Corona Virus & Heart Issues: Hope Everyone is Staying Home.

Same here - just my husband and me! I wish they'd figure out if ARBs are helpful or harmful for Covid! I'm continuing taking them (I take Valsartan) despite the controversy.....

Hi Bruce. Doing ok here South Dakota but like you don’t go anyplace. Besides trying to take care of my health worry about my kids and grandkids are still out there working. I got appts at mayo in June so hope I can get there. Aren’t supposed to peak here until mid June. Stay safe everyone. God is watching over us. Joan

@Sadota9, You sound like someone who make a really good neighbor. Thanks for your calm and for your wishes for us all to stay safe. Staying home and not beating the rush to get out when restrictions are lifted will be what I will be doing.

Hey Everyone,
Since I have a Man Made Aortic Heart Valve I have to to take Blood Thinners and need my Blood tested to make sure it is within the required "viscosity"(INR). I cancelled my INR monthly test(avoiding risky areas) for the end of March and figured I'd start to do the home test. I applied for it thru my insurance. Almost a week left and still nothing from the Insurance. I don't want to travel to Austin(the risky place) and have my Blood tested at the end of this month. Lots of virus cases there and it is unneeded risk. I've been in range with my INR for many months in a row. Hard to weigh the risk of travelling to a Hospital where the clinic is. My wife thinks I should have gone in March. Frustrating.

Bruce
Texas

Me, too. Staying home as much as possible no matter what other people are doing.

Hi, fellow Texan @ch246cf10, Thanks for your good wishes for us all.
Are you able to get through by phone or e-mail to your ins. company regarding approval for the INR home test? For those of us more vulnerable with serious health issues, the question of what risks to take in going for needed medical treatment is one that each of us has to determine individually. However, I appreciate your posts because I have been questioning the hypotheticals of when I might voluntarily risk the fears of more exposure in medical settings to seek needed care. It is a tough nut to crack and while I am not in a state of fear at this point, the question bears consideration.

Can your physician intercede with the ins. company on your behalf??? Best to you and all who depend on specific meds and labs to best manage conditions.

I travel from Iowa to Mayo in two weeks for open heart surgery: three valves replaced and an RCA bypass. Haven’t left the house since my return from Mayo on March 13. Trying my best to stay as healthy as possible for what promises to be a major assault on my body. I’ve lost sleep over the question “should I risk possible exposure to covid19 and go through with the surgery, or should I put it off and hope to live long enough to do it in the future?” A crystal ball would sure come in handy. Lacking that, I’ve decided to minimize my focus on hypotheticals and stick with my decision to trust Mayo. Tough times for sure...

hi inali @inali , you are right in deciding your surgery now in mayo hospital. there is no need to be scared, you should trust them, covid-19 has NO chance to get in the surgery room. I wish you all the best.
yoanne (Germany)

@inali I can certainly understand your weighing carefully the pros and cons of whether to risk heart surgery now or risk possible virus risks in the hospital. I imagine a great many of us are wishing for that crystal ball to help us make tough decisions now particularly. If you find a stockpile, feel free to share. Smiles I will be thinking of you and wish you continued courage as you prepare for your upcoming surgery. If you are like friends who have had recent surgeries, the one thing all seem to say is that they wish they'd had the surgery sooner.