S
spillo
Hello Everyone,
I am 10 days post op from having a Magna Edwards Bovine Pericardium Valve installed by Dr. Cosgrove at the Cleveland Clinic.
I am doing excellent. I had a minimal invasive incision that is the length of my little finger, shorter than a business card. I had a problem with bleeding however as a sternal wire ripped my pec muscle after closing. I had to go back to the OR to stop the bleeding. By this time however I had lost a little over 40% of my blood, just short of needing transfused. So I am anemic and more tired than I would normally be. They said bleeders are only 5% but I told them for me it was 100%. (just kidding). So although anemia makes me tired, I cannot tell my heart was even touched and I am pain free.
I am only taking 81mg aspirin once per day. I also take a beta blocker to lower my heart rate for the first month.
Although Dr. Cosgrove alone does 4 valves per day I was only the 3rd Magna valve CCF has put in. After asking my cardiologist at the clinic I asked Cosgrove if he was comfortable with it. He said yes and here I am.
It is supposed to be able to provide 5-10 more years of use over the Perimount valve. This brings it into the 20-25 yr. range.
The Magna valve is supposed to replace the Perimount as it becomes available. Of course the big medical centers get them first and I suppose Cosgrove gets about whatever he wants.
If you are headed for Cleveland by the way you will want to stay in the Intercontinental SUITES ( not Hotel ). If you stay one week a room with 2 beds, fold out couch, microwave, refrig. etc is $104 per night. Parking there is cheaper than anywhere and you will only need to walk across 89th street to be inside the clinic. It is a 4 star place. I wouldn't think of anything else unless this is unaffordable. They also have guest homes you share with families for much less cost.
best of the best.....
Spillo
I am 10 days post op from having a Magna Edwards Bovine Pericardium Valve installed by Dr. Cosgrove at the Cleveland Clinic.
I am doing excellent. I had a minimal invasive incision that is the length of my little finger, shorter than a business card. I had a problem with bleeding however as a sternal wire ripped my pec muscle after closing. I had to go back to the OR to stop the bleeding. By this time however I had lost a little over 40% of my blood, just short of needing transfused. So I am anemic and more tired than I would normally be. They said bleeders are only 5% but I told them for me it was 100%. (just kidding). So although anemia makes me tired, I cannot tell my heart was even touched and I am pain free.
I am only taking 81mg aspirin once per day. I also take a beta blocker to lower my heart rate for the first month.
Although Dr. Cosgrove alone does 4 valves per day I was only the 3rd Magna valve CCF has put in. After asking my cardiologist at the clinic I asked Cosgrove if he was comfortable with it. He said yes and here I am.
It is supposed to be able to provide 5-10 more years of use over the Perimount valve. This brings it into the 20-25 yr. range.
The Magna valve is supposed to replace the Perimount as it becomes available. Of course the big medical centers get them first and I suppose Cosgrove gets about whatever he wants.
If you are headed for Cleveland by the way you will want to stay in the Intercontinental SUITES ( not Hotel ). If you stay one week a room with 2 beds, fold out couch, microwave, refrig. etc is $104 per night. Parking there is cheaper than anywhere and you will only need to walk across 89th street to be inside the clinic. It is a 4 star place. I wouldn't think of anything else unless this is unaffordable. They also have guest homes you share with families for much less cost.
best of the best.....
Spillo
We registered Dick's valve with Edwards today and should be getting a card in the mail soon with model and serial number - it will be interesting to see if that sheds any light on the subject.
