Hello

[RCB]

Dear members,
I just found this site today and am so impressed with all
the well informed people here. I want to tell everyone how
lucky they are to have a site like this and to be living at a time
when we have such wonder heart doctors.
When I first had my AR, people all died. I was one of the
first to live more than a couple of months. Today, those statistics are very rare. I wish you all the best!
RCB

 

[nadi]

Welcome!!

Welcome!!

RCB,

Welcome to the site!!!!

Hope you will pass on some of you wisdom to others here.

I was really lucky to find this site within a few days of being informed that I needed surgery. I would have been insane if it wasn't for the wise and caring people here.

So stick around and join in

Take care

 

[fyrfytr]

Welcome

Welcome

RCB,
Welcome to the site, there are a lot of wonderful people here. Like Nadi said I hope you stick around and share with us. Again Welcome!
Dave

Keep your fires small!
______________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[EVELYN]

Hi RCB and Welcome to a wonderful place!!!

Your wisdom and years of experience will be appreciated!!!

Evelyn

 

[Nancy]

Hi RCB-

Nice to meet you. This is a terrific site. You're going to be a big help to some of the new members who have not had surgery yet. I hope you will stop in a lot and join in.

I saw that you have a long heart history. I'd like to know more about it, when you have the time and if you could share. I'm sure others would as well.

Take care,

 

[Simon Gee]

WOW!!!

WOW!!!

Welcome RCB,

1961 - that's the year I was born! And you've been ticking away all that time. Like Nancy said, we'd love to hear a little more about your experiences when you can find the time:

what type of valve do you have?

have you needed additional surgery?

do you have to take any anticoagulant?

Sorry to sound nosy, but I'm really interested to hear more about your forty one plus years as an AV patient.

Best regards,

Simon

 

[Rich]

Welcome RCB,
Your story gives us all a lot of hope for a long life.
You had your surgery right after we got married.
Are you from the Cleveland area?
That's our hometown.
Sure would like to hear more from you.

 

[Jan]

Welcome

Welcome

Hello

Welcome to our wonderful group,

I hope you have the time to tell us of your experiences, it will be very helpful to all us newbies

thanks for joining us

Jan

 

[RCB]

Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks for the welcome!

Hi Nadine, Dave, Evelyn, Nancy, Simon, Rich and Jan
I really appreciate the warm welcome you all have given me
here. Frankly, I have been overcome with emotion these last several days reading the posts and the personal stories. The
feeling expressed by so many people here, were feelings that I
have had the last 40 or so years of my life. Even when I had my
last AVR in !982, the net was not really up and running, so this
site is really a blessing!
Some have ask me to post my story- let me tell you I could right a book! However, it would be too difficult for me to rehash
the past memories. I don't think it would be very helpful as I
was operated in the "Model T" era of heart surgery.
I came to this site because I am facing the same decision many of the people are facing- How long to wait till you decide to
have some work done. My last procedure was a balloon valvuloplasty for mitral valve stenois in 1996. Althought my last echo showed no restenois, I still am in chronic A-fib. So i am faced with when to have the mitral valve fixed, a Maze procedure
done, and maybe a AVR why I'm on the table.
I 'm not a prolific poster, but I'll be glad to answer any questions I can. I want to take time to get a feel for the tone of
this forum and understand the rules( I already got smacked down
for double posting) before I post alot. Besides, I am so impressed
with how knowledgeable many of the people are here. This is
a great site, full of gracious people. Thanks so much for being here.
RCB

 

[Nancy]

Hi again RCB-

Sorry to hear that you are facing even more procedures. But if you need it, you need it. We'll be here for you, just like we're here for all who are facing surgery. No matter how many times you have this done, it's still a difficult thing to face.

Now, who would "smack" you down for double-posting, knowing that you're a newbie? At least I hope it was gentle. We don't usually smack people around here, unless, of course, they need it.

 

[Ross]

RCB I didn't mean to offend you by deleting the one double post. I try to keep things as straight around here as possible. The problem with a double post is that you end up with replies on 2 different threads with the same content. It's not a big deal, so please don't feel like you've been "Smacked Down". Were an easy going, nutty (I am anyhow), fun, been there done that, informative people. You'll be fine. Now please, don't hold back on us. Share your experience, because your more then qualified to help others and maybe even teach us some new things.

P.S. Watch out for the people in the waiting room. They are a nutty bunch (I probably helped make them that way) but then again, weren't we all while we were waiting for surgery.

 

[RCB]

No offense taken

No offense taken

Ross,
Sorry, I meant my "smack" comment as hyperbole. Tried to
make a little joke and I guess it was very little- I meant no disrespect to you. Like others on this forum, I am very impressed
with the work you do here and all you have been through.
I only double posted because I got the feeling here that
people are upset about taken coumadin, which I just accepted
as the price for staying healthy. Since my wife dissertation deals with that precise subject area, she comes across new drug research all the time. I was kind of excited about it and perhaps
too eager to share to the people here. Of course, the excitement
turned to embarrassment, when Nancy let me know that the website I attributed was run by a member of this website.
Anyway, I am very happy to have you and Nancy keep me
in line any time you folks feel like. The whole membership should
know that you wrote me a very cordial note explaining to me what you had done and why it was necessary. My problem was I
was so new that I didn't realize then, where to retrive my PMs.
Keep up the great work my friend,
Rcb

 

[bvdr]

Hi RCB,

I've messed up on these boards more than once believe me. I've posted in the wrong places and embarrassed myself in other ways as well. The thing is, well, we are kinda like family. We are all in here together and everyone has something to contribute and everyone has something to learn.

I can tell you have lots you can teach us. We are a very receptive audience! Please stick around and get to know us, OK?

Betty(bvdr)

 

[wweir]

Just wanted all to know that a co-worker of mine has been going strong for about 37 plus years with a Starr ? Edwards Ball and Cage Aortic Valve. He had this done in Seattle about the 1964 timeframe and he is now 63, I believe, His surgeon was Dr. Starr of the Starr-Edwards team. While I told my co-worker about this site he is still not a member but I must tell you he was very helpful prior to my surgery.

What is amazing is that he is on coumadin and also suffers from bleeding ulcers. So sometimes he finds himself in the hospital when things flair up. He is still employed at the University and is quite active, so there is long term optimism for all of us.

Walter

 

[Ross]

RCB I would've sent you an email instead, but your email is blocked. Well, I guess you learned how to get your PM's. If you haven't seen already, Al Lodwick left you a message in the coumadin thread/forum. Please check it out.

People, don't be embarrassed or ashamed to post anything anywhere. I can always move it, delete it, or add it to another thread, even start a new thread. It's more important to share information, talk with one another, and have things working around here. You've all done a great job!

 

[Nancy]

Hi RCB-

OK, now you're in line, but who's going to keep me in line??? That's a joke.

Seriously, we're really not that formal here. It's pretty free and easy, just like talking to your friends. That's because we are all friends, you too.

 

[RCB]

Walter concerning Starr-Edwards valve

Walter concerning Starr-Edwards valve

Walter,
Thanks for your comments. One of the reasons I joined this
forum was to see if there were some of the very early people
still around.
You are right about Dr. Starr and Seattle. I checked just a few years
back and he was still operating according to the website that
listed the history of his valve. My concern is for your co-worker.
Does he still have the same Starr-Edwards valve he had put in,
in 1964 and if he does- does he know the cover on the ball can
crack and throw clots. The website I visited said they never had a valve fail- well mine did and it caused me to have a bad stroke.
I still have my valve and if I can get my wife to help me, along
with some tech help of Ross- maybe I could show the crack in the vavle and post here so you could show your co-worker. However,
that might not be a good idea considering his ulcers.
Thanks again for the Info.
Take care,

 

[Blanche]

RCB
So glad you found this board. I find myself hanging on every word. It is so good for us to have reflections from another pioneer in valve replacement. You have such interesting things to share.
Looking forward to your posts,
Blanche

 

[ericaj]

welcome

welcome

I know I always like to get all the help and info I can so the more knowledge we have here, the merrier, right?? Welcome, Erica