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I haven't noticed light sensitivity, but my vision definitely isn't as good. (I rarely used reading glasses and now I even have problems with a menu.) I was on Metoprolol and Amiodarone for about a month - both can affect your vision. I'm planning to go for an eye exam so they can make sure...

Hi there, I'm sorry things moved so fast! I hope you will be feeling much better soon. Congratulations on getting over another hurdle - hopefully it's your last! You deserve a break.

avr makes an excellent point. I knew about my problem since I was four years old and took five months to research and plan, and yet it still felt kind of rushed. At least it felt rushed when I first found out in January! It's completely normal to hope you can always put it off another 5-10...

Welcome, newbie! I hope you can find answers to many of your practical questions here (as opposed to those best left for your doctors.) I've always known that rheumatic fever can cause heart problems, but I never knew exactly what it was so I did a little searching. I have a question for all...

Duffey - an audible murmur speeds things up a bit. They were pretty sure I had a BAV all along, but you're right, it's hard to see on a TTE. Once I had a TEE they knew for sure. John, I had a similar condition in that my valve was all stretched out because my ascending aorta was at the high...

My surgeon mentioned something about a video to my husband and sister after my surgery. He said he might want to use it for educational purposes. He was really excited about how my case turned out and was proud of his work. I'd take that with a grain of salt, but even his NP mentioned (when I...

I was told my regurgitation was "moderate to severe" for many years. This January, my cardiologist said I had to have surgery within six months. My LV was around the same size as before (high normal) but my ejection fraction had fallen from 55% to 50% in the prior year. I didn't have any...

My only symptom was fatigue - the kind that feels like you haven't gotten enough sleep. My exercise tolerance was still normal. My valve issue was regurgitation though. It sounds like dehydration may have caused your blood pressure to drop too much. Is it normally on the low side?

I'm afraid I don't know about surgery on a carotid artery, but I'm hoping it won't be so bad. At least they won't have to saw through any bones and the recovery shouldn't take so long. Best wishes, and I'll have my fingers crossed they won't have to do surgery. :)

There's another member, njean, who (IIRC) has been on warfarin since 1975. She seems to be all right - she certainly has a great attitude!

Thanks for the update. I hope you've killed off that "garden" - or will have by the time you're done with the antibiotics!

All current TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) valves are currently tissue valves. There has been talk of valve-in-valve procedures, but in a 30 year old, I'm pretty sure you'd run out of room in your lifetime. Other benefit of a tissue valve? It's quiet like your native valve...

I had a bizarre EKG with inverted T-waves when I was having a lot of PVCs a week after surgery. They were puzzled more than worried, but I had a new echo shortly after. It wasn't until the next day I went into a-fib. I think my heart was confused. Looks like they extrapolated valve condition...

I've always liked my Polar monitor - it's a simple one with just a strap and watch. My husband is an avid road cyclist and switched from Polar to Garmin, but I think the main driver was to pick up data from his PowerTap wheel. The other nice thing is that it has a removable module that snaps...

Good luck, Dean! You'll do great. Unfortunately we also have the highest expenditures for healthcare, while our life expectancy isn't any better (or even worse in some cases). The variability within the country is staggering too.

Ha, I'm a Leo and I'd rather be alone... even though I do pipe up on here a lot lately! Happy soon-to-be Birthday to all of us! ;)

Agian, my mom was told I had a murmur when I was four years old. A few years later, the cardiologist thought I'd need surgery as a teenager. Turns out he was off by, oh, thirty years... (Later cardiologists never ventured a guess.) They really don't know how long your heart will compensate.

Avoiding bypass is definitely an improvement. That should virtually eliminate the risk of stroke. Here's an article I found after initially watching the video that I thought was interesting: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/03/3-d_printers_help_doctors_cust.html And a more...

Very good, pellicle! I had seen the video some time ago - my husband sent it to me prior to surgery - and even then I balked at his characterization of warfarin. It's a pity he felt the need to add drama to what would have been a good video anyway. I'll have to watch it again to remember why...

Pellicle, it's too bad they didn't also include age curves for those valve numbers. You're correct about the guinea pigs, but at least in the early trials they were patients much like you in 1974: they had no other choice. Dean, sorry if I caused your thread to become hijacked. You really...