Search results

Great news and all my best in your recovery. I'm also a Susan who had a similar story, a heart murmur and a bicuspid aortic valve replaced at 52, and now I'm 74 and still going strong! I have a St. Jude mechanical valve. So I've been ticking away now for 22 yrs. and am so grateful! :-)

I think you're doing just the right thing, walking a lot, it's how I recovered from Aortic valve replacement surgery 22 yrs. ago. It was raining a lot so I walked indoors, up and down the halls, in and out of rooms (in a not very big condo) and when I could I went outside. Just listen to your...

I had aortic valve replacement almost 20 years ago, I'm 72 now, and was never told anything before heading into it. Just a note here for women, if you're facing open heart surgery and wear an underwire bra it won't be comfortable for you to go home with that, so get a SPANX bra for after-wards...

Hi! That price sounds amazing to me. I've had a home testing INR machine for 10 yrs. now and am on my 2nd one; they billed Medicare ~$2500 for it! But it's paid for by Medicare for mechanical valve recipients. Mine arrives with the package clearly marked to refrigerate upon receipt, and I've...

The whole issue with diet is being consistent. I've been on Coumadin for 17 yrs. and eat salad and green vegetables. I love them. What I don't do, however, is "pig out" on anything that I know is loaded with Vit. K. I've lived in several states over the course of the years, and every...

Home INR meter Home INR meter I originally got my home meter from a company called QAS 800-298-4515. They've changed names but that number is the same. When I call my protime in every week, and it's out of range, it auto-connects to my Dr's office. It is so much nicer testing at home than...

Virtual colonoscopy Virtual colonoscopy Agreed with several here, you have to go through the same prep for the VC as the regular one, and that's the hardest part. My gastroenterologist recommends the 'real' one. He wanted me off coumadin 5 days prior, with 3 Drs. telling me that is the limit...

Hi and welcome: My personal opinion is go with the mechanical valve. I don't really get why a Dr. would make the coumadin issue such a negative thing. However, if you are really active in sports you may want to factor that into the equation: there is risk involved taking coumadin and being...

support group support group Hi Belen, So glad you contacted this group and wish you the best finding the right Dr. for your son. I just wanted to let you know there is a support group for kids with heart issues, it's Mended Little Hearts. The Mended Hearts program, a support group of the...

reply to Matt reply to Matt Welcome to the site, Matt, I don't know any Drs. to recommend to you, but the Cleveland Clinic is sure renowned for all the latest heart procedures. So if I were in that vicinity, I'd certainly check into that. All our best for your up-coming appointment. And it...

Valve choice reply Valve choice reply All my best with your surgery, and the St. Jude valve is excellent. I know one has been keeping me alive now for 15 yrs. and counting, and that's good enough for me! We wish you a speedy recovery afterwards! :) Sue in AZ

Tucson reunion Tucson reunion Glad I checked in to this site today - I voted for May 3rd in Tucson, but might be able to make any of the Tucson dates. Just can't get up to Phoenix for it. Sue Sommer

Multivitamin Multivitamin I take a Target multivitamin that has no Vit. K in it. My cardiologist told me not to take Centrum, or any multivitamin that has K in it: Target has one. I don't know about the interaction with the other drug mentioned. The pharmacists are often the best people to...

INR testing INR testing I've had my QAS machine for 3 1/2 yrs. and never had it checked with a lab. I would trust my machine more than the lab result. I know someone who has had the machine for much longer and has had it checked with a lab frequently,and it has always been extremely accurate...

Reply to Bill -Valve Selection Reply to Bill -Valve Selection Bill, I don't see how being in the military etc. should have anything to do with what type of valve you select or can have. And at your age you could well live into your 80's or 90's and a tissue valve isn't expected to last that...

New reunion dates New reunion dates Hi Hank, The new dates sound fine and hope I can come. Have good memories of that Oct. cruise.:) Sue Sommer, Tucson

post-op in NYC post-op in NYC I don't think you're going to feel like doing much, certainly not being a tourist! I would follow your Dr's advice, but about all that is usually recommended is getting up and walking as much as you can, and resting a great deal. It takes several weeks before...

Reunion Comments Reunion Comments Hi! Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the cruise on the Paradise - it was a very relaxing get-away, and what fun to be on the ocean after months in AZ. Sorry I couldn't dine with the group, but it was fun to meet eveyone later on. And a very special Hello...