Living with a Mechanical Heart Valve: Click.Tick.Thump. Love It!
Artificial Heart Valve Surgery & Living with Warfarin: UK Info Support Group
John French's Discussions
UK Annual Travel Insurance
10 Replies
I wanted to poll the forum for a bit of advice.... I currently have an annual travel insurance policy with Direct Line and they were OK to cover me for everything medical with the exception of my…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by John French Jan 20.
Any advice pre-operation ?
2 Replies
Hi - I am new to this site as I am scheduled for my aorta valve replacement surgery next week. I am also having the aorta root replaced as well as I have an aneurysm of the ascending aorta. I have…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by John French Oct 4, 2011.
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John French replied to Bobby Thompson Jr.'s discussion 'If you could do it over again..'
Bobby - like you my failing aortic valve and aorta root aneurysm was picked up through a random health check and I had 2 years of checks before meeting the threshold for surgery.
I think the best advice I can give to you is to keep a positive…
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'
I have steadily increased does to 9.5 mg now. Every time I increase the does INR stays stable for a couple of weeks and then falls. Does is increased and the cycle repeats. It really does seems that my body gets used to the warfarin so metabolises…
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'
Madeleine - once you find what works for you in getting the blood onto the strips it should be more straightforward - hopefully. My anti Coag clinic returns calls when I leave messages on their answerphone.
The INR levels are a bit of a mystery…
John French updated their profile
John French replied to Leslie Champion's discussion 'New to here. Awaiting surgery for replacement Aortic valve.'
Luckily I avoided any vein harvesting just the artificial aortic graft was needed in my case.
Sounds like you are making good progress though - so keep heading forward.
Regards
John
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'
I did the same when I tried the side of the finger - I kept increasing the lancet setting and still didn't get enough blood onto the strip.
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'
Madeleine - I have my lancet set to 2 but probably could get away with less to be honest.
I found that using the finger tip rather than the side was better in two ways - it seems to be more reliable in getting the right amount of blood and it is…
John French replied to Curtis Huebner's discussion 'New to here'
Curtis - this thread has a few personal accounts of the procedure and the stay in hospital which you might n
Find…
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Home testing - getting a good sample'
Madeleine - when I first tried taking a sample I followed the advice in the Coaguchek manual/ DVD and pricked my finger in the side as suggested.I wasted two or more strips as I never got enough blood to satisfy the test. I tried deeper and deeper…
John French replied to Leslie Champion's discussion 'New to here. Awaiting surgery for replacement Aortic valve.'
Les - great to see you are improving day by day.
I went through my 4 month post op milestone yesterday and still get the occasional ache from the operation scar but 6 - 8 weeks seemed to be the time when it was the most sensitive for me. Do you use…
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Warfarin - Low INR'
That is great news
John French replied to Mark's discussion 'Newbie.'
I agree with Madeleine - even with private healthcare a surgeon won't do the procedure unless they think it is absolutely necessary. The point I was making about private healthcare was that you have more choice over consultations and getting…
John French replied to Mark's discussion 'Newbie.'
Mark - sounds like you have a lot going through your head right now.
As far as I am aware in the NHS it is the cardiologist and surgeon that decide when you have hit the thresholds for surgery. I waited 2 years before my surgery. When I was…
John French replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'
The Coaguchek XS machine direct from Roche is £299 (£100 discount on list price) in the UK. Looks like they have extended the discount into 2012. This was pretty much the same machine they used in my clinic (they had the Pro version)…
John French replied to Madeleine M's discussion 'Warfarin - Low INR'
Madeline - I have been on Warfarin for just over three months post the MHV surgery in October. I too have an ATS valve and the therapeutic range I was given on discharge from hospital was 3.0 to 4.0 - target 3.5. I did a bit of browsing on the…
John French replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'
Andrew,
I am in the UK - I didn't choose the ATS brand valve over the St Jude it was just the one my surgeon prefers to use. I haven't got experience of the other brands so difficult for me to compare noise levels. I can still hear it…
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- At 4:58pm on September 29, 2011,
Graeme said… Hi John
and welcome to the MHV Forum! Dont be afraid to jump right in here - we are all here to help you and one another! I look forward to seeing you on the forums soon..
cheers
Graeme Archer
Founder
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