Juergen's Posts

I just finished my first week back to work, and it went without any problems. It felt like nothing has happened. I know that everyone recovers at a different speed - for me getting back to "normal" helps with recovery. I also had my follow-up visit with my surgeon, and everything was going very well, my lungs are clear, and all other values are good. I also feel great, have energy, can walk every day 5-7 miles, and I sometimes wonder just three weeks post surgery if I ever had surgery. I would rate myself at over 110% - my heart is performing better than before as I can climb any stairs/hill without limitation - and enjoy this a lot. I can't wait to be back on my bicycle, but I have to wait for another five weeks. My mechanical On-X valve is clicking away (I don't hear a thing, or maybe I have already learned to ignore any possible noise) and it seems my INR is stable, and my Coumadin dose (about 7 mg/day) is dialed in. I also purchased my Coagocheck XS meter and started testing myself (really easy) - very reassuring as it allows me to build confidence. I feel the anticoagulation clinic is redundant and a waste of time - so I will try to get out of there soon. Even after this very short period, I feel already that self-management is the way to go and will allow me to stay in range - which I cannot confirm for the anticoagulation clinic - they put me at the beginning for days on 2.5 mg - my INR tanked, and I had to take shots. I decided that cardiac rehab for me would not be necessary, and I will not pursue this. My surgeon told me that I am ok to drive after four weeks - so that would be the end of next week. It seems that some of you got different directions - maybe it is because of my partial/mini-sternotomy. BTW - I also looked into Cleveland Clinic but then learned that an experienced surgeon started May this year at OHSU, and I decided that surgery in Portland, Oregon became a viable option. Based on my personal experience I can confirm that this was the right decision, and I enjoyed the five days in the hospital just 25 minutes away from home and the visits from my family and friends.