chronic renal failure& valve replacement

[heartlite]

Hello all! I'm new to this board so i may bore you with my story.
I have survived non-hodgkins lymphoma for almost 28 years. I am 55 years old. i have had 8 recurrances since June of 1975. Due to the massive amounts of radiation, chemotherapy i had to go through, i have developed many new problems, and thank God i am still surviving! My major problem now is that i have both my mitral and aortic valve regurgitating, and they have seen its progression over 6 months. I went into my first bout of CHF, and lucky at the time it was only a mild attak. Oh i forgot to say that i lost my left kidney from the high doses of steroids in my chemo, also have only 70% function of my right kidney.
Now here the big problem. They cannot repair the valves nor give me new ones. If i should get too symptomatic they will have to do it, BUT, i will loose my 1 functional kidney and spend the rest of my life on dialysis. I was just womdering if anyone has this same problem, or if anyone caRED TO GIVE me their thoughts
on the . I would appreciate it. Take care one and all1

 

[Nancy]

Hi heartlite-

Welcome to this fantastic site. You have certainly been dealt a nasty set of circumstances. My husband has had his aortic and mitral valve replaced, and even with the replacements, he has CHF. As a matter of fact, he just got out of the hospital after 31 days for diagnosis and treatment of severe pulmonary hypertension, CHF and hemolytic anemia. One of the reasons he had worsening of his problems was that he developed kidney failure. It so far has turned out to be reversible and with the help of some new medications for the pulmonary hypertension and ProCrit to help with the anemia, they were able to cut back on his diuretics to give his kidneys a rest. So I know how all of these organs are interrelated and depend on each other.

Have they mentioned anything about kidney transplant? I have no idea if this might be a possibility for you. I guess I'm just thinking out loud here.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[heartlite]

your kind response

your kind response

Hi Nancy,

I do so appreciate your response. I surmise that you and Joe have seen some tough times too so at least we can emphasize
with each other. I know that we all should appreciate the hear and now, but it is so hard not KNOWING WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT! SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS' I'LL END HERE AND FIX THE DANG KEYBOARD. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU BOTH, bRENDA :

 

[Nancy]

Hi Brenda-

In spite of everything, NEVER GIVE UP! Joe and I have been through some things that we thought had no way out for him. If there's breath in your body, give it all you've got. Make sure you have the very best and brilliant doctor/s for your set of circumstances. You will need expert specialist care. There's an answer to just about everything, sometimes you have to go looking for it, because it isn't going to come knocking on your door.

Take care,

 

[Bill Hall]

Brenda - I just wanted to welcome you to this site. I don't have much information for you, but decided to reply anyway. I didn't see the correlation between having your heart valves replaced and losing your kidney. It certainly doesn't sound correct. Anyway, sorry you have so many hurdles to go over and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[ALCapshaw]

Hello Brenda,

Sorry to hear about your plight.

Johnny Stephens and I have both had valve replacement surgery complicated by radiation therapy for Hodgkins Disease. We both received St. Judes Mechanical Valves because they should last forever and NOT requre further surgery which both of our surgeons implied was of great concern. It would appear that neither of us had as much radiation as you have endured.

You may want to read Johnny's Personal Story and review his posts describing his complications due to radiation which he received in the 1980's, roughtly 20 years prior to his valve replacements. My readiation therapy (~3500 rads) was appoximately 35 years prior to my aortic valve replacement.

'AL'

 

[Ross]

Hi Brenda and welcome to the family here at VR.

I don't have much to add, but I would like to ask if you've been to one of the major heart centers and had an evaluation done by their multidisciplinary teams? I'm not trying to second guess about your one functioning kidney, but I think I'd like a second opinion from the top Docs on that deal. It's just something running through my mind. Disregard it if you have already.