Shannon's Posts

Diagnosis: Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Aortic Aneurysm

Member Since: March 29, 2016

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My Posts

Shannon Gray posted an update
1 hour ago (June 30, 2026)
Wow… it’s been a hot minute since I’ve written a post. I still check each weekly’s news and updates. Life, well, has been life. I’m 10 years out since my surgery. About 5 years ago a newer aneurysm was found and I’d been seeing my cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic every... Read more.
Shannon Gray posted an update
4 years ago (March 29, 2022)
Hello my heart warriors! I'm grabbing a few moments and wanted to reach out after a very big year full of change. I honestly don't know where to start. I celebrated 6 years since my aorta repair and aortic valve repair Feb. 22. I often think back to the long... Read more.
Shannon - It's great to hear from you. Happy belated anniversary!!! Sounds like you have a full, exciting life with your daughters - good for you! Best of luck with your education and continued success in your new career. All the best!❤️
Shannon, glad to see a post from you. You are am amazing woman and a string heart warrior. ❤️
So good to hear from you, Shannon! Hang in there, friend! You can move mountains! 😘💜
Anonymous, heart valve patient
Anonymous
So glad to hear from you Shannon, you are a strong woman and have come a long ways. Congratulations! I keep you in my prayers every day and often wondered how you were doing. Great post, don't stop writing when you can. God bless you
Shannon Gray posted an update
4 years ago (September 7, 2021)
Let's talk tattoos… at almost 48 years old, after experiencing so many challenges these past several years, I'd like to get a discreet tattoo. It would be my first. I am terrified of endocarditis. Granted, I had valance repair and not replaced, I am always anxious of the possibility of... Read more.
👍 🥰 Adam Pick, Kimberly Eisenhut and reacted to this
I got mine before the surgery because taking any blood thinner and tattoo Is a no no. I got a beauty on my forearm. It says oldsmobile in the correct logo
Love it! And smart to have done it before surgery. I'm 6 years out from aneurysm replacement and aortic valve repair.
My only regret was i also wanted an oldsmobile rocket with red flames on my other arm which i should have done then but alas and alack, my valve surgery and eliquis got in the way. But, there is a glimmer of hope if my a fib was beaten by... Read more.
And by the way, no discreet. I want pictures so display it prominently. Lol.
Shannon, i posted my tattoo in my pictures for you to be jealous over, It will be my identifying feature when they find me in the trash someday.
Richard, you kept us all young!! Shannon, enjoy whatever tattoo you might get!
I so want a tattoo too but anticoagulants make it all more difficult. I hear one needs to use much more ink because one bleeds more. And the tattoo artist needs to be familiar with this type of client (a bleeder). And cardiologists will shake their heads. So I have... Read more.
I returned to my tattoo parlor to discuss another tattoo after reading shannons post. Why? Because i want that oldsmobile rocket . He said a couple of things: blood thinners cause the ink to run causing a blurry outline and he would be nervous about doing it. Keep in mind,... Read more.
Any information on endocarditis, Richard? I just take a baby aspirin, so I'm not too worried about the bleeding… just bacteria causing damage to the heart.
Shannon, i am no expert of course but my tattoo guy was very cleanliness conscious. He even had an autoclave machine for his instruments of torture. Lol. I would be more concerned about bacteria in your mouth than your discreet location. Hopefully not too discreet. I enjoy showing off my... Read more.
An afterthought. Before you get your teeth cleaned i assume you take an antibiotic? Can you do that before a tattoo visit? I am told that most bacteria that enter your body from a cut or scratch were already on your skin to begin with. If you worry about every... Read more.
Richard you are a breath of fresh air. Thanks for being here. And Shannon, you are amazing.

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