Dave Walters - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

439 days ago

40 yr old male, wasn't feeling the best back in January, went for regular checkup/bloodwork. PCP heard a heart murmur, had an echo cardiogram and found a bi-cuspid ...Read more

40 yr old male, wasn't feeling the best back in January, went for regular checkup/bloodwork. PCP heard a heart murmur, had an echo cardiogram and found a bi-cuspid aortic valve, never knew I had this. After the cardiac MRI found severe regurgitation the cardiologist sent me to the surgeon who ended up replacing the valve with a mechanical ON-X. Curious if anyone around my age who has had the same experience. How has life changed for you? Thanks

I often think of how I felt before my surgery and really what my mind/gut was telling me. I never felt like this and told both the cardiologist and surgeon I feel like we don’t have time to waste here and they both agreed based on all of my results. That whole go with your gut saying bought me a new outlook on life and blessed everyday my feet hit the floor.

Jeff Williams I'm 39 and just got an On-X for the same reason. I've known about it since I was 18, but still the sa ... Read more

Jeff Williams I'm 39 and just got an On-X for the same reason. I've known about it since I was 18, but still the same timeline. Not quite 3 months from surgery but I've already noticed a big increase in energy and stamina.

Dave Walters Wow - very similar here. I had my surgery 7/3 so I'm 3 months out now and feeling good. Getting back ... Read more

Dave Walters Wow - very similar here. I had my surgery 7/3 so I'm 3 months out now and feeling good. Getting back into the gym, just adjusting to more cardio and lighter weights/higher reps.

Dave Walters Nice videos - I hear mine ticking all the time, so does my wife and 4 kids (when it's quiet, haha)

Jeff Williams My kids can hear me from a mile away, I'm not a good hide-and-seeker now lol. I'm still going slower ... Read more

Jeff Williams My kids can hear me from a mile away, I'm not a good hide-and-seeker now lol. I'm still going slower than I'd like to for rehab, but that's because my heart rate is still elevated. I run most days and I started back with some yoga yesterday.

Jeff Williams Thanks on the videos. It's a good way for me to journal and hopefully pass along a nugget or two to ... Read more

Jeff Williams Thanks on the videos. It's a good way for me to journal and hopefully pass along a nugget or two to encourage others.

Thomas Brusstar I had a mitral valve repair 5 years ago. Afterwards my son (13 at the time) revealed that he always ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar I had a mitral valve repair 5 years ago. Afterwards my son (13 at the time) revealed that he always liked the sound of my heart when he leaned against me watching TV or whatever, and that he didn't like the new heart sound as much. The repaired valve (still my own valve) sounds too much like soldiers marching rather and the peaceful, swooshy seaside surf of a failing mitral valve. I'll take the fixed one, thanks.

Klara Čičić Haha Thomas, that last one is a nice and true description. I had mitral valve repair a year ago and m ... Read more

Klara Čičić Haha Thomas, that last one is a nice and true description. I had mitral valve repair a year ago and my life changed for the better :) I know it's not nearly like having a mechanical valve, but repaired heart is serving me well, I feel healthier, I am cycling a lot and am not out of breath as easily as before.

Luke Taylor Dave, similar to you and Jeff, I’m 36 and just had my aortic valve replaced with ON-X mechanical. I ... Read more

Luke Taylor Dave, similar to you and Jeff, I’m 36 and just had my aortic valve replaced with ON-X mechanical. I didn’t know about it until a physical earlier this year. I’m not far enough removed from surgery (7 wks) to see a difference, except for these #$%! beta blockers slowing me down and tiring me out.

Dave Walters A little over 4 months from surgery and I just completed a Girls on the Run 5K with my middle daughte ... Read more

Dave Walters A little over 4 months from surgery and I just completed a Girls on the Run 5K with my middle daughter, what a great feeling!

Dave Walters My INR range is down to 1.5-2 and I stayed at 2 for my first 4 week gap test

Dave Walters Im 6 months out from surgery , does anyone else have an at home INR tester they use or just go every ... Read more

Dave Walters Im 6 months out from surgery , does anyone else have an at home INR tester they use or just go every 4 weeks? Im curious and may look into one of these, just to randomly test between the 4 week gap or after eating something . Thanks

also does everyone’s new range drop to 1.5-2 ? As a target

Luke Taylor Congrats on 6 months Dave! I have the at home INR tester and I've been using it the past 7 weeks. Rig ... Read more

Luke Taylor Congrats on 6 months Dave! I have the at home INR tester and I've been using it the past 7 weeks. Right now the strips are covered by insurance so there's no cost to me, once my deductible starts over I'll probably send the equipment back since it's too expensive. It has been helpful to get INR spot checks once a week, my target range is the same, 1.5-2.0 for On-X

Dave Walters This is good information to have , I’m looking into what insurance covers and what costs I would ha ... Read more

Dave Walters This is good information to have , I’m looking into what insurance covers and what costs I would have. But in the same boat I just want to know more if my levels go up or down and how quick. Since consistency is the key

Thanks