Aortic Valve Replacement 03/2016

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JBranham

Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2022
Messages
6
Location
Columbia, SC
I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. I had no idea until I was having symptoms of shortness of breath. I saw my regular GP and they said I had a heart murmur. They referred me to a cardiologist. They did an echo on me and found I had a massive leak in my aortic valve. They told me had a bicuspid valve and it had become worn out and started leaking. I had surgery the next month.
 
Congratulation on getting the problem fixed before you had problems. Your brief history sounds like me in 1967 when the doctors gave me the news that I needed Open Heart Surgery (OHS). I assume you have a mechanical valve since you are on Warfarin. That should give you no problems unless you "screw around with that drug"...........then you are almost guaranteed to have issues......maybe serious issues. I got my mechanical valve when I waS 31 and am still looking down at the grass at 86 on that initial valve........so you've got a lot of life ahead of you. We hope you stick around this forum:) and learn
 
Congratulation on getting the problem fixed before you had problems. Your brief history sounds like me in 1967 when the doctors gave me the news that I needed Open Heart Surgery (OHS). I assume you have a mechanical valve since you are on Warfarin. That should give you no problems unless you "screw around with that drug"...........then you are almost guaranteed to have issues......maybe serious issues. I got my mechanical valve when I waS 31 and am still looking down at the grass at 86 on that initial valve........so you've got a lot of life ahead of you. We hope you stick around this forum:) and learn
Me too! I was 36 when I had my open heart surgery. They told me this valve should last me 50 years. They did give me the options of a pigs valve but was told it would only last 10 years. I had to choose between the two. The surgeon was not sure since my husband and I at the time were trying to get pregnant. It is a little more risky to become pregnant with a mechanical valve but I felt like it was a better option for me.
 
Did you end up having a fsmily?
Yes, we did! I had my son in 2018. They took me off of warfarin and I had to use Lovenox injections through out my whole pregnancy. I had no problems during my pregnancy. It was hard for me to find any stories of women having a mechanical heart valve and becoming pregnant. I did find one story of a woman who had a child after having her valve replaced and it gave me hope.
 
They told me this valve should last me 50 years
My surgeon told me my valve would last 50 years:unsure: and I thought they were "blowing smoke" to keep my spirits up..........that valve is now 55 years old and still going strong. As you read thru some of the posts on this forum you will find many mechanical valves on the way to 50 years.
 
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