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+1 for everyone who says go with what your surgeon prefers. They know a lot more than you do, and you want them to do the best job possible - which is more likely with the valve they prefer to sew in place!

Interesting! I have the world's most cautious cardiologist, and he has NEVER given me any weight restrictions. I too had a BAV repair (two, actually). My surgeon has also never given me restrictions - his final words were 'go forth and sin no more'. I think the research on people being...

Interesting! I have the world's most cautious cardiologist, and he has NEVER given me any weight restrictions. I too had a BAV repair (two, actually). My surgeon has also never given me restrictions - his final words were 'go forth and sin no more'. I think the research on people being...

When I had acute endocarditis my CRP was about 400! From memory it's not a very specific test so they really only get concerned when it's VERY high.

Thanks Protimenow - I didn't see any on eBay which is why I thought I should enquire here. Interesting about their issues - my CoaguCheck and INRatio have always been within 0.1 of each other but maybe I've just been lucky! Sounds like the rubbish bin might be the best place for these things!!

Hi all - I have accumulated TWO Alere INRatios along with my CoaguChek and would be keen to sell these Alere ones on to someone else. What are they worth? And does someone on here want one!!

If you like data, the Garmins are great. I like data! If you want to know what kind of data you can get, PM me and I'll send you one of my training runs. The HRM with the Garmin works great for a couple years and then seems to spew out weird readings, but you can change the battery.

It's snowing!!!!

These are *precisely* the symptoms that a functioning heart valve will correct! In fact once you get to these symptoms, you NEED to have the surgery!

Depends on if you get an acute case - I did, although I self-diagnosed as flu and stayed home with my 40C+ temps and wild shaking episodes for three days before going to my GP. Others get mild fevers, get antibiotics from their GPs, and continue like that for months before they get an accurate...

I'm doing a little celebratory dance for you! :-)

I'm one of the 'fortunate' people who has had one of each type of valve - rubbish one I was born with, tissue for 11 months, now mechanical for almost three years. Warfarin really has been a non-issue and I do whatever I want, including mountain biking very badly. I drink what/when I want...

Well done Jack! Nicely paced, however if you had done a negative split you would be under that magical 10:00 mark . . . ;-) Hee hee!

"What really stinks is not being able to ride my bicycle or kayaking. Sitting around at home on a sunny day is a drag." To echo others on here . . . what REALLY stinks is contracting endocarditis 11 months after your first AVR, being told there is only a 30% chance you're going to live, getting...

Have you drunk any grapefruit juice? I washed down my warfarin with a BIG glass of grapefruit juice for about a week and when I had my INR tested at the end of the week it was 9.0!! I got vit K at the hospital for that. :-) There is a strong interaction between warfarin and grapefruit juice...

Interesting that you (plural) got potassium tablets with your Lasix. I think I had them when I was in the hospital, although I just got given a smorgasbord of pills so who knows . . . but after I escaped hospital and continued with Lasix, my potassium prescription came in the form of 'eat...

Yeah I started retaining so much water* a month post-op I could have refloated the Titanic. My GP gave me 2 x 100 Lasixes and I was the happiest little person on the planet. Just ask for more! * NOT ice cream, brie, or chocolate, really . . . .

Ruth I bet $10 that after your cath you will be wondering what all the fuss was about! I'll send you my bank details so you can zap the money through, heheheh.

Nausea - I agree with what others have said, it might not even happen. I was totally fine after my first op, but after my second I threw up several times. I wasn't very nauseous, I just recognised that I was going to puke, demanded to be lifted from a lying position to sitting, and puked up...

Wording was deemed AS UNNECESSARY from my view.. I edited it out