Hi John
That has been some rd you have travelled on. Glad you are ok and your heart is doing well.
I'm in the process of loosing a bit of weight myself before ...Read more
Hi John
That has been some rd you have travelled on. Glad you are ok and your heart is doing well.
I'm in the process of loosing a bit of weight myself before my op in a few month time. Cutting down a little on everything goes a long way. Hopefully a transplant will be found soon.
Keep positive and thank you for sharing take care
Wow John! Some stressful times for you!! Glad your heart is still going strong!! That's always good to hear! I too am dealing with my overweightness. Just had ...Read more
Wow John! Some stressful times for you!! Glad your heart is still going strong!! That's always good to hear! I too am dealing with my overweightness. Just had my second OHS 4 months ago and I weigh 40 lbs more this time . Made recovery much more difficult this time too . I'm glad you will be focusing on yourself. And I'm sure you will find a way that works for you and lose weight ! And I'm praying that your lady gets that transplant very soon !! Be very kind to yourself !!! Thank you for posting after all this time . Best wishes for you and your lady !!!
Way to go with tackling the speed bumps in your life! It's been 3 yrs for me also and I still think about those of you who had your surgeries around the same ...Read more
Way to go with tackling the speed bumps in your life! It's been 3 yrs for me also and I still think about those of you who had your surgeries around the same time.
Hang in there, John. May God continue to bless you with strength & a loving heart.
Sheila Garrison - Apple Valley, CA posted a note for john that says:
Hi, John
It\'s good to read your current posting & know you\'re staying healthy.
It caused me to realize that I\'m six weeks away from my 2 yr anniversary. ...Read more
Hi, John
It\'s good to read your current posting & know you\'re staying healthy.
It caused me to realize that I\'m six weeks away from my 2 yr anniversary. Like having a root canal done - having the issue of it - knowing it needs to be done - stressing about it & the pain. Once it\'s done - on with life.
Take care my desert friend!
Hi John
I had my mechanical aortic valve installed, Dacron graft to repair aneurysm and one bypass at Mayo clinic MN April 27 2009. When my cardiologist found ...Read more
Hi John
I had my mechanical aortic valve installed, Dacron graft to repair aneurysm and one bypass at Mayo clinic MN April 27 2009. When my cardiologist found out I had never had a colonoscopy he had it scheduled for my six month checkup. This was just a screening so I stayed on the warfarin. They didn\'t find any polyps but they did find an ulcer which they were able to biopsy and determine it was from the daily baby aspirin. They stopped the aspirin and did another colonoscopy six months later to check. This time they had my coumiden clinic guide me through the bridging process. I stopped the coumiden and then gave myself lovenox shots in the fat layer on my stomach twice a day until my INR came back up into range after the colonoscopy. I am not a fan of needles but they are so fine it was no big thing. My coumidin clinic did an excellent job of guiding me through it. The colonoscopy was the best sleep I ever had. They say you are awake for it but don\'t remember it either time. All I remember was
a great nap. It turned out great and the ulcer was all healed up and I don\'t use aspirin anymore.
I was 58 when I had the surgery. I had dropped 100 lbs. ten years previously by dieting and running. My cardiologist said if I had not changed my life style when I did he
would of never met me. I have my own coagucheck machine and test my blood every week. Being a full-time farmer with an inconsistent work load and diet I still bounce all over my range. I try to eat to match my INR reading. In the last year I did three triathlons, nine races from three to thirteen miles and one marathon. I still would like to do an ironman before I turn sixty five.
I also found that my faith was instrumental in getting through surgery. I went to my priest for the sacrament of healing(formerly last rights) before open heart surgery. It gave me a great calming and peace before surgery. I knew that I was ready for what ever the result was.
Now I try to make the best of these bonus years and promote charities to make this world a better place to be.
Lots of prayers and good luck
John O
john madonna Dear JOHN O,
Thank you so much for your response. It comforts me to know that it was relatively ea ... Read more
john madonna Dear JOHN O,
Thank you so much for your response. It comforts me to know that it was relatively easy.
