Decisions, decisions;
And this is a real big one. On one hand, the tissue valve will probably have to be replaced, you're young and they don't last forever. Will they be able to do a non-invasive replacement? Maybe not for this one, but in a few years, who knows?
On the other hand, there's the mechanical valve with a life on Coumadin which does not at all go with an active lifestyle. Will the new group of anti-coag drