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Ugh. I've had 3 valves done, plus the maze procedure, but in 2 separate surgeries: MVR & Maze in 2006, then AVR + tricuspid repair in 2010. The TVRep was because of all the wires from the pacer/defib making the valve saggy. That's a lot of plumbing work at one time for you. Hopefully your...

If you take 8, which is double your dose, you are setting yourself up for a roller coaster. You will SPIKE and then they'll drop your dose, and you'll wind up low again. Don't do that. Please go on line, look up an INR dosing calculator, input your dose and your INR and compare the instructions...

SB, it's a good thing you live in a small town. The news headline this morning in DFW was a quad murder at 2 locations, 1 perp (caught). Probably family related, but early reports were sketchy. I've been a good girl this week. Down to 149.5 this morning. Yoga class last night fixed my achy...

Sorry gang, I spent most of last week at CLE. A bunch of lawyers talking about how the ATRA2012, DOMA, Portability, and the new Texas Estates Code (which has just been amended even before it goes into effect 1/1/14) all impact estate planning and probate. Long periods of boredom interspersed...

This is approximately what your INR clinic or doctor should tell you for bridging instructions: Hold coumadin at least 3 days prior to surgery. Some do 5 days for major surgery, 3 for colonoscopy Lovenox, or generic Enoxoparin sodium injection, at 1 mg/kg of body weight every 12 hours, beginning...

Walgreens and CVS both will order you size 21 gauge lancets (the big sticker) for your finger sticker. Size 26 and 31 are too small for me. I paid about $10 for a box of 200. That will do me for several YEARS. Oh, and I use Amazon dot com for my Inratio strips, and you can buy the machine...

Well, I'm watching my intake, trying to get rid of the Lbs put on by eating blueberry pancakes LAST WEEK. Next week's challenge will be to sit through a 3 day seminar while avoiding the insane goodies provided by the hosting hotel, while also avoiding freezing to death in the excess air...

That sounds like the high deductible plans, which came in a few years back, after the new health care act, and are what more and more employers are going to for group coverages. $700 per month is pretty normal, even low, for someone in his/her 50s, with or without a valve replacement. If you...

I'm BAAACK. We spent 8 days in Oregon, drove 1500 miles with some friends along the Columbia river gorge, past Mt. Hood through the central Cascades, around Crater Lake, then down to CA for a peek at the redwoods, up the coast, up to St. Helens, then back to Portland. It was mostly sunny, the...

CAN your mech valve be replaced with a tissue valve? possibly. It's been done, but you are very special. SHOULD it be done, merely to avoid bridging with lovenox in preparation for future surgeries???? That's a whole 'nother question to be discussed with your doctors. Remember, you may wind up...

You can get the results pretty quickly, but since they usually give you versed as a sedative, you won't remember a lot of the details! Except I do remember I did not get enough nasty numbing agent (for the second TEE) and it was an unpleasant procedure, since I was only partially sedated. The...

Sorry I'm MIA. I'm just busy. Weight is hovering at 149 (ugh) up a pound, down a pound. It's too hot to exercise outdoors. Even indoors with A/C it's too hot to get a decent work out. I want to run off somewhere cool and do a lot of walking. Texas is just miserable in July and August. There's...

Midpack, you sound perfectly normal to me! I second the "try a little xanax as needed." After emergency MVR, I spent 4 years waiting to be told it was time for the AVR (and got a TVRepair at the same time!) So I understand your "waiting anxiety." Like waiting for the other shoe to drop, and in...

Sorry I've been away/busy at work the last few days (weeks, months, etc.) We "put a ring (on it)" on my tricuspid which sags because of all the wires for the ICD. Hey, We've got our own song! I don't think this is what Beyonce has in mind, however. But MY valves and ring cost more than most...

Hey, my sister is a drug rep. She represents a new IV tylenol which has been used in Europe extensively. She herself just had open incision abdominal surgery at Cleveland Clinic and arranged to be given the IV Tylenol instead of morphine, etc. She and her surgeon were very, very impressed with...

Hey, you need a supplemental poll for repaired valves! I've got one of those, too! I've damaged 3 out of 4.

If you were a diabetic, would you have foregone children? If you had a family history of alzheimers, or parkinson's would you have foregone children? This is not a death sentence. Enjoy your child.

12 weeks after my first surgery (which was near-emergent due to Class IV heart failure - you wanna talk about SOB?) I was back doing dog agility. Not well, but taking classes. In 5 months, we were back in the ring. At first, I could not keep up with my slow dog but we finished the courses...

OMG my dear. That's awful. On another note: thank g*d you were on warfarin and not one of these newfangled anticoagulants that have no way to reverse them except time. You didn't HAVE much time!!! Bless your heart. and bless that home monitor. Nothing like being able to deal with the...

Hey, I was told this SAME thing here in Dallas in 2006. I even tried to use one. Waste of $80. Now, my baby sister was prohibited from shaving at all when she had leukemia. She tried it once, and oozed for hours. You wanna talk about blood that doesn't clot, try AML! That's serious lack of...