I had my surgery at 48 and need to lose the same 100 pounds you have....it has been 18 months since surgery and only down 15 from that time.
I pray to God that i will be so inspired and disciplined to lose the weight.
Once again you response is a blessing to me
God Bless
JOHN MADONNA
Las Vegas NV
john madonna Hi JOHN O...my endoscopy and colonoscopy went well...no polyps or ulcers...I follow up wit doctor in ... Read more
john madonna Hi JOHN O...my endoscopy and colonoscopy went well...no polyps or ulcers...I follow up wit doctor in April...thanks for your input before..it helped me a lot..
GOD BLESS
JOHN MADONNA
LAS VEGAS NV
Hi John, hope you are doing well. I am no longer on coumadin (I chose a tissue valve), however, I was on coumadin for several years for a condition that aspirin ...Read more
Hi John, hope you are doing well. I am no longer on coumadin (I chose a tissue valve), however, I was on coumadin for several years for a condition that aspirin is now used to treat. During that time, the only time I had trouble with my INR was when I had to come off of it for some procedure as the colonoscopy. It would take several adjustments to dose to get me back to a steady level, but once I did, it wasn\'t an issue. I did not have the option of the Lovenox, however, INR level for my condition was not as critical as it is for a mechanical valve. Good luck with the colonoscopy. Just be sure to get regular, maybe even daily INR\'s when you go back on the coumadin. Since you have anemia, I don\'t know how long they will want you to wait after the colonoscopy before resuming coumadin. If I recall correctly I resumed the day after the colonoscopy, but...I didn\'t have any polyps or need a biopsy, etc., so that may make a difference too. Will keep you in my prayers! Keep us updated.
Linda THE Tiger, aka Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12.
Hi John.
I am interested in the questions you ask, because I will probably need to have the same procedure before too long. I just turned 50 so I know the ...Read more
Hi John.
I am interested in the questions you ask, because I will probably need to have the same procedure before too long. I just turned 50 so I know the next time I meet with my Dr. he will want me to get one, but I\'m nervous since I am on Coumadin.
Please keep us informed about how it goes.
I wish I had answers to your questions, but I\'m asking them too.
blessings,
Kent
john madonna Hi Kent,
My colonoscopy and endoscopy are Wedensday March 6....what I can teel you so far is that my ... Read more
john madonna Hi Kent,
My colonoscopy and endoscopy are Wedensday March 6....what I can teel you so far is that my MAJOR fear was coming off the coumadin and starting LOUVENOX INJECTIONS...honestly the injections are painless....I have been doing them for two days now and should continue till next Saturday....although the injections are given in the bellybutton area and there is a lot of ugly bruising...
I will tell you how things went for me ...
God Bless
JOHN MADONNA
LAS VEGAS NV
john madonna Hi KENT.....colonscopy and endoscopy were EASY....in by 7 am out by 1000 am...the night before....dri ... Read more
john madonna Hi KENT.....colonscopy and endoscopy were EASY....in by 7 am out by 1000 am...the night before....drinking the "prep" and cleansing your insides...the drink is vile...you have to drink it all...half at 4 pm for 90 minutes and the rest at 1 am...its disgusting and of course you will use the toilet about 30 times...
Now post procedure I am back on coumadin and the bridge injections...the bruising is horrible from injections and this Monday will be my 3rd blood test in a week..NEED TO GET INR level back to a good level..this will be a challenge...but I have a follow up with doctor in April..so we shall see...GOD BLESS
JOHN MADONNA
LAS VEGAS NV
Hey John - glad you\'re doing so well. I was in your valve \"class\" and am also doing well. Watched the SeaHawk game - valve people seem to be everywhere. ...Read more
Hey John - glad you\'re doing so well. I was in your valve \"class\" and am also doing well. Watched the SeaHawk game - valve people seem to be everywhere.
Robin Fairchild