Are you happy with your valve selection?

[jkn2kids]

I'm wondering if everyone is happy with his/her valve selection.I'm not concerned about tissue versus mechanical.I want to know if there are any individuals who feel like they made the wrong choice in their valve selection and why.If you feel you made the right choice,then give your reasons as to why you think that.I'm due for another CT Scan in Sept.and will make up my mind then as to surgery.The last scan showed a 1.2 valve opening and a 4.8 cm aneurysm.Thank you in advance for your answers!!!

 

[aussigal]

Yep!

...and I am also very happy with chosing to go earlier than originally thought, and not waiting for the magic #5cm (mine was 4.8 too) 'cos once my surgeon got in there he could see the large bulge in my aorta and that my heart had already started to compensate for my dodgy aorta by the muscle thickening on one side.

I am now enjoying getting used to my St Judes valve and find the ticking/thump-thump noises quite comfortig...all the troubles I had originally are all in the past and I am now as recovered as others who had their OP the same time as me (well except for the super-athletes amongst us ).

You cant help but make the right decision and be happy about it after all the support and info you get from this wonderful site...

All the best....

ton

 

[Ross]

After nearly dying from my first surgery, I chose mechanical and I'm very happy. Nearly died through the second surgery as well.

 

[twinmaker]

I'm a satisfied customer. My St. Jude mechanical mitral valve will be 25 years old in August. LINDA

 

[Philip]

Yes, my Carbomedic valve and I are doing great. It clicks me to sleep every evening and is as comforting as a purring cat.

Philip

 

[mntbiker]

The valve choice was the hardest choice about anything I have had to make in my life. I was concerned if I went with tissue I would need surgery in a short time and if I went mechanical that I would not be able to take advantage of any new technology that came out. I finally went into surgery with a list of five choices for the surgeon leaving the ultimate decision to his judgement of what he felt was best for me knowing everything he did of my situation and preferences. After all, he is the professional, not me, if you trust your surgeon he should be able to make the best decision he can based on your preference and lifestyle.

I had fully expected to wake up with a mechanical valve but instead had a medtronics freestyle porcine valve (complete with subcoronary arteries whatever that means ).

I am (currently) very happy with my choice, I am only on an asprin and my same presurgery atacand for medications.

Of course I am less then 2 weeks out from surgery so take this with the requisite grain of salt.

 

[geebee]

My 12 year old St. Jude is still clicking away as great as the day it was implanted. I truly expect it to be the last valve (and thus the last OHS) I will ever need. Very happy in every respect.

 

[MarkU]

I'm happy with my St. Jude. 5-1/2 years and still clicking. Just completed my seventh triathlon in the last two years on Saturday, so no complaints. Coumadin has been no big deal for me. Feel lucky to still be here and leading and active lifestyle.

With the continued development of tissue valves in the intervening years, I do think the decision would be tougher today than it was for me back in December '00. Just hoping that I don't have to go through it all again...

Mark

 

[LadyBlue]

I haven't had it done yet, but docs have ben telling me about doing it for years but are holding off as things are "normal" for the moment ( pressures, ie).

I have thought about this, and discussed this with my docs. They do not think they'd want a mechanical valve for me and he mentioned bovine as a possibility. As a vegetarian for almost all my life, it was kind of disconcerting to think of an animal part in my body. The thought makes me ill, actually. I have discussed, in brief, for doner parts, if possible. I guess my philosophy is that humans have a voice in what they would like to do with thier bodies when they die, and animals don't. I know I will be possibly slammed for my ideals, but I'll take that risk. It won't be the first time I'd be picked on for my vegetarian lifestyle ( mostly in a fun way, but it does get tiring all the time to be made to feel like a freak because I don't partake in the All American Diet... ) *

So I don't know what will happen. I'm sure when they feel the time is closer, all this will come into more focus and discussion. I'm seeing doc on 27th for routine stuff and I'll see if he brings it up.

Geebee..12 years! How wonderful !!

mntbiker...it's been 2 weeks? Wow, time flies! I'm glad you are doing well tho, you are a big inspiration!



I also just want to point out that I in no way are being judgemental or condemming o anyone for thier medical or lifestyle choices. It's not my job to preach about how to live.

 

[geebee]

LB,
I don't think your concerns about animal valves are unfounded. I would think a true vegetarian would be bothered by this issue. I would hate for you to be talked into a valve that might make you uncomfortable for years.
Maybe there will be an alternative by the time you need your surgery.

 

[Superbob]

Happy Customer

Happy Customer

I'm very happy with my choice. At my 16 months post-op check-up the other day, my cardiologist said my stentless Freestyle (porcine) may be the only replacement I'll ever need -- in other words, it may out-live me. It is functioning well with no leakage (I'd had severe leakage and enlargement before the surgery). He said he'll just do echos every two years now to check on it.

However, unrelated to the bioprosthesis, my echo did produce a number I have a question about (related to general "thickening" of the right atrium that predated the surgery). The cardiologist was not greatly concerned about it, but it has me wondering. Rather than hijacking this thread, I might post a separate thread to ask some opinion about my numbers....

 

[Andyrdj]

To LadyBlue: a possible perspective

To LadyBlue: a possible perspective

humans have a voice in what they would like to do with their bodies when they die, and animals don't.

Personally, I don't think humans should have a say on what happens after death either. After all, we can only delay the inevitable return of our atoms to the life cycle. You can bet that after you die your body's atoms will exist in a number of worms, insects and bacteria.

You don't own your atoms, you just occupy them for a bit.

IMO the issue is whether you're willing to prematurely end another creature's life for your own sake. Unfortunately, I suspect harvesting pericardium from cows who died of old age may not be practical (the tissue might well be degraded).

But you can still regard being vegetarian as positive in other ways

1. Not having other animals killed often

2. Being a consumer of more efficiently grown crops.

 

[MarkU]

I haven't had it done yet, but docs have ben telling me about doing it for years but are holding off as things are "normal" for the moment ( pressures, ie).

I have thought about this, and discussed this with my docs. They do not think they'd want a mechanical valve for me and he mentioned bovine as a possibility. As a vegetarian for almost all my life, it was kind of disconcerting to think of an animal part in my body. The thought makes me ill, actually. I have discussed, in brief, for doner parts, if possible. I guess my philosophy is that humans have a voice in what they would like to do with thier bodies when they die, and animals don't. I know I will be possibly slammed for my ideals, but I'll take that risk. It won't be the first time I'd be picked on for my vegetarian lifestyle ( mostly in a fun way, but it does get tiring all the time to be made to feel like a freak because I don't partake in the All American Diet... ) *

So I don't know what will happen. I'm sure when they feel the time is closer, all this will come into more focus and discussion. I'm seeing doc on 27th for routine stuff and I'll see if he brings it up.

Geebee..12 years! How wonderful !!

mntbiker...it's been 2 weeks? Wow, time flies! I'm glad you are doing well tho, you are a big inspiration!



I also just want to point out that I in no way are being judgemental or condemming o anyone for thier medical or lifestyle choices. It's not my job to preach about how to live.

Wow, I had never thought about the vegetarian/animal rights perspective before. Very interesting and thought provoking.
To be quite honest, I have always been uncomfortable with the thought of a cadaver tissue valve.
Mark

 

[Karlynn]

I will have my 15th anniversary of my St. Jude this October. I'm very happy with the valve. My children were in kindergarten and 2nd grade when I had my VR. Now one has graduated from college, and the other will in December. So if you know kids, you know that my valve has taken a lickin' and kept on tickin'!

 

[Sherry]

I didn't really choose my valve: I went in for a repair and came out with a St. Jude's. (We never talked about the repair not working...) But, knowing what I know about longevity, I'm happy with the prosthetic.

 

[MadMac]

I am happy the the SJM 31mm Mitral Valve that I had implanted. The doctor thought that at a otherwise healthy 59 years old that I was too young for a tissue valve and since I thought taking the warfarin is not a major inconvenience to my lifestyle it was the way to go. I feel comforted by it's quite ticking.

 

[Yaps]

I didnt get much of a choice ,everything happened within 24 hours. My husband and daughter made the decision.
I have no problem with my st judes, I play with the coumadin as needed, still eat my greens ..etc..(Ross taught me that!! )
The valve has some calcifying now, dont know what they will do concerning that, but Ive a feeling I am in for another rough ride ..and soon.. according to last echo , pulm valve is acting up too... we shall see...love the pup

 

[Georgia]

I hadn't discovered vr.com prior to surgery; I went in a for a repair and, like Sherry, came out with a St. Jude's. I'm very happy with it; but if I'd selected a valve prior to surgery, I'm certain I wouldn't have chosen a mechanical. But I repeat, I'm very happy with the way things have gone.

 

[LadyBlue]

Wow, I had never thought about the vegetarian/animal rights perspective before. Very interesting and thought provoking.
To be quite honest, I have always been uncomfortable with the thought of a cadaver tissue valve.
Mark

I can understand that, too. A good friend of mine from Japan was considered brain dead in a motorcycle accident in 97. When her parents came from Japan to confront this unfortunate and heart breaking situation, they were asked about organ donation. It was a big life changing thing for them ( understandable) as the Buddist feel that a person is not considered dead while the heart is still pumping. Of course it was a life support machine that was doing it, and they surely struggled hard on this issue.) Asako did put organ donation on her license when she got it here, and her parents concluded that Asako always reached out to those less fortunate than her, like befriending the lonely kid at school, helping old folks, or giving a helping hand to handicapped people when she could. They took her off life support and she died peacefully with them around her. They knew that Asako would have truely wanted to be able to contribute to the betterment of other people's life, and they agreed to donate her organs in the name of love and respect for her. She was 24, and her organs went to 5 recipients. I have met the liver recipient, a 59 year old woman with only weeks left on her calendar. She is vibrant and happy, and full of life, enjoying her gardens and grandkids. She does yoga and has made a little shrine for Asako and gives thanks every day for her special gift.

Her parents have taken up the crusade of changing the opinions of organ donation in Japan. They attend seminars or gatherings all over the world dealing with this very issue, and have become a very strong voice concerning this. I respect my friend's very brave decision, and thus no longer feel too uncomfortable with the idea of human tissue in my heart. I'm sure at first I would be thinking about the person and how weird it would be to have anothers heart become a peice of my heart, but I would know that in the end, this person or thier family have given this out of true love and unselfishness to me ( or another person in need). I hope my story can help ease your mind a little bit about it.

Her family come each year to Boston and go to all the places and do all the things that thier daughter loved while she was here. Her momma is coming on the 26th and we are going to Tanglewwob abd NYC Met ! She still cries alot, but we also have many good talks and laughs about Asako's life and adventures here. It is always my pleasure to be with them. (I do have to go to Japan, but man do I dread that 16 hour flight!!!! )

Here is some info on what they have done in Japan...Click on his name, MAZAWA, to find out more...He wrote a book about his daughter and titled it " The Bridge of Life" It has two meanings for him...one was that Asako came to the US and was bridging cultures between Japan and her love of the US. The second was about how she bridged between death and life with her gift of organ donation.

http://www.jdfc.net/e/e-whats.html

Personally, I don't think humans should have a say on what happens after death either. After all, we can only delay the inevitable return of our atoms to the life cycle. You can bet that after you die your body's atoms will exist in a number of worms, insects and bacteria.

Andyrdj, Your philosophy of us not really owning our atoms is very profound and I certainly can respect it. We may not have a say about them after we die, but we do have a say about it before we die, and if it's going to go on to support the life of worms and bacteria, why not toward the life of a fellow human being too?

IF I were to be implanted with an animal part because in the middle of the surgery it was thier best option, I'd have to deal with it. It would be very, very difficult for me to accept, but I'm sure I'd have to come to terms with it. It makes me more uncomfortable than recieving a human donated valve.

As far a mechanical, my doc does not want it for me. I don't really know the reason, but since it's not right over the horizon for me, it hasn't been a big factor for me to think about. This website has been very rewarding in that I am learning so much about it all, and I think it will be to my advantage. If they do have to implant a mechanical one, well, I'd have to come to terms with that as well... I'm a bit top heavy..hehe...so maybe there will be insulation enough to supress the ticking noises!

I guess I will see what goes down in the future, eh?

Oh dear, I must get down to work now.... Busy schedule this week!

 

[Andyrdj]

To LadyBlue

To LadyBlue

My point regarding what happens after death was to illustrate the fact that anything other than organ donation seems a bit foolish.

I think organ dontation is so valuable for people with no alternative that for us to deny it to them on some false pretext of delaying the inevitable decaying -well, it seems such a waste.

Regarding the parents of the Bhuddist friend's perspective - they did well to make the decision to donate in spite of their religious doubts. It takes great deal of compassion, forward thinking, and love for humanity in general to do something like that.

More difficult for them, perhaps, than it would be for me - I'm a devotee of the modern scientific school of thought that the seat of consciousness is the brain (ok, possibly the spinal cord too!).

Perhaps that's why dead tissue has never worried me - in fact, I was somewhat relieved to learn that tissue valves are preserved tissue and we don't have to take antirejection drugs! I was more concerned about the idea of their decaying, although as I understand it calcification will take place before that happens. Hmmm, puts me to wondering whether newer ones which calcif more slowly might last long enough to "rot".