier with the folding hospital bed. My wonderful wife is helping but it still is not easy. NMH taught the tuck and roll method. But my shirts twist. I end up crooked to the pillow. The pillows...

It doesn't seem to matter which type of valve to use with the dacron tube aortic repair. I am leaning towards the C-E Perimount Magna Ease 3300 TXF. I found it hard to find any hard evidence that lead to one over the other as being preferred. As mentioned here many times, it comes down to...

Of course, but a second opinion, from your doctor, couldn't hurt. From my experience these doctors need very careful oversight to ensure proper operation.

Another thought is if the combination of the dacron tube and tissue valve in some way makes 1) re-operation more difficult or dangerous and 2) chances of TAVR replacement of the tissue valve in the future more or less likely? Does anyone have any information from doctors or their own research...

Does the addition of the replacement of the ascending aorta due to aneurysm sway the choice of mechanical vs tissue in any way? I can see that there are some mechanical valves that are already coupled with a dacron sleeve. This seems like a good idea and appears to be more durable than a...