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Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation, Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Aortic Aneurysm, Atrial Fibrillation

Member Since: May 1, 2016

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Cathleen Weed posted an update

4 months ago (December 31, 2025)

For all of you who will have bittersweet feelings about the calendar rolling into 2026 because your surgery that was scheduled "for next year (2026)" will now be "this year".....just know I am thinking about you and sending hugs. I've been there. At least it isn't going to be 1926....technology... Read more.

🥰 ❤️ Pamela Gregory, Rose Madura and reacted to this

Cathleen Weed posted an update

6 months ago (November 4, 2025)

Yesterday was my 2 week mark since receiving my newest aortic valve (my 5th one!) ❤️. Doing really, really well! Remember.... healing isn't linear. You'll have bad days ( I have ) and they are usually preceded by a day or two of really good days...I imagine it's because we... Read more.

🥰 Pamela Gregory, Kate Watson and reacted to this

Chris Germano

You are awesome! It's one week post for me and it's one day at a time. Good and not so good. But I'll be patient. All the best Cathleen ❤️

Cathleen Weed

❤️🙏 Chris - You're doing so great!!

Chris Germano

❤️

Deena Z

Wow-wee. Three valves â€œstacked within each otherâ€. That is amazing. Congrats on the successful procedure! Youâ€™ve been through a ton. Dont quite get how it can work so well. Do they sew it in? ( noticed you are a experienced clinician:). 😊

Cathleen Weed

Hi Deena - a TAVR in TAVR in SAVR is very new but I believe it's the future for a lot of patients out there who have a TAVR in SAVR right now 🙏. I was happy to let Dr Makkar do it and even happier it worked! It's much... Read more.

Deena Z

Woof, sounds complex and delicate,Cathleen. Thank you for all the details. Hard to believe it took only a bit over 3hrs and without feeling like a mack truck hit you! I look forward to Adamâ€™s post and/or your post. â€”Generous of you. Hopeful for the MV someday. In the meantime,... Read more.

Valerie Allen

Cathleen, this is really interesting. I didnâ€™t know they were performing this yet. Do you know if many others have had it?

Cathleen Weed

Hi Valerie - my understanding is only a dozen or so ❤️ 🙏.

Cathleen Weed posted an update

2 years ago (September 15, 2023)

Hi all ❤️ , Thought I'd share my recent experience this week ( on Monday ) with A Fib. I developed A Fib in 2021. Long story short, I've had 3 electric cardioversions (after hours and hours and hours of trying IV chemical cardioversions in the ER **eye roll**) and then had a cardiac ablation at Cedars Sinai in July, 2022. I do have plenty of scar tissue in my heart from the 3 prior open heart surgeries and I suppose also the TAVR, so developing A Fib wasn't that shocking. Anyway, my third A Fib episode (in April 2023) was 9 months after my ablation. I had to be cardioverted again at the ER. So I went to see my electrophysiologist who had performed the ablation at Cedars Sinai and he suggested we try the "pill in the pocket" approach if I had another episode. I hoped I would never have to try it. However, Monday I had another episode (while I was in the middle of a car wash lol). So I took the Rythmol (2 pills for a dose of 300 mg) and waited 30 minutes as advised....no change....so I took the 3rd pill (150 mg) and started getting ready for the ER visit. About 15 minutes later I felt a sense of CALM come over me like I have never felt in my life. I stood there in shock, almost too scared to even hope for this miracle. I checked my Apple watch and sure enough I was back in normal sinus rhythm!! My A Fib episodes are pretty bad - with RVR ( rapid ventricular rate ) - which makes them too dangerous to let them continue without intervention (twice having to go to the ER by paramedic). So I had low expectations of this pill working after having been through so much trying to convert my heart back to normal sinus rhythm during several ER visits. This was a MIRACLE 🙏 ❤️. I personally had zero side effects from the Rythmol other than total euphoria that it worked! My heart rhythm has been perfect since Monday. I even attended class from 6-10pm that same night lol (I'm pursuing my BSN). I recommend asking your doctor about this if you suffer from A Fib. I realize it may not be approved for everyone but this was a game changer for me. ❤️ Cathy https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/2992/what-is-pill-in-the-pocket-for-atrial-fibrillation/

What is Pill-in-the-Pocket for Atrial Fibrillation?

https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/2992/what-is-pill-in-the-pocket-for-atrial-fibrillation/

What is pill-in-the-pocket treatment for atrial fibrillation? Does it work? In this latest Q&A session I answer those questions and more!

❤️ 🥰 Bill Clark, Deena Z and reacted to this

Rose Madura

I'm sorry you had Afib again. I also was very symptomatic and had to go to ER each time I went into Afib. But I was one of the fortunate ones where it only lasted six weeks.l after surgery. However, my husband is having an ablation in early October. I'm... Read more.

Cathleen Weed

❤️❤️❤️ I carry 3 pills in my bag just in case! 🙏 It seems to be very successful for people who have occasional A Fib episodes after an ablation. Best wishes to your husband! I hope his never comes back! 😊

Robert Miller

Sounds like some advertising. Why would you go through ablation, maze procedure, etc when you can just take a pill (or 3)... Sounds facetious but I am actually interested in it. The link provided doesn't work.

Cathleen Weed

Pill in the pocket is for people who have infrequent episodes of AFib and need an alternative management of symptoms versus electric cardioversion in the ER. It doesn't work for everyone but it's absolutely worth a try. An ablation on the other hand is needed for those suffering frequent or... Read more.