A little late I know but I was busy celebrating. This forum has been very educational to me and I follow up on many stories but I am relatively quiet because I get easily annoyed with some things. Why would someone avoid a mechanical valve because of noise/coumadin and risk a second surgery? why bank on technology/TAVR in the near future, when there are many things that could go wrong...
Anyway to more positive news...
I had a Mitral valve replacement at NY Presbyterian a little more than 4 years ago with a St Jude Masters - Mechanical. Yes I click but I have grown used to it - I always blame a watch when we have that awkward silence in a conference room, or an elevator, or a bathroom and all you hear is chick -chick-chick-chick. I used to hear it more but then I was paying attention to it, as if it would stop now its like my heart beat, sometimes I hardly hear it but its because I can ignore the sound and not because it is any less loud.
I am on Coumadin and self test and I play with my dose - usually 7.5/7.5/5 but I adjust it to my eating habits because I love food and may over indulge in greens sometimes. My target is 3.0 but I have been anywhere from 2.4 to 3.7 (earlier when I was scared of the meds - I went down to 1.7). I know what my last number was and if I over indulge in greens - will skip the 5mg and and do 7.5 x4 (instead of x2) before I drop to a 5mg and I test every two weeks and I am always within range 2.5 - 3.5. I have traveled and left my meds at home and al I did was find a CVS explain myself and they checked their computers and asked mt how many doses do you need and gotten a few free pills to hold me over till i got home.
My other med is Metoprolol tartrate for Afib: I take 2x25mg twice a day. I can't tell you why but I do not like the 50mg tabs. The best answer I got was it may be the inactive ingredients but they make me feel funny so I swallow 2 25mg pills twice a day.
Afib has been my troublesome spot since my surgery. I have had to go to the hospital twice for it and spend a night my first year post-surgery. I have had them after by the resolve at the most within half a day. I don't know if there is anyone with my experience but I trigger my afibs with a cold drink. I chug a cold beer, juice, slushy and it is on and it almost always happens summer time. I have found some articles on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation precipitated by the rapid ingestion of ice-cold foods and beverages but try explaining that to ER doctors when at the hospital - these are know it all docs. I was converted twice with meds not the shocker.
44 years old, St Jude Mitral valve (Aortic has mild regurgitation and calcification) on Warfarin and Metoprolol and walking the streets of NYC like nothing else is happening.
James
Anyway to more positive news...
I had a Mitral valve replacement at NY Presbyterian a little more than 4 years ago with a St Jude Masters - Mechanical. Yes I click but I have grown used to it - I always blame a watch when we have that awkward silence in a conference room, or an elevator, or a bathroom and all you hear is chick -chick-chick-chick. I used to hear it more but then I was paying attention to it, as if it would stop now its like my heart beat, sometimes I hardly hear it but its because I can ignore the sound and not because it is any less loud.
I am on Coumadin and self test and I play with my dose - usually 7.5/7.5/5 but I adjust it to my eating habits because I love food and may over indulge in greens sometimes. My target is 3.0 but I have been anywhere from 2.4 to 3.7 (earlier when I was scared of the meds - I went down to 1.7). I know what my last number was and if I over indulge in greens - will skip the 5mg and and do 7.5 x4 (instead of x2) before I drop to a 5mg and I test every two weeks and I am always within range 2.5 - 3.5. I have traveled and left my meds at home and al I did was find a CVS explain myself and they checked their computers and asked mt how many doses do you need and gotten a few free pills to hold me over till i got home.
My other med is Metoprolol tartrate for Afib: I take 2x25mg twice a day. I can't tell you why but I do not like the 50mg tabs. The best answer I got was it may be the inactive ingredients but they make me feel funny so I swallow 2 25mg pills twice a day.
Afib has been my troublesome spot since my surgery. I have had to go to the hospital twice for it and spend a night my first year post-surgery. I have had them after by the resolve at the most within half a day. I don't know if there is anyone with my experience but I trigger my afibs with a cold drink. I chug a cold beer, juice, slushy and it is on and it almost always happens summer time. I have found some articles on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation precipitated by the rapid ingestion of ice-cold foods and beverages but try explaining that to ER doctors when at the hospital - these are know it all docs. I was converted twice with meds not the shocker.
44 years old, St Jude Mitral valve (Aortic has mild regurgitation and calcification) on Warfarin and Metoprolol and walking the streets of NYC like nothing else is happening.
James
