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R

rangerscat

Good afternoon to all,
This is my first post after several weeks of reading and getting great information from this forum. I would like to start off by saying, this site has been an awesome reward to me. All the members have wonderful information and first hand experience.
I just finished my TEE and Heart Cath, last Thursday and all went well, Doc said my arteries were clean as a whistle. I have my first visit and talk with my surgeon on May 9, and things should move closer from there. Oh, by the way, I'm having Aortic Valve Replacement surgery. (sorry I forgot to put that in at the beginning) I'm a 42 yr old male from Tennessee, and at this present time, my valve has got to the point where my Cardiologist feels it is time for the next step. I have been dreading this day for several yrs, but knew it would come.
I have a few questions hopefully some of you may be able to answer for me.
I cough a lot and spit up white phlem, was this normal with anyone else?
I catch myself waking up at night thinking I can't breath good, is this a normal thing?
With the changes being made to this field so quickly, what are your thoughts on not taking the mechanical valve in hopes that things could change and allow for much easier replacements if needed? That may be a dumb question but it's been on my mind lately.
I like to drink a few beers with the guys from time to time, if on coumadin, will this small leisure have to stop for me?
I guess I'll stop there for now. I really appreciate this site and it has given me so much hope. I really enjoy reading all the positive feedback, it really lifts me up and makes the sunshine so much brighter.
Thank you,

Rangerscat.......
 
Hey, Ranger. You're a biker, too! We have some members who are also bikers and I bet you have questions about your resumption of your sport.

I can't answer your questions, but I can welcome you to VR. We are glad to have you amongst us. Blessins..........
 
Welcome - I'm glad to see you took the plunge and posted!

I don't know if you read this link - but this may answer some of your Coumadin quesitons. http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17116 You've probably already noticed in the Active Lifestyles forum that we have many very active Coumadin users too.

Your coughing and waking up sound like you might be having some Congestive Heart Failure. This isn't a diagnosis, it just sounds like it could be one answer for those symptoms. I had the beginnings of CHF prior to my VR with similar issues. If it is CHF - it's a good thing you're getting the surgery because it will only get worse.

Do they think your aortic valve is bi-cuspid? If they do, you will also want them to check out the size of your aorta to rule out any aneurysm or dilation. I believe a CT scan is one way they can do that.

Best wishes!
 
Bicuspid, yes......

Bicuspid, yes......

The doctors have declared that the valve is congenital bicuspid, actually it is tricuspid, but two of the leaflets had grown together, and are acting as one.
I have not heart anything about a CT scan, I'm not sure if they will do that test or not.
Karlynn, your article on coumadin was excellent. I learned alot about the do's and dont's and just wanted to commend you on your findings. I'm not sure if you did the research on that article or not, but at any rate it was very informative.

I'll try to keep you posted on what happens next.

Thanks,

Rangerscat
 
Hi Ranger,

Greetings from a former Tennessean! I spent part of my childhood there and still root for the Tennessee Vols.

Sounds like your situation is at least somewhat similar to mine. I knew from my early 20s that I eventually would have to have AVR. Mine didn't come until I was 63, but coming to terms with it is a process we all grapple with. Ultimately, though, it's a no-brainer. The success rate is very high, and you are very likely to feel better after you've gone ahead and had this done.

I agonized a good bit over the mechanical versus tissue question, and ultimately decided on the particular kind of tissue device I have. But that was partly because I had to have a combined root/valve replacement and the stentless Freestyle technology seemed promising for that. Generally, tissue valves last longer in seniors -- if we last with them, that is. :) However, there are others on here in your age range who opted for tissue and I'm sure you will hear from them. You also will hear from many folks who opted for the longer-lasting (in general) mechanical option (the better to lessen the chances of a re-op) and who do not find Coumadin management a big deal. Do your reading and research, and then make a decision and be happy with it. As is said often here, the only bad decision is not going ahead and having this problem taken care of.

Again, welcome to the Forum. Look forward to reading of your progress.

Cheers,
 
Welcome to the VR forums. I can't answer your questions about Coumadin as I had a mitral valve repair and was only on it a couple of months as a post-op precaution. Glad you found us, though. Good luck and best wishes.
 
Thank you

Thank you

Bob,

Thanks for the encouraging words. This was one of the main reasons I joined this site. Your positive remarks are very up-lifting to me and I thank you.

I will wait and listen to what my surgeon has to say and recommend on the valve issue, then hopefully I can make up my mind. I really don't care for the bad things I read about the coumadin, but it may be the best bet for me with my age being 42. I would not want to go through the surgery again if I can help it, unless by then they have made big leaps and maybe could do something less traumatic. I guess I'll listen and pray and hopefully I'll will make the right choice.

I'm glad to hear you are doing well, and that you still cheer for the Vols, they are the heart and soul of Tennessee. Although I have not lived in Tennessee all my life, I have become a fan, and love to watch them play...........

Thanks.......
 
Welcome, Ranger!


Good luck! Thoughts/prayers coming your way....



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"It's kinda like Nashville, with a tan" ... Shawn Mullins ... 'Rockabye'
 
Good luck

Good luck

HI Ranger, looks like you are few years ahead of me (same problems). If I am in the surgery position sooner then later I am going to go the mechanical route. The goal for me is to avoid a second surgery if possible, but, really no wrong choice for anyone of us, just have to do what we think is best. This forum has been great for me too. I look forward to hearing from you and how things are working out.

