I met with the surgeon approved by my insurance today. (It still burns me that I have no options or choices)
He strongly recommends a mechanical valve to replace Sammy's aortic valve. I was surprised by this as a mechanical valve means coumadin or warfarin for the rest of his life. Sammy is only 7. What if he wants to party on weekends when he goes to college? He'll have had the mechanical valve replaced with another by then but still... The surgeon said it was an easier surgery and that the valve would last longer- but that Sammy wouldn't be able to play sports- mainly because of the blood thinners. He said a tissue valve would only last 3-4 years, that it would increase the number of surgeries in Sammy's future. This is the first time I've heard this. He also mentioned that there is a space in between the heart and the breastbone that isn't there after the first surgery. I hadn't heard that either.
What do you guys think? For a seven year old boy- mechanical or tissue? He has to have it replaced as a teen anyway since neither will grow... but do tissue valves really only last 3 or 4 years?
How about the blood thinners? any thoughts
For those interested- I posted some photos from our trip to Palm Springs. It was really awesome. **sigh** wish life was always like that...
He strongly recommends a mechanical valve to replace Sammy's aortic valve. I was surprised by this as a mechanical valve means coumadin or warfarin for the rest of his life. Sammy is only 7. What if he wants to party on weekends when he goes to college? He'll have had the mechanical valve replaced with another by then but still... The surgeon said it was an easier surgery and that the valve would last longer- but that Sammy wouldn't be able to play sports- mainly because of the blood thinners. He said a tissue valve would only last 3-4 years, that it would increase the number of surgeries in Sammy's future. This is the first time I've heard this. He also mentioned that there is a space in between the heart and the breastbone that isn't there after the first surgery. I hadn't heard that either.
What do you guys think? For a seven year old boy- mechanical or tissue? He has to have it replaced as a teen anyway since neither will grow... but do tissue valves really only last 3 or 4 years?
How about the blood thinners? any thoughts
For those interested- I posted some photos from our trip to Palm Springs. It was really awesome. **sigh** wish life was always like that...