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melanie

My second HVR is scheuled 20Jun08 with Dr. Stephen Kwan in Montgomery Al. He performed my first surgery in 2004 and put a tissue valve in at my request. My Aortic root was small and he had to make adjustment for the new valve to work. Now he says it is time for a mechanical valve. I am 45 and I still live an active life, so I am concerned about being on blood thinners the rest of my life. To avoid having another OHS in the future, I have agreed to have the mechanical valve put in. I am more scared this time around because I know what to expect. Finding this forum has help a lot, but I still find myself scared.
 
Melanie?.Welcome:)?..I have had no issues with anticoagulants?.It?s like taking a vitamin?.I?m one of the lucky ones and my INR has been stable from day one (knock on wood)?Wishing you the best?.Keep us posted.
 
Melanie,

My mantra has always been - repeat surgeries are harder because you know what to expect and repeat surgeries are easier because you know what to expect.

Try to remember the things that didn't seem so bad (and I know there were a couple) and focus on those. The rest, even if it was hard, was something you survived and will survive this time also.

It is normal to be scared but you do have an advantage of strength in knowing you made it through all this before.

Best wishes for a smooth ride.
 
The worst part of being on an anticoagulant is having to deal with all the uneducated medical providers that think they know about this "horrid" drug, but don't have a clue, and the next worst part is having to wade through all the myth and falicy of the drug and know that you can live a normal active life. Any medical person that tells you differently hasn't bothered to educate themselves using the last 20 years of information on Coumadin.

Read this http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17116

And view these http://discoveryhealthcme.discovery....agulation.html

You also may want to take a look at our Active Lifestyles forum and see the level of physical activity that many of our warfarin users participate in.

Educate yourself on warfarin, because knowledge is power. In 2 years you will wonder why you were so afraid of having to take the medication.

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. You are going to do fine!
 
You've undoubtedly heard a bunch of myth and old wives tales about Anticoagulation. Once you start and become interested in your care, you'll laugh, and I mean hard, at some of the crap that's being spread about.

Want to know about Coumadin? www.warfarinfo.com
 
Self test, self dose

Self test, self dose

First thing postop get your Doc to prescibe a self test system for you. At first you will call the results into their office and they will prescribe your dose. Later when you get to learn how warfarin effects your body, you can begin to self dose. My cardiology doc prescribed a self tester on my first post op visit to him two weeks after the surgery. After ten years it all seems sort of easy and there have been absolutely no problems. I love my mechanical valve!
So think positively and do well.
 
Hi Melanie, I have a tissue valve too, so I do not tell you anything about coumadin. I would just like to tell you good luck and let us hear from you when you can ;)

Deb
 
Welcome Melanie,
I was also 45 when I received my mechanical valve and I didn't have a clue about warfarin, let alone learn to take medication on a daily bases.

You'll have to give yourself time to adjust, and it will come.
It is just like Cooker said "It?s like taking a vitamin". It took me a few months to get into the habit of taking this med at the same time everyday.

No need to worry........when the time comes we'll be here to answer your questions.

Now don't be shy
 
Ross said:
You've undoubtedly heard a bunch of myth and old wives tales about Anticoagulation. Once you start and become interested in your care, you'll laugh, and I mean hard, at some of the crap that's being spread about.

Want to know about Coumadin? www.warfarinfo.com
Click to expand...


THANKS to Ross for keeping us informed! I read the previous post with GREAT interest and found it a great reference on warfarin usage.
 
Karlynn said:
The worst part of being on an anticoagulant is having to deal with all the uneducated medical providers that think they know about this "horrid" drug, but don't have a clue, and the next worst part is having to wade through all the myth and falicy of the drug and know that you can live a normal active life. Any medical person that tells you differently hasn't bothered to educate themselves using the last 20 years of information on Coumadin.

Read this http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17116

And view these http://discoveryhealthcme.discovery....agulation.html

You also may want to take a look at our Active Lifestyles forum and see the level of physical activity that many of our warfarin users participate in.

Educate yourself on warfarin, because knowledge is power. In 2 years you will wonder why you were so afraid of having to take the medication.

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. You are going to do fine!
Click to expand...

THANKS for this information. I found it EXTREMELY helpful.
 
The On-X Mechanical Valves offer several technological improvements over older designs. See www.onxvalves.com and www.heartvalvechoice.com for more information.

There are several surgeons in Atlanta that use On-X valves, including those at Emory Crawford Long Hospital, under Dr. Puskas. Dr. Wolfe (and others?) at Peachtree Cardiology also have experience with On-X.

Whatever Surgeon you use, be sure to ask about his experience with Re-Do's which involve cutting through Scar Tissue (which is "like Concrete" per one surgeon I talked to) and has some increased 'bleeding issues'. Experienced Surgeons know how to handle those issues effectively.
 
One factor in my choice for tissue implants was my age and fertility. Now, menopause has struck and has me seriously thinking about a mechanical replacement, if required, down the road.

I'd dealt with being on Coumadin and having a period in the past, after a DVT. I actually was re-admitted to hospital the first menstruation period after heparin therapy I had, since my blood loss was pretty close to hemorraghe intensity. This info's not meant to scare you, but I used it as a major criterion in my valve choice.
 
Did they tell you why your tissue valve only lasted 4 years?

Some women have increased bleeding with their periods with Coumadin, but the majority do not. Heperin is a different story. As I age, mine is increasing, not due to Coumadin but due to that happening during the lovely change o' life time. My sister has had much worse problems than me, and she's not on ACT.

If you already have heavy periods, you may want to look into a uterin ablation prior to your surgery. It's unknown if Coumadin will effect that part of your life much, but members here have had the procedure and are glad they did.
 
Melanie, I'm glad you found us and put you on the calendar for June 8th. Best wishes to you.
 
Melanie,

Welcome! You will find lots of great people and resources to help you manage the medication. Some of them already have checked in on this thread.

Sending you all best wishes and prayers. Look forward to your continued posting. :)
 
Thanks for all the information. The reason my tissue valve didn't last long was because it did not fit to begin with. Once they were in they realized my root was extremely small. They wanted to do surgery again, but I could not bring myself to do it right away. They have been monitoring me and have told me the waiting is over. I am feeling better about everything and I am trying to think about how good I am going to feel afterwards. My surgeon has told me the redo won't be a problem. He remembers my heart like it was yesterday. He said he knows exactly where his sutures are and will be in there and out in 2 1/2 hours. I have made another appt. with him next Tuesday because I have some more questions.
 
One of our members had concerns about going on Coumadin for the rest of his life so his Doctor suggested 'trying it' BEFORE surgery to see if there were any problems.

It seemed like a good idea to me. I wonder why more patients / Doc's don't do that (assuming they can postpone surgery for sufficient time to try it and get stabilized).

I second the recommendation to read AL Lodwick's website www.warfarinfo.com He is a Registered Pharmacist and Certifitied AntiCoagulation Care Provider who recently retired as Director of his own Anticoagulation Clinic in Pueblo, Colorado. He is also an Author and respected Consultant on AntiCoagulation issues.

'AL Capshaw'
 
I was 47 and very active when I got my St. Jude valve in December 2000. I'm even more active now, doing triathlons, sailing and golf, and the Coumadin has not been an issue for me at all.
Mark
 
Melanie, you said the surgeon made some adjustments to make the valve fit the first go around. What does that mean exactly? How long have you known it wasn't working right? I am scheduled for a redo after my mechanical valve has been in place for 51/2 years now. My root was too small also and the surgeon put in a pericardial patch in to increase the size. My valve is a 19mm, what size is yours? What are they going to do about the size of your root this time around?
 
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