Best of luck
Darren
 
Welcome to you; glad you found the site pre-op. What do we call you, BTW? Ranger doesn't seem right because then your name is Ranger Scat:eek:...? Ranger's cat;)?

I was 42 when my failing bicuspid was replaced. I chose a tissue valve, for several different reasons. You may want to read the "sticky" thread at the top of the Valve Forum for more information about the pros and cons of each valve choice.

Take care and post again. Enjoy the lilacs and the sunshine:).
 
Name reasoning

Name reasoning

Hello Susan,

Thanks for the post, I was a Army Ranger during my 8 yrs in the service and the name stuck with me every since. the Scat part of the name is from my last name, which is actually a joke that was carrried with me throughout my two hitches in the army.
I would really like to hear more from you and how you are doing with your choice of the tissue valve. I am really interested in hearing about your success and why you picked the tissue valve.
Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks,

Rangerscat
 
Welcome, good luck with your valve choice and best wishes. Paula
 
I'm right with you

I'm right with you

Well this is my first post. I'm right there with you. I had my TEE and they skipped the Heart Cath. (yea!) and I met with one surgeon already. I'm meeting with another one later this week. I'm going to have AVR as well and I Mt Bike as well and I Live in Boone, NC (great biking) I am also curious about mechanical valves. This will be my second AVR. The first one was a ROSS procedure and now I'm regretting that choice a little. Of course I guess I'm a little to blame, they think that when I wrecked on the skateboard halfpipe and broke my scapula that the fall might be what caused my valve to start leaking again. Bummer! So now they say that if they can't repair it then a mechanical valve is the way. I don't want cumodin but I also do not want to have to go in again. I don't have any answers but a lot of the same questions! About beers too.

Good luck
 
Valve choices

Valve choices

Hi Rangerscat

Fast Eddie here. I'm now 2 weeks away from AVR and aneurysm surgery. Much of my time in the past few weeks has been spent agonizing over tissue vs mechanical valve and Coumadin issues.

I am quite a bit older than you (60) so for me the choice was more clear cut. I did NOT want to face another OHS at 70 - 75!

I will go with the On-X mechanical valve. I investigated how long tissue valves last. A friend of mine who had a tissue valve put in at Mass General here in Boston told me that he had recently spoken with a surgeon there and that the manufacturers of tissue valves cannot tell how long they will last any more because the ones that they are testing are not failing! I'm sure that in the next few years we will see great increases in the life expectancy of tissue valves. But I have no idea if they are referring to models that are currently available or these are models in development. And this is anecdotal evidence. Both my surgeon and cardiologist favored the nechanical in my case as they are still saying that 10-15 years is what one can expect from a tissue valve.

The On-X mechanical is now in clinical trials using only Plavix and aspirin...no warfarin (Coumadin) at all. So a few years down the road those of us with the On-X MIGHT be able to come off Coumadin.

It's a hard choice to make, particularly for someone as young as you are.

Good luck with this.

Fast Eddie
 
Welcome to you too Treym! You will also want to read the link on Coumadin that I posted above.

Scat - the link was put together using some of the information that some of the long-time Coumadin users have learned over the years. The biggest asset to us is Al Lodwick, who's site the link referenced. www.warfarinfo.com
 
Surgery's Close together

Surgery's Close together

Hey Trey,

It looks as though we are close together on having our surgery's. Keep me posted on how things are going with you, and I'll do the same, maybe we can recover and hit a single track or two together. It's been a while since I actually rode even half hard, it's just too hard to keep the cranks turning like I use to. A lot of that may have to do with age too. Have you rode over at Tsali near Ashville? I have went over there a couple of times. I usally stay in Fontana, which has a few trails also. Well, I'll keep you posted on how my talk with the surgeon goes on Wednesday of next week and you do the same.

Thanks,

John
 
Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome, John, to the forum!

This is a great place to come and learn and then ask away as you go through the surgery pre and post questions.

I had the waking up gasping thing, that's a symptom, among my least favorite actually. You can try sleeping with a wedge pillow and it may help, I was fortunate because that symptom didn't happen to me until only a few weeks pre surgery so it was tolerable.

As a 40-something myself I empathise with your situation regarding valve choice at this inbetween age. I made that choice only to wake up with a repair (they predicted a 1% chance repair would be possible).

I hope you find the same comfort and reassurance from this site as I did. Show off your silly side if you wish with a Tawdry shirt. For many of us it was a wonderful distraction from the otherwise serious issues at hand.

Wishing you all the best,
Ruth
 
Welcome John and Trey!!!!!

I am 44 and am 11 weeks out of OHS. I also had a congenital bicuspid aortic valve. I chose a tissue valve. I am in the medical field and just thought that would be best for me. I am on coumadin but hope to be off of it ath 17th of this month. I have not had any problems while I have been on it. I also haven't pushed the drinking thing either. I decided that since I was only on it for a certain time that I would just not drink.

My surgeon said he hoped not to see me again until 20 to 25 years down the road and I am sure there will be new options out there by then. The surgery itself was not bad at all and I had almost no pain after. I had my surgery on a Friday and was home by noon on Monday. I know not everyone has such an easy time, but I sure did. I went in with the thought of doing every thing I was told to do so I could get home. It seemed to work. I did go into A-Fib the second week post-op and that is why I am on the coumadin and other medicines.

As far as symptoms, my were just alot of fatigue. I also chalked some of that up to be age but as I talked with people here, at our age we shouldn't really get worn out doing stuff. Not yet anyway.

It you have any questions don't hesitate to ask! Good luck on Wednesday and will be watching for both of your threads and updates!
 
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