information is power

[stinger]

Just a note to introduce myself (sort of) and to thank all the regular posters and not-so regular posters for providing me with considerable solace just through the sheer volume of info that is passed back and forth around here.

I'm 37 and just had my congenital (and heavily stenosed) bicuspid valve diagnosed and replaced (along with an ascending aortic graft) in the space of 1 week I was definitely one of those folks that 'never goes to the doctor.' I thought I had a case of lingering bronchitis...

I also got to bring home a CRT-D device on my left shoulder as I had complete heart block that did not resolve itself while I was in the hospital.

My EF was about 20% pre-surgery. I'm back to Duke on Tuesday to get my first post-surgery echo and and CPX (I was 3 weeks post-op on last Friday).
I feel OK for the most part: the attendant stuff (gout from the Lasix and a raging hemorrhoid) are my biggest complaints. I'm trying to walk some every day (1.5 miles yesterday on the track), and can climb the many stairs in my home pretty easily.

Reading tales of people who have been living with valvular disease for years and the excellent advocacy of home warfarin testing I've seen here have helped to keep me sane. Thanks to you all.

 

[alpha 1]

coughing

coughing

just a note to tell you hi, and i dont go to doctors either, but i always took my son though, but he still had a bicuspid valve that no one detected until it was really bad, no symptoms. so let me know how you get along for we to are monitering, surgery will be 2 weeks on wednesday. it is funny how you go along thinking everything is ok cuz you feel ok, then just one day it hits like all of a sudden you have chest pain or something weird, then you are hit with this. will include you in our prayers. take care.
alpha 1

 

[hensylee]

happy to know how much VR has helped. It is true that you can find stuff here that doctors don't think to tell you or maybe don't even know. Hope you get all the kinks worked out. Congratulations on your succssful surgery. Blessins.........

 

[WayneGM]

Thanks for introducing yourself. Welcome to the VR community and the other side of the mountain. Best wishes for a speedy and uneventful recovery.

 

[Cooker]

Wecome to the zoo.....wishing you a smooth recovery.

 

[Phyllis]

Glad you joined us now and wishing you an uneventful recovery.

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome! I'm glad you found us and wish you an uneventful recovery.

I'm sure you are still adjusting to it all and it probably still has a very surreal feel to it.

I noticed that you received a mechanical. When you get time be sure to read the stickies at the top of the Anticoagulation Forum and view the videos in the one link. Don't hesitate to ask questions here.

 

[Jkm7]

Welcome. Very happy you found us.

Hope your echo shows your surgery was totally successful and you have a smooth recovery.

Let us know how you are doing.

My surgery was six weeks ago and my kindly cardio let me wait for a bit more healing before scheduling my first post op echo. He knows my chest is still quite sore.