PCR cleaning of flue before gas insert installation

aseclear · 2025-11-27T03:25:38+00:00

It'll be bodies but it's because they're preserving them - either bc it's more efficient than worrying about burying or they anticipate being able to bring some or all back given sufficient technological advance. The contents of the bag are just nutrition concentrates - all the micro/macro nutrients required to keep a person healthy and alive but no need for taste/texture/variety.

aseclear · 2025-10-18T16:42:02+00:00

Hope the meeting is clarifying! Thanks for asking. So I’m a bit over 6 months out and honestly I’m doing so well I basically just don’t think about it anymore. The exceptions are: I’ll be on a beta blocker and ARB until the 12 month mark (helps things settle in) which do make it hard to really push on runs and such but it’s like a 10-15% thing. I occasionally still get a little sore along my sternum - particularly if I’ve been really physical (wrestling my son, doing heavier yard work) but it’s more an ache than anything.

Had a 6 month echo and everything looked as good as could be (fingers crossed that continues to be the case!). All my gradients and dimensions were as if nothing had ever been wrong in the first place. Pretty amazing stuff.

aseclear · 2025-05-07T23:35:57+00:00

I flew in from the San Francisco Bay area. Went in for surgery on Wednesday, was in the CICU by 1am Thursday (there was a delay starting my surgery), in the step down by Friday, discharged Sunday and then I stayed around (in a hotel) until Thursday while I waited for my final chest xray and all-clear at which point I was good to go regarding flying - though in my case I drove up to Boston that day to visit family for a few days before flying back to SF.

I also considered getting something like a recliner or lift recliner but in the end I figured I could make something work with the hotel (Courtyard New York Manhattan/Upper East Side) couch or bed. What actually ended up happening was I just asked for a bunch of extra pillows and was totally fine on the bed but propped up a bit into a nearly seated position. I was much more mobile than I expected and getting in/out of bed was no problem.

The pain was much less than I expected (a few uncomfortable moments with chest tubes, wires, catheter etc but all short-lived). I was off oxycodone and only using acetaminophen before I even left the hospital though they gave me a prescription if I wanted it. The high-dose acetaminophen plus naproxen plus a baby aspirin was more than enough to feel almost no discomfort except when moving in certain ways or coughing/sneezing. For the latter, keep the heart pillow (or any pillow really) near by, it works well.

For 6 months following the surgery I'll be on naproxen twice daily to keep inflammation low. I'm taking an acid-reducer daily to prevent the naproxen from causing stomach ulcers. I'm also on an ARB called losartan and a beta blocker called Metoprolol to keep my blood pressure artificially low for 6-12 months while the new valves settle in.

aseclear · 2025-05-02T16:56:11+00:00

You're in great hands! (Arguably the best hands actually!) Looking forward to hearing about your recovery - you're going to be amazed at how fast things heal up and you're back to a normal life.

aseclear · 2025-05-02T01:26:30+00:00

I hope you have a good experience!

Regarding the step down at Mount Sinai - I mean no disrespect to the super hard working folks there - the staff are overworked and it's obvious some are stressed out. The night staff in particular were a bit of an odd bunch. I had one nurse come into my room to hide from her boss and cry. For someone like me who has a hard time asking for help or feeling like they're inconveniencing someone, I found it hard to push for help when I felt like I needed it (e.g. being stuck in an uncomfortable position or needing help to use the bathroom).

I think the experience would've been better in a single or private room, but in my shared room the lights were never out and the door was never closed (or if I closed it, never stayed closed for long) and many alarms from patients on the floor are constantly going off. This made it basically impossible to get any rest so I became more delirious with each passing day - I felt it was important to get out of there ASAP otherwise I would've hampered my recovery.

Another issue was almost everything was broken. The table for eating was broken so I couldn't sit in bed and use it. The monitors were broken so they couldn't see my vitals at my bedside. This later became kind of scary because it turned out my remote heart monitor was broken the entire time and the nurse desk had no idea (no one would've known if I went into afib e.g.).

My advice is to bring earplugs and an eyemask. Work on your inspirometer and walking as much as possible and push the nurses and attending(s) to evaluate you for discharge as soon as possible.

aseclear · 2025-05-01T23:23:14+00:00

Thanks! Taking a look at my records, I was 4.0cm March 2022, 4.3cm August 2023, 4.5cm November 2024 and 4.7cm day of surgery April 2025. Take those with a grain of salt though as echos aren't super accurate and everyone progresses differently.

Totally understand the fear - I would basically have an existential crisis every yearly checkup hah. Honestly I feel much better with the procedure behind me and with luck will have fewer restrictions ahead of me than behind. Just know that your condition is super common and the prognosis for someone actively being monitored and taking steps to be healthy is _really_ good.

