loud mechanical valve

[avery582008]

curious to know if anyone has had the St Jude mechanical valve with part of the aortic trunk attached to the valve, better known as a conduit or(SJM Masters HP Valved Graft with Gelweave Valsalva Technology)Whew. If you have this valve installed please let me know how loud you are clicking or pounding I might say. Im not complaining for I know I have been Blessed, just curious. Thanks for any input You may have and I wish you all well.

Glenn

 

[Ross]

I have an older model of the same valve. It's loud I suppose, but I only hear it in very quiet settings.

 

[Philip B]

Valve Volume

Valve Volume

Individual body acoustics have a major impact upon how loud mechanical valves click. I got a St. Jude valve with the factory installed conduit a year ago this last March. The click was very noticable for me at first, but it really doesn't bug me much anymore. Even though it sounded very loud to me for the first few months no one else could hear it without putting an ear on my chest.

Like Ross noted in his post, I mostly notice it when it's very quiet.

I make a point of listening for it working every morning when I wake-up. When I hear it doing it's thing I know I'm still here and okay.

The kids in an anatomy class at my high school were very interested in listening to my valve when they did a unit on the heart during the spring semester this year. They borrowed the equipment they needed from the school nurse and took turns listening to my heart sounds and ask questions about my surgery. Several of them decided my valve sounds entitled me to a new nickname. I guess "Tinman" is a better nickname that others they could use to describe their principal.

-Philip

 

[strudell]

I have an ATS which is very similar to the St. Jude. Since my operation a little over two weeks ago, I can often hear it, especially when laying down to sleep at night. Its more of a hear/feel thing. Most times I don't even notice it at all.

 

[perrypiratesdad]

As others have said, I noticed it most just after the surgery because it was a new sound. Now though, I hardly even notice it. You will get used to it.

My wife says that if we are in a small room that has a tile floor and it is very quiet and she is sitting near me she can hear it very faintly. I guess I can't be a Ninja now.

 

[AngelaR]

Ray doesn't have a St. Jude, he has the On-X, and I hear him tick tocking. We were told that it would get less noticeable as time went on. I agree that when I hear it I feel reassured! =)

I tell him he is like the crocodile in Peter Pan, our kids get a good laugh out of that.

 

[Cooker]

What was the question? ? I can?t hear a word you are saying over this confounded ticking!!! ? I noticed it every second right after AVR but it faded into the background very quickly ? The only time I hear it, and it?s more of a ?feeling? it, is late at night when most all else is quiet

 

[duncanjo]

My valve gets loud every now and then but i just turn down the volume LOL.. I find sometimes it's louder than usual it depends if im doing something physical or im in a empty room by myself.. it all depends but i do find it gets louder every now and then. I tell my son daddy is "iron man" now. Couldn't they design these valves with different charms or neat flashing lights inside to impress people? LOL or a little button to press to make ur valve whistle when ur hockey team scores?LOL

mech valve -april04/08

 

[Aaron_b]

I have an on-x valve and I hear it unless I am focused on something. I've also had a handful of people look at me funny and ask if my watch is "making that ticking sound".

I consider it to be pretty loud but not bothersome. It actually comes in handy sometimes because I can hear how fast my heart is beating (and whether it is beating erratically). That can be comforting information in some situations.

 

[Guest]

I can hear my OnX if I'm standing in front of glass windows, doors, and mirrors, when I go to sleep, and when I'm stretching before and after exercise. My husband can hear it in a quiet room, we were in his office at work and I was standing behind him helping him with a spreadsheet, even with his typing he could hear my ticking. I messed with my coworkers and stood near them and asked them to listen, kind of freaked them out! You'll get used to it over time as others have said.

Aaron and Cooker, love your avatar.

 

[Bill M]

I can always hear my valve. Like others have said sometimes it is louder then other times. I am 3-months post op. I have gotten used to it and tune it out, I hope over time it will get a little quieter when my heart finally settles down.
I have had a few nurses mainly during INR test point out they can hear my watch, and noticed I wasn't wearing one, then I explain about my valve.
In public settings nobody hears it but in small rooms or in close proximity people can hear it.

I still can't believe that in 2008 we still make nosiey valves.. lol They can't engineer a quiet valve yet... You would think valve click at this point would be talked about in the historical sense.

 

[KAJ]

Glenn,

I have no idea. All I know it is a St. Judes. It has always been loud.

Karl

 

[aussigal]

My hubby reckons mine is pretty loud...it kind of echoes...I can often feel it thumping away...mine is very much like that exaggerated heart-beat you feel when you have just run up some stairs. I reckon the conduit is not as insulated as our native tissue and therefore allows the beat to echo a bit.

 

[Kelten]

1 year out

1 year out

I've had my st. jude for 1 year this past march. It's loud... always hear it. At first it amazed my kids, and scared my dog... now everyone else tunes it out. But for me it's always there.... I don't mind one bit.... like others have said it makes me know i'm still here