David Smith - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1322 days ago

Hello Heart Community - Here's a question for anyone that has had an On-x mechanical valve implanted or has to have their INR checked frequently. Does anyone ...Read more

Hello Heart Community - Here's a question for anyone that has had an On-x mechanical valve implanted or has to have their INR checked frequently. Does anyone do home testing AND go to a clinic regularly? I didn’t have a real good choice of valves seeing that I had to have an aneurysm repaired at the same time. I struggle with the frequency of time in between checks as far as once a week, once a month etc... I go once a week and it seems to be a crap shoot sometimes. I know it’s controlled by diet but that can change as time goes on. It’s been good for the last 6 weeks but jumped up to 3.7 today. Any suggestions? Thanks!

David Pearl I can't wait to hear more

Rita Savelis INR will go up and down. But it is okay to test once a month or more frequently . If you go outside y ... Read more

Rita Savelis INR will go up and down. But it is okay to test once a month or more frequently . If you go outside your range, then test again after a week and see how it goes. Then back to a month. A lot of things can affect INR (I never changed my diet), but usually you'll see that you end up taking a similar amount of meds. I have 2 mechanical valves and have been on coumadin for 6 years. It took me a year to relax. It's very hard at first. I hear you. Take care.

Marshall Rader Was wondering Dave if you're home testing ?? I really appreciate your post op !! Thanks

Marshall Rader Hi Dave , are you testing inr at home ?

Deepak Khanka Hi David, I hope you are feeling. In your post you mentioned that you didn’t have a good choice of ... Read more

Deepak Khanka Hi David, I hope you are feeling. In your post you mentioned that you didn’t have a good choice of valve. Wondering what do you mean ? On x is the latest and tends to bring your INR almost in range. Considering precautions . Please advise

David Smith Marshall- no I’m not home testing. last Friday though my INR was 2.0. Right where it needs to be. ... Read more

David Smith Marshall- no I’m not home testing. last Friday though my INR was 2.0. Right where it needs to be. Brussels sprouts and broccoli work wonders. Deepak- my surgeon recommended the onx. As a mechanical engineer, that choice made perfect sense especially since it has the built in ascending aorta portion. I don’t know if it affects the INR or not but I take a baby aspirin every day to protect the valve

David Smithposted a journal

1347 days ago

Rose Madura, Lynn Loudermilk, Mike Ridenour and 3 others reacted to this

Going in this morning for a three week follow up! This is common to follow up on some patients. I think bc of my history. I feel great today. My wife and I ...Read more

Going in this morning for a three week follow up! This is common to follow up on some patients. I think bc of my history. I feel great today. My wife and I are going to eat breakfast and walk three blocks to the hospital and back when I’m done. Walking is definitely the best therapy.

Mike Ridenour Hope good news David. We stayed at Holiday Inn when there and my wife walked every day. I did a coupl ... Read more

Mike Ridenour Hope good news David. We stayed at Holiday Inn when there and my wife walked every day. I did a couple times until surgery. Never been a walker until now, getting accustomed to it. Have a great day, looks like nice one!

David Smith Yep that is where we stayed. Nice place for the $$. The shuttle was great. It was brutally cold that ... Read more

David Smith Yep that is where we stayed. Nice place for the $$. The shuttle was great. It was brutally cold that couple weeks. I felt horrible for Texas and the other southern states that are not equipped. I wish I could have helped as I have friends down there.

David Smith Received a great bill of health. They don’t want to see me again for another year! Now I just see m ... Read more

David Smith Received a great bill of health. They don’t want to see me again for another year! Now I just see my regular cardiologist every 3 months.

Great news David. Continued good health and recovery. God bless you

Mike Ridenour Awesome news David.

David Smithposted a journal

1356 days ago

Joseph Heinzmann, Rose Madura, Shannon Gray and 3 others reacted to this

It’s been two weeks now since my on-x mechanical valve was implanted and the aneurysm is gone. So is the afib. I can breathe so much easier now and have ...Read more

It’s been two weeks now since my on-x mechanical valve was implanted and the aneurysm is gone. So is the afib. I can breathe so much easier now and have a peace of mind that things will be back to normal.

Mike Dotson That is so inspiring to hear. I go for my AVR on Tuesday and I’m hoping for a similar outcome- no m ... Read more

Mike Dotson That is so inspiring to hear. I go for my AVR on Tuesday and I’m hoping for a similar outcome- no more afib and “peace of mind that things will be back to normal”. Reading this give me some hope.