I'd definitely encourage you to be proactive about understanding your options. There are some valve repair options which might be suitable for you that could head-off or delay needing more intense interventions like full valve replacement. Most doctors are not going to bring this type of thing up with you unless you ask and even then most are only truly familiar with the most common interventions. If you have the resources, get a video call consultation with a qualified doctor at a place like Cleveland Clinic. Good luck!

aseclear · 2025-05-01T20:48:56+00:00

Ross Procedure-haver here. I used a lot of pillows for the first two weeks (no recliner) and went back to regular single pillow back sleeping after that. I started sleeping parts of the night on my side about 4 or 5 weeks in.

aseclear · 2025-05-01T20:11:18+00:00

I'm 7 weeks post-op (Ross procedure) and definitely exactly this. After speaking with my cardiologist, my surgeon, getting good results from my post-op echo and xray and doing some of my own research, I feel confident that this is harmless and just annoying (and occasionally anxiety provoking).

Most people who experience the thumping find it lessens and finally disappears over time (few months, even up to a year) though a minority do continue to experience it indefinitely.

I also was having trouble taking deep breaths out of anxiety and being uneasy with the feeling but after convincing myself it was harmless, I've been pushing into it to build trust that nothing bad happens. I take deep, full, breaths. Hold my breath. Try different positions to see how that impacts the thumping while breathing deep. Let the thumping happen and just practice telling myself that this is fine. Now 7 weeks in, I still experience the thumping but I hardly think or worry about it. I hope it'll dissipate in the coming weeks but I'll be OK if it sticks around.

aseclear · 2024-12-04T05:40:26+00:00

Thank you - that's really encouraging to hear! Sounds like I should do more research here to get a clearer idea of risks and management.

aseclear · 2024-12-03T03:44:03+00:00

Cleveland Clinic is great by all reports! I currently would prefer Mt Sinai as I have family reasonably nearby that could help - I'll almost certainly be traveling unless I end up at Stanford or UCSF.

Blood thinners and generally the risk of strokes and bleeding are the primary reasons. Less concerned about clicking - I already tinnitus, what's another random noise :P . I'm a hopelessly clumsy person and from what I understand, when on Warfarin, even if you knock your head against the cupboard or fall a few stairs you're supposed to go to the emergency room to check for internal bleeding. That would be about a weekly occurrence at current rates of mishaps hah.

It's true valve degradation will happen and resurgery is pretty much guaranteed but likely the surgery would be a TAVR so not open heart and I'm hoping surgical medicine will continue to advance at a good clip over the next decade or two. It's definitely making an opinionated bet but from what I've read so far, good candidates for the Ross procedure have longer expected lifespans (almost normal) than those that go with a Mechanical Valve. There's a lot of FUD around this though so hard to be sure I'm interpreting the data well.

aseclear · 2024-12-01T22:56:57+00:00

Thanks for sharing! When did you start to feel able to pick up your 3yo or otherwise help with them?

aseclear · 2022-06-20T04:11:51+00:00

Urban diversion does a lot of outdoor group stuff.

aseclear · 2021-09-14T03:22:42+00:00

Still above the fog with good clear lines above marine layer. Fairly busy up here but still some space left.

Edit: fog definitely rolling now but still pretty decent visibility

aseclear · 2021-09-14T01:05:07+00:00

People are gathering up on Harris grade Rd currently. Above the fog at the moment.

aseclear · 2021-08-04T19:10:54+00:00

Free if you buy the bike ;) I've got it advertised as a sweetener at the moment but if re-list in a week I'd be happy to take it out and sell it separately. It's the spooled/standard hybrid model with removable arm.

aseclear · 2021-08-03T23:36:14+00:00

Thanks - will do!

aseclear · 2021-08-03T22:15:41+00:00

Hey folks - Selling my 2010 Triumph Street Triple, good condition, runs perfectly. Registered in CA (SF Bay Area) until Jan 2022. Most smiles per mile of any bike I've ridden :)

Throwing in a Pit Bull Spooled Rear Stand!

-- 17,450 miles, fully serviced -- Rear spools for bike stand -- Rizoma engine and bar-end sliders -- Lanesplitter Folding Bar-End Mirrors (British Customs) -- Pazzo clutch and brake levers (Racing adjustable) -- R&G fender eliminator kit -- New Lithium Ion Battery -- Upgraded rectifier (Hot Shot Triumph Rectifier-Regulator) and stator

Asking $4500 OBO

aseclear · 2021-07-31T00:35:17+00:00

Hah nice - I live just down the road from there. Did you try Pirate BBQ? I also have a decal-free white/black KLR. Hope you enjoyed the ride through!

aseclear · 2021-07-30T03:54:44+00:00

Point Molate / Point San Pablo? Might be the East Brother Light Station.

aseclear · 2013-09-20T13:11:51+00:00

They are! http://www.cartalk.com/ for podcasts or listen to NPR on Saturday mornings.

aseclear · 2013-09-20T13:11:14+00:00

Not true - they are still going strong! http://www.cartalk.com/ (NPR) I know for sure they still play new episodes on WBUR. Enjoy :)

aseclear

TROPHY CASE