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I know it sucks, I was 12 when I woke up in the hosiptal and learned I just had OHS and had a new Aortic mechanical valve. All I remember was being sick and my dad taking me to the ER. Again at 15 I had to get it replaced and remember being shocked and scared when I heard the news. It has now...

I had AVR at age 12 and 15 for endocarditis and have been doing good since then, now 38. Last year in April it was discovered that I had a 4.3 Ascending Aneurysm and they said the same thing as your dr did. No lifting and ct every 6 months. Now it has been almost a year and luckily it seems to...

Update on my inr discrepancies between intravenous lab draw and Coaguchek XS; I have been doing both methods for the past month and I am still getting way higher INR values on the Coaguchek than the intravenous lab draw. The last two times the lab was 3.0 and 3.2 and the corresponding Coaguchek...

I appreciate your discussion on the matter and I will take your advice and try and find another coaguchek xs to compare to my coaguchek xs. Thanks

I appreciate your insight into the matter and I have been doing this for over 8 years on a weekly basis. I understand the instructions for using the machine and do my best to follow the proper procedure. Looking back on various lab tests over the last year, done at different hospital labs...

I have had a home inr testing machine for the last 8 years of the 25 that I have been on Warfarin and recently became concerned about discrepancies in inr from the lab versus coaguchek xs. I was never told to occasionally verify my home machine with a lab test and never thought otherwise because...

I have had a mechanical valve since I was 12 and am now 38. I had my first mechanical valve replaced at the age of 15 and still have it to this day. I have also been taking warfarin for over 25 years and do my best to check my blood and take every dose. I have been fortunate to not have any...

Congrats, I also celebrated 25 years in June since my first AVR, at the age of 12. I wish you the best and many more years of good health.

I have had a mechanical valve for 25 years, since age 12, I sleep with a fan or ac unit in my room so I never hear it when trying to sleep but when I can here it, I am just reminded that my heart is still beating. I will say that eventually, you will forget what its like to not here the...

I am glad you made it through your surgery and I wish you the best. I will say that the day that I got home from the hospital from my first surgery, I had a terrible migraine, which I had never experienced before. This has continued for over 25 years and I still get them to this day, with the...

I appreacite the insight and wisdom. I will check out the video and blogs. Thanks for the help.

I was able to get in touch with a surgeon at Vanderbilt and he did a proper CT with 3D modeling and didnt seem to worried about the aneurysm. He officially stated that it was 4.4cm and told me to come back in 6 months. It was helpful in the beginning but as time goes by the worry grows.

Thanks for the info. I have been doing my best to cope with the situation it just sucks dealing with an unknown out of anyones control. How long did you have to live with the knowledge of an aneurysm and how did you cope. I just cant shake the worry of having a dissection even though I am trying...

Thats awesome that you are still going strong after 31 years. I have almost 25 years since my first surgery. Thats crazy that they didnt see that in the echo, good thing you had that ct. I just happened to have a ct the other day for a lung test and they noted a 43mm dilatation of the ascending...

What procedure did they do and where did you have it done?

I think it was a 19mm at the age of 12

The second valve is a 23mm st jude mechanical, I had it done at centennial medical center in Nashville and my first surgery was emergency surgery at Vanderbilt in Nashville. I showed up to the ER about dead with a severly destroyed aortic valve due to endocarditis. I was sick for weeks but the...

I am a new member and just happened to find this website as I was freaking out about my situation. I am a 37 year old male who had AVR with a St jude at the age of 12, in 1996, due to endocarditis and then again in 1999 cause my heart was bigger and the valve was leaking. I have been relatively...