James Harris - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

2527 days ago

Andria Pugh, Meredith Bray, Barbara Wood and 2 others reacted to this

Had my year and a half echo test done last week and everything is A-OK. "See you in a year" was a sweet sound to hear. I've dropped 23 pounds since the surgery ...Read more

Had my year and a half echo test done last week and everything is A-OK. "See you in a year" was a sweet sound to hear. I've dropped 23 pounds since the surgery and there was not a single "high" or "out of range" from my extensive blood work. I feel blessed. Hope your results are as good as mine have been.

Robert McElrath Outstanding! I hope to hear the same when I get to a year and a half

James Harrisposted a journal

2856 days ago

Chris Vereb, Patti Talbot, Cathleen Weed and 1 other reacted to this

After 5 months I finally took matters into my own hands and stopped taking the Lisinopril which I had taken for several years. Guess what? Within 3 days the ...Read more

After 5 months I finally took matters into my own hands and stopped taking the Lisinopril which I had taken for several years. Guess what? Within 3 days the cough was gone. My BP? Believe it or not, it has fallen and is now around 110/70 and the only think I am taking is the HCTZ diuretic. So after my valve replacement, this is the only med I am on. Of course the cardiologist is grumbling but he admits I did the right thing. There is hope!

Cathleen Weed Yay!!! I had a feeling it was medication related...especially that ACE Inhibitor!!

Joanna Prisiajniouk Super!

Lilly Black Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and take matters in your own hands. I feel best when I have cont ... Read more

Lilly Black Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and take matters in your own hands. I feel best when I have control over my own body and mind...as long as you are making wise decisions, healthy diet and exercise, taking control is the best way to go. I'm happy for you! Congratulations!

Rose Madura Hi James, sometimes you have to say, Enough is Enough. we have all been there. Glad your echo resul ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi James, sometimes you have to say, Enough is Enough. we have all been there. Glad your echo result was positive. love Arizona, Grand Canyon.

James Harrisposted an update

2877 days ago

I previously mentioned a persistent cough as a long lasting side effect from my valve replacement surgery. After 5 follow up doctor visits and 5 months post ...Read more

I previously mentioned a persistent cough as a long lasting side effect from my valve replacement surgery. After 5 follow up doctor visits and 5 months post op, the cough is still there in various degrees of severity. They had put me on atorvastatin after the surgery. 40 mg. Yesterday I read that it can cause throat irritation and coughing. Does anyone know of this and could this be the lost link to getting rid of this cough? Nothing like coughing after having your chest split open to make your day...and night.

Cathleen Weed I would get off of it ( but find out how to taper down your dose, don't just quit cold turkey ) and s ... Read more

Cathleen Weed I would get off of it ( but find out how to taper down your dose, don't just quit cold turkey ) and see if the cough subsides. That's the easiest way to start the process of elimination. Have you had your cholesterol checked again? I really feel like you can manage yourself through diet and exercise. Lipitor isn't kind to your body at all. The other drug that causes a persistent dry cough in patients are the ACE Inhibitor blood pressure meds. It's a common side effect for those. Are you on one by chance? If not, I would tell your doctor you are going off the Lipitor. It's such an unnecessary drug that makes the pharmaceutical companies millions each year. You can absolutely manage your cholesterol through diet and exercise...which will also improve the quality of your life overall and help you live longer as your healthiest self. It's a win/win. :)

Petey Bello I had a dry persistent cough & thought it was from the breathing tube. Then they told me I had fluid/ ... Read more

Petey Bello I had a dry persistent cough & thought it was from the breathing tube. Then they told me I had fluid/infection in my lungs a couple weeks later (so I thought maybe it was from that). My cardiologist said some of the meds can cause a cough. I took cough drops to help, I keep them by my bed as the cough was worse at night (& still do sometimes, the cough is getting less). I would hug my chest every time I had to cough ...Good luck!

James Harrisposted a journal

2912 days ago

I had aortic valve stenosis surgery on Dec. 29, 4 months ago today. My recovery has been uneventful and quick. I am just about back to normal, but better than ...Read more

I had aortic valve stenosis surgery on Dec. 29, 4 months ago today. My recovery has been uneventful and quick. I am just about back to normal, but better than before. The only issue is that I developed a cough a couple of weeks after the surgery and still have it today. For the most part it is a dry cough but when it gets more severe I do cough up a thick plug of yellowish to whitish flim. I have been back to the cardio doc twice and to a GP 3 times and no one knows what is causing it. Antibiotics did nothing. Cough medicine like Nyquil helped a little but only temporarily. It feels like the point of irritation is just at the point where the trachea meets the throat. Could this have been caused by the breathing tube they inserted?

Ashley Molyneaux I've heard that the breathing tube can cause this issue. Another thing to consider would be any medi ... Read more

Ashley Molyneaux I've heard that the breathing tube can cause this issue. Another thing to consider would be any medicines you are on. Did they put you on an ACE-Inhibitor after surgery (Enalapril)? That's known to cause a cough. I'm assuming any type of heart failure has been ruled out, which probably means it's either from the breathing tubes or medicine. Hope you get it figured out quickly!

Patti Talbot Me too! GP and cardio both say its viral and unrelated to the surgery. Claritin is helping.

Kate Watson I have a dry cough that mainly keeps me up at night. Are you on new meds with after surgery? As Ashle ... Read more

Kate Watson I have a dry cough that mainly keeps me up at night. Are you on new meds with after surgery? As Ashley said, I know that some of them can cause coughs. In my case I swear it's the amiodorone which I hope to get off of eventually.

Christine Oliva Yes it could be from the breathing tube. I had a cough but was able to get rid of by month two, but w ... Read more

Christine Oliva Yes it could be from the breathing tube. I had a cough but was able to get rid of by month two, but was told it could take as long as 6 months. You checked with the doctor that it is not lung or oxygen related so that is good. Have you tried cough drops?
It helped me, especially Halls for sore throat and cough. Good luck and God Bless.