People with 2 mechanical valves......

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alex c.

Hi everyone, I had my aortic/mitral valves replaced a little more than a week ago. My valves seem pretty loud. At night, I have trouble falling asleep because they are so loud and that's with the radio on. During the day, I can sometimes hear them "ticking" right through my chest. I know I will probably get used to it, but I was just wondering if anyone else had the same thing going on.
 
I also had two vavles put in, Mitral and Aortic. Actually as I sit here typing this with the TV on I can hear them ticking away. It took a while for me to get used to this after surgery, sometimes they can still be rather annoying when I'm trying to go to sleep. However, it is better than the alternative. ;)

Your also going to be questioned by other people about the ticking. If you don't want to disclose it you should wear a watch. If you want to mess with peoples heads you'll tell them the doctor lost his watch during your hernia operation. ;) I have used that one and people have believed it.

Hopes for a speedy recovery,
Cork
 
Oh my.....

my husband also has two valves. Yes, I can hear them click if it is very quiet. H has been blessed (???) with bad hearing. Wears one hearing aid. He swears he hears them in his throat. I can hear them also if he opens his mouth, and I place my ear against it. Years have passed, and I only hear them if it is very very quiet, and there are a lot of hard surfaces around.

I pray you get used to it.....or gain some weight to cushion the sound!!

Marybeth
 
Your valves are going to sound pretty loud in the first months after surgery. The noise will quiet down and, at the same time, you'll get used to it to the point you don't notice it hopefully. My family hears mine more than I do.
 
alex c. said:
Hi everyone, I had my aortic/mitral valves replaced a little more than a week ago. My valves seem pretty loud. At night, I have trouble falling asleep because they are so loud and that's with the radio on. During the day, I can sometimes hear them "ticking" right through my chest. I know I will probably get used to it, but I was just wondering if anyone else had the same thing going on.
Click to expand...
I had the same problemafter my first valve surgery. but, I also had fluid in my chest and had to have a thoracentesis before the valve noise stopped bothering me so much.

Lettitia
 
I have only 1 mechanical valve. Like Marybeth's husband, I could at one time hear the ticking in my throat (about 8 months post-op).
I called St. Jude not long post-op and inquired about the sound. I was told that chest physiology differs and that some people's chest tissues more or less "muffle" the sound.
Nearly 42 months post-op, I seldom hear the ticking -- only in our tiled master bath (but my husband can't hear it) or when I'm lying in bed. I do kinda like the soothing rhythm of the ticking when I'm dropping off to sleep.
 
I have had two St. Judes Valves for nearly two years now. They are quieter now than when I first received them. The only time they kept me awake was while I was in the hospital for the avr and mvr surgery. I'm guessing that part of what I have experienced is just getting use to them.

Mike
 
Thanks everyone. I was hoping to hear that. I guess only time will tell, but I'm sure it should at least be better than now. :rolleyes:
 
I'm only 9 days post op with a st jude aortic, it doesn't bother me during the day that much....had already decided to get an old fashion styled watch to mask the noise for everyone else :rolleyes:

But boy was it annoying the first night home trying to get to sleep, even the mild sleeping tablets didn't help and i had to get some stronger ones for last night.

How long did it take to become 'background noise' that everyone filtered out automatically as i can't stay on sleeping tablets for ever and listening to the radio to go to sleep is not an option.

Would just like to set my expectations now, if its going to take 6+ months before i filter out the noise i'm gonna get cranky....
 
scar tissue will form around the surgery area. This will keep insulate the noise. It will never be perfect, but be glad that you hear the ticking. The Starr Edwards valves could be heard 30 ft. away.

All new valves are MUCH quieter.

Happy Clicking!

John & Joann
 
I am 3 1/2 years post op and have a single St. Judes valve. Best gift I got when I was recovering was a CD walkman and two CDs. i would put Norah Jones or John Mayer in, put in the ear buds, and the clicking became just background noise as I let the music take me.

I can still hear the clicking, but it has grown softer as the year have passed. In the beginning people could hear the click over the phone, now they have to put their heads to my chest. On the other hand I am getting some great hugs from pretty girls that way, and it it a great conversation starter.

To my wife it is a comforting sound now. She says that putting her head on my chest really relaxes her and helps her fall asleep. Hearing that click lets her know that I am still around, and will be around for many years to come.

I think most of us have felt the same way as you do now, but give it time; once the scar tissue builds up (my theory, at least) the sound will start to muffle. As Cork said, the clicking is better than the alternative...

Cheers,

Swill
 
I don't have a mechanical, but rather a tissue valve, and sometimes when I'm the only one in the house -- usually I've noticed it when I'm putting on makeup in our master bath -- I'll think, "Who is pounding nails?" It is my valve! I guess it's because I'm being very quiet and breathing differently, like holding my breath or something, maybe leaning my head back a bit. Many times I've suddenly wondered, "who is building nearby," before I instantly realize it's the valve?!

I hope it will get easier for you. Didn't the crocodile swallow Captain Hook's watch in Peter Pan and always tick when he was near? Could frighten small children with that one:eek:; certainly not recommending it:(.
 
Like a large Timex*

Like a large Timex*

February 6 will make me six years with my St. Jude Aortic and Mitral valves. They were rather loud upon initial installation, but have quietened down a lot over the last years.

My wife teaches Emergency Medical Technician classes, and sometimes uses me as a training "dummy" for her classes. When the students assess chest sounds, I get some unusual looks!:D After a brief explanantion, some of them just sit and listen to see how far away they can hear. The ticking also puts my wife to sleep, and when I hold my friend's baby son, he is out in a matter of seconds (well, maybe some of that is the cushioning of a large man, too!):)
 
I can only hear mine if I go to a really quiet room and sit then hang my head. I cannot hear them while I sit in front of the computer, the hum of the computer masks the noise.

It is amusing to watch the reaction of GPs when they listen to my chest, I guess it is really loud thorugh a stethoscope and they won't have too many patients with a couple of them. My own GP says it sounds as if I have a clock in there and the doctor last night just said "Wow, what a noise!".
 
ChuckVSP said:
...My wife teaches Emergency Medical Technician classes, and sometimes uses me as a training "dummy" for her classes. When the students assess chest sounds, I get some unusual looks!:D After a brief explanantion, some of them just sit and listen to see how far away they can hear. The ticking also puts my wife to sleep, and when I hold my friend's baby son, he is out in a matter of seconds (well, maybe some of that is the cushioning of a large man, too!):)
Click to expand...

Chuck - Does she practice the CPR thing, two or three finger widths below your sternom? That makes me cringe, even thinking about someone practicing CPR anywhere near my sternom:eek:!

But putting babies to sleep, well, you could probably start a Reality Television program with that skill:p!

(Alex - Sorry for the temporary hijack in the original question of the thread...)
 
I also had my mitral and aortic valves replaced with ONX mechanical valves and I sometimes hear tham click when all is quiet or when I am in the bathroom (maybe having to do with the hard surfaces th. Ocasionally people near to me hear the clicking and think they hear a clock. I don't mind that very much when I consider the alternative. It has only been four weeks since my surgery and the sound doesn't bither me much. I hope it doesn't bother anyone who hears it. Marcie
 
Alex
I have had my duals for 21 years and they have always been loud. You do get used to it but it does take time. I think it has to do with how you are built both inside and out. I developed afib and it was so very loud that it was quite annoying. When I had the pacemaker implanted they must have touched a nerve since the day after I developed high pitched ringing in my ears. The ringing never stops and the odd part is I cannot hear the valves. I would trade the ringing for the clicking in a heartbeat. I have learned to watch what I wish for since it may come true.
Kathleen
 
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