HI Folks

[Jamboesque]

Hi Folks,
This is my first post on this site, I just wish it was about some 4 years ago, when I was diagnosed with a stenotic Aortic valve, must have been congenital, never having had rheumatic fever, bacterial infection of the valve or anything else.

My cardiologist, not much on the small talk but efficient confident communicator, who DOESN’T LIKE his patients to add salt to their food.

Within 8 weeks I got a call to be admitted to the cardiac surgery unit at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, that was an eye-opener for someone who had never had a sick-note from the doctor before.

Lets just say that the conditions may well have been Victorian but the level of care from the surgeon, (still don’t think I actually met the guy!) down to the nursing assistants was second to none.

After being fitted with a St Jude Regent valve and a short stay (6 days post-op) in hospital. I was let out clutching my various packets of Warfarin.
4 Years on and it all going pretty well, was over in Vermont in March for ten days cross-country skiing, brilliant fun.

I do have some questions, I think we all have some niggles going on in the back of your mind, but I’ll try and pop them in the appropriate thread boxes!!!!

Thanks for listening

 

[gijanet]

What???

What???

I think we all have some niggles going on in the back of your mind

You best keep your niggles to yourself.............besides that, you don't even want to know what's going on in the back of my mind..........

Welcome to the group. We look forward to getting to know you and corrupting you. Glad to hear that things have gone so well and we look forward to your input. Just keep your niggles to yourself.

Hugs. Janet

 

[hensylee]

Mornin, Jambo - welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are getting on very well. We welcome all questions; if we don't have an answer, we will get one - or failing that, we certainly have opinions.

Salt raises your blood pressure and that's why your dr doesn't want you to use it. I cut way back on mine years ago. My brother's bp was way down; his dr suggested he add a bit of salt to raise it. It worked.

Today is Independence Day here in the U.S. - one of our biggest celebrations. There may not be a lot of responses to you until tomorrow, but hang with us and they will be along soon.

 

[Ross]

.............besides that, you don't even want to know what's going on in the back of my mind..........

Hugs. Janet

*Marks Janet down for possible mind evaluation*

 

[Nancy]

Welcome to the site! Ah, yes, the sodium issue. Joe has advanced conditions, and has to be almost totally sodium free. It's very hard at first, but I am able to cook excellent food for him. It took several years for me to come up with good recipes and good no sodium foods. I buy some online, and make all his breads and baked goods myself without salt. I have even learned to like lower sodium as well, even though I can add it at the table.

I would say that it takes about 2-3 months to find low sodium palatable. But after that, you will find that food tastes cleaner and the salt doesn't overwhelm the actual taste of the food itself.

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome! I didn't find this site until I was 12 years post-op. Up until this discovery, I didn't know anyone who had a valve replacement, or was taking warfarin. It's a huge relief to know that there are a bunch of caring (slighly insane) people that have "been there, done that" and can relate first hand to my life as a "valver". We get all experiences here from many perspectives.

As a warfarin user, your best advocate in the world (no exageration here) is one of our members - Al Lodwick. If you haven't seen his web site, I recommend you go visit it and bookmark it for further use. www.warfarinfo.com Al's knowledge and help have given me so much more information (and more reliable information) than I've received from any medical profession in the last 14 years, when it comes to my warfarin usage.

 

[Marguerite53]

Jambo!

Jambo!

Well, hello. Or, Jambo (which is hello in Swahili -- I was in Tanzania for a vacation several years ago!). Welcome to this wonderful site. I am still in what we call the Waiting Room, don't know when my surgery will be with my moderate aortic stenosis, but having this community here is keeping me sane and informed (and amused!) while I wait.

Do ask questions, join in the banter and get to know us.

Marguerite

 

[Rain]

Nigggles and such...

Nigggles and such...

Ann,

Are you sure it's the 4th of July in Florida?? Cause it's only the 3rd here in Colorado.

Jamboesque,

We're all about swaping 'niggle' stories!! Welcome to the forum!

 

[Debrinha GT]

Another Scot!

Another Scot!

Welcome to the greatest thing on Earth since sliced bread! This site!!LOL!! Wow, talk about praising!! Anyway, I only found this site after my third mitral valve replacement, but well, with the fourth in store within a couple of years, I can safely say that I'm very happy I've found this such wonderful support group. By the way, I'm Brazilian but my husband Robert is from Glasgow. I've been to Edinburgh and I got some pics taken at the castle and the park next to it, but that was twenty years ago!! We nearly went back there to live last year but for reasons out of our control, we didn't. We talked to my mother-in-law today, she lives in Ayrshire. Well, hope to see you around.
Débora

 

[Jamboesque]

Thanks for the welcome, guys.

Hensylee : “Independence Day” – Ah! That’s when Will Smith, Bill Pullman & Jeff Goldblum Save the World! Or have I got the wrong end of the stick.

Marguerite53 : Well Spotted. 5 Marks except its not and neither is it a reference to the French for ham. It is I’m afraid, more to do with the football (soccer) team I support the Heart of Midlothian FC. TomTom, if he were to visit, here he would know where I come from on this.

As I said earlier I had no pre-conception about what was to befall me.
When my cardiologist listened to my heart and heard a distinct murmur and asked ‘How long have you had that?’ and I go ‘Heart murmur, what?’ ‘We need do to more tests’ he says. Echocardiogram.
After the test he came out with a classic Good News/Bad News scenario. ‘When I listened to your heart I reckoned you could have two things wrong, hence the echo, one of which we can fix the other we can’t do much about. We can fix you.’ The next five minutes were a bit of a blur as you can imagine. I assume that the other thing would have been cardiomyopathy? Not sure I really want to know.

As you can understand when it came to explaining the mechanical/organic choice I may not have had all of what could laughingly call my mind tuned in ‘ Two things and we can fix yours’ was pretty much occupying my thoughts. However given that I was in otherwise rude health and could forward to another two score and ten years (being 46 at the time) he reckoned on advising me on the mechanical doodah and the subsequent rat poison ( which for me is a bit inconvenient and that’s it) would be the best way forward.

Apologies if I seem to have gone on a bit but being on nightshift gives me a bit of time with unfettered Internet access.

PS I use Low sodium salt alternative on most things, but porridge without salt…….uuuuuuuuugh!!!

 

[pmenhenett]

Is salt really bad?

Is salt really bad?

I love salt but have reduced my use of it over the years because my children didn't like the taste. But I simply can't each french fries (chips) without salt! I've had a aorta valve replacement and a bypass due to genetic problems but never suffered from high blood pressure. Is salt that bad for you if you've never had high blood pressure?

 

[Ross]

I love salt but have reduced my use of it over the years because my children didn't like the taste. But I simply can't each french fries (chips) without salt! I've had a aorta valve replacement and a bypass due to genetic problems but never suffered from high blood pressure. Is salt that bad for you if you've never had high blood pressure?

It's not so much that it's bad for you, but we americans go way over board on it's use. If you have congestive heart failure, you really need to watch your salt intake or you could be setting yourself up for disaster. I have CHF and so far, my Cardio told me to continue using salt and not a substitute. This is fine by me. I hate the fake taste of the subs.