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Chronic a-fib caused my cardiologist to raise my INR range from 2-3 to 2.5-3.5.

Like others here, I’ve had 3 valve replacement surgeries and no cardiac rehab. My last surgery was long, but when I went home I was told to walk. So I walked my neighborhood, starting with short walks and adding time every couple of days. That was 2009, so now it seems cardiac rehab is what many...

I’m sorry your valve has caused you to now be facing a 3rd surgery in 13 years. I’ve had 3 surgeries in 20 years and that seemed like a lot to deal with, so I empathise with you. My thoughts for you are these: Find the best, most well respected surgeon who deals with difficult cases or even...

That’s just the problem. I didn’t have any skin issues before having symptoms. The infectious disease doc inspected my body at Stanford and found nothing, no cuts, punctures, pimples, etc. I was 54.

Here was my timeline: 10/30 walked dog 3 miles, felt fine 10/31 during drive to SoCal, felt very achy around 11am. Got to LA, shoulder painful, aches. Couldn’t use knife at dinner or zip pants. I felt terrible. Thought flu. 11/1 stayed in room while husband and daughter went to game. Took a...

After all was over, my cardiologist thought I was going into DIC when I was in ER. Luckily, the vitamin K shots stopped my INR from its trend of going up (it was at 9 when I got to the ER). My nurse friend said they say DIC means death is coming! I think we are all pretty lucky to survive...

I am a person who takes care of myself with daily bathing, teeth brushing and flossing and I rarely get sick. But, the bacteria that entered my bloodstream wanted to kill me. It was acute endocarditis. I had no wounds, no dental issues. It came on fast and a week after my first symptoms of...

I asked my cardiologist to recommend a family practice md, and the Dr he recommended is now my GP. Try that, or ask friends if they have a good md to recommend.

Oh man, I wouldn’t want a dingy room in a hospital . I get what you’re feeling.

I was happy to go to a teaching hospital near me, Stanford, since it’s one of the best for cardiac surgery. All 3 of mine were done there and I never felt I had an uninformed person helping me. The chief surgical resident was my surgeon’s second for my 2nd, and a different chief surgical...

I don’t remember horrible pain from my 3 surgeries in 20 years. The coughing after surgery for surgeries 1&2 was kind of painful but I was given a heart hugger for 1 which was very helpful, and a heart shaped pillow for 2, which was not as helpful. I hardly coughed for 3, so not a lot of pain...

My surgeon and cardiologists have said my mechanical valve would last my lifetime. The only reason my first mechanical (2nd surgery) had to be replaced was due to bacterial endocarditis. The bacteria caused issues with the tissue around the valve but the valve itself had not been affected.

I became fully lucid while still intubated after my first surgery. I wanted to say so many things but could not. I used my hands like a crazy person thinking the nurse would get what I was thinking, that they were letting me choke to death after surviving open heart surgery! Finally, she gave...

I saw 5 doctors in 2 years after my baby was born when I was 32. I had a weird weakness in my legs and knew it wasn’t normal. None of the doctors heard a murmur! I decided to see one more doctor, a GP, and she heard a murmur, ordered an echocardiogram, then had me bring the tape of it to a...

I appreciate the replies. I did feel I was being pushed to sign the paperwork. It was sent by Docusign on a Friday and I spent considerable time reading the many pages. I was specifically looking to see if I could back out at any time, which I found that I could. On Monday, a guy from the trial...

Hi all. I just got a call from the interventional cardiologist office. The np said it was determined I’m not a candidate for this procedure/trial due to a narrowed LVOT. The Dr said he could do an alcoholic septal ablation, but he felt since I’m doing okay, that it’s not urgent. So they will...

I’m pretty sure no valves are approved for the valve in ring procedure I would need.

I need to talk to the interventional cardiologist that told me he would use an aortic valve in the mitral position and also do a lampoon procedure. I thought this was the surgery I was having. After looking at my records, he must’ve decided I wasn’t a candidate. It’s problematic for me because...

Well, I need answers to my many questions about the whole clinical trial business. I’m used to a surgeon that had done a couple thousand surgeries, so do I want to let a doctor who’s done few with a new valve do mine? I do not! Plus they puncture a hole in the heart to install it. It sounds...

Here’s my latest update. The NP called me after the interventional cardiologist got all my records from Stanford. He now recommends that I join an Encircle clinical trial. I’ve read about it since that call and I’m pretty sure I’m not doing a clinical trial that’s just starting. However, I did...