Carmen \"Dixie\"'s Guestbook

Hello Dixie Love reading your journal. I am also a retired nurse but a few years younger (71) and I love your attention to detail. That\'s a trait we never unlearn. Great news on all fronts. A good lesson in being our own health advocate. I just returned from a vacation that included a trip to Yosemite Nat. Park where I was able to walk around at 6000 feet, something I would not have been able to do before my March surgery. My cardiologist was not happy for me to go higher that 3000 feet as they found some fluid in my lung last week (7 months post op)! But I did fine. You are an inspiration. Greetings from FL. Stay healthy. Fran

Good Job Ma\'am, your story always inspired me. I\'m very glad to read that... how I wish I will stop my coumadin but I had mechanical valve that I will take it for rest of my life... pass it to me... hahahha.. God Bless Ma\'am! congrats!

Hi Dixie, Congrats on your first birthday for your new heart!! I noticed your first entry was on May 6, which was the day after my AVR surgery. I am glad to hear how well your journey has gone. I hope you continue to do very well and enjoy your celebration tonight. Best regards, Mark Keller, TX

Congratulations on your one year anniversary. It\'s worth celebrating and I hope you did. Have you considered getting your own home testing INR machine? Medicare will pay for it and it is so much easier to test at home with a finger stick. You are an inspiration and you are also a selfless person with your volunteering. It\'s difficult to worry about yourself when you\'re helping other people. Keep posting, I love to read about how well you are doing. Greetings from FL. Fran

Thanks Dixie for your note. I think that for the most part nursing background has always helped me, especially being proactive and finding the medical providers that I feel listen, and I trust with all my heart (no pun intended) Interseting about MAZE because my cardiologist highly recommended to the surgeon and surgeon felt that because it is not \"always\" successful and his goal as he explained so clearly was to get me off the table alive due to length of surgery. Obviously that was due to 3 X opening of chest and heart and lots of scar tissue. I have been fortunate that my cardiologist is very supportive when I report the problems with the beta blockers etc. What is the issue with your tissue valve? Susan V

Hi Carmen I am fairly new 60 y/o 3 X open heart valve survivor with past nursing experience. INR and Coumadin with now a ON-X mechanical mitral valve I too am up and down INR levels 7 wks postop today. I jumped in 5 days from 3.1 to 4.5. I currently have HHC with NP proctocl if over 4.0 blood dra lab 4.1 so we are once again 5.0 daily 2 days 7.5. Will have my own machine after 3 months of therapy. No brusing, only huge hematoma on hand with pressure drsg for 24 hrs after last blood draw with success. I enjoyed your journal Susan VandenBussche

Hi Dixie, I take 15mg of Coumadin 5 days a week and 20mg 2 days. My INR seems to stay on the high side 4.0 and has reached 4.7 twice. I have a home test kit, so I can check my INR frequently and stay on top of it. What dosage do you take? If you want to email me you can reach me at lori_sobrero@yahoo.com. Good luck! Lori