First echo after surgery

[kpearse]

Today I am going to have my first echo to see how my new Aortic valve is working. I feel fine, I did have a nose bleed for the last two days. They will check my Inr, I'm going to ask about home testing, see what they say. I'll let you know how everything goes.

 

[Ross]

Don't ask, demand home testing. You'll still have to wait 3 months before your eligible unless they've changed that idea.

I think we should blame Christina for the nose bleed thing. Suddenly, all of us are having them.

 

[Bina]

I remember being nervous during my first post op echo....all was just fine.
Sounds like a good time to show off your knowledge about home testing.

 

[Snoopy]

Hope the echo went well! Let us know about both, the echo and what their response was to your home testing issue. Best of luck.

Randy

 

[kpearse]

Well it turns out this was my second echo since my surgery. lol I don't remember the last one. The Doc said the valve is working fine, but the Aortic tube above the valve is getting big? Seems the walls of the tube are spreading out. He is putting me on something to help with that, I didn't get the RX yet so I don't know the name of it. I do know the tube is 4 cm. He said we will look at it in the fall, keep an eye on it.
As for the home testing, no. He has a clinic right in his office, and thats the way it's done there. If I want to do it, he will not be involved. I went through this before so I kind of knew what the answer was going to be. I guess it's no big deal, it is what it is.

 

[Ross]

Don't be afraid to find a Doctor that will. Sounds like yours is more interested in profits then in caring for patients. These Docs have got to get over this stuff. Did you ask him if he'd deny a diabetic home testing?

 

[Curtsmum]

Glad the valve is working fine, sorry for your other problems, hope the medication works. Tc

 

[Eva]

Hope the medication will fix the wall tube and happy your valve is doing well.

My ex-cardio was against me having a home machine...his excuse was they will never know what the patient is on in case of emergency!! I think it was a matter of 'control' more than anything else. My present cardio encouraged me to have my own home machine and he uses one in his office!

 

[blkrino]

I hope your tube turns out ok. I have a question...does everyone get an echo after the operation? I don't ever remember getting one after my valve was replaced.

 

[bookjp]

Ken,did your doctor say the tube can expand?? Has anyone else heard of the dacron tube expanding????

 

[WayneGM]

Good news about the valve. I hope the RX works and the problem is resolved.

I had several echos in the hospital shortly after my surgery because of fluid issues. However, had that not happened, I was scheduled for an echo one month post-op with my Cardio.

 

[Karlynn]

I'm a bit unclear as to what the "tube" is. Did you have a graft to your aorta - or is the "tube" the aorta itself?

Being a home tester for a while, I would find a doctor that will allow you to home test. More and more studies are showing that those who home test have fewer incidences. My cardio is going to be moving to another hospital and I'm toying with the idea of finding a cardio closer to me. However, there will be lots of interviewing going on because I won't go with someone who won't let me home test or self dose.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I hope your tube turns out ok. I have a question...does everyone get an echo after the operation? I don't ever remember getting one after my valve was replaced.

I had a post-surgery Echo while still in the hospital (100 miles from home), then a follow-up echo with my local Cardiologist a few weeks later.

 

[kfay]

I had a post surgery echo as well before they let me leave the hospital. Then my local cardio did one two weeks after I got home and another 2 months later...he's a little nervous!

Kim

 

[olefin]

Hi Ken,

Great that your valve is working fine. Hope the med fixes your tube.

My first echo was soon after I got home, in about a month from Houston. I was still having some temperature and my cardiologist wanted to check the valve. Since then it's been yearly.

My cardiologist had no problem with me starting home testing.. even though he knew little about home testing.
It was funny, I called my first results to QAS and they notified his office. His wife (she works in the office) called the next day and seemed upset that I had used another lab for testing. I told her it was home testing and that the the doctor knew about it. She called the next day in a different tone... she must have talked with the doctor.

 

[kpearse]

I'm a bit unclear as to what the "tube" is. Did you have a graft to your aorta - or is the "tube" the aorta itself?

Being a home tester for a while, I would find a doctor that will allow you to home test. More and more studies are showing that those who home test have fewer incidences. My cardio is going to be moving to another hospital and I'm toying with the idea of finding a cardio closer to me. However, there will be lots of interviewing going on because I won't go with someone who won't let me home test or self dose.

The aortic tube right above the valve, that is where the bulge's are. Hope that explains it better. I saw it on the echo. As for the home testing, I am seeing my PCP to see if he would dose me if I home test. My Cardio Doc is not for this, I guess money has something to do with it, he has his reasons, and I have mine. I'll see what happens. I have nothing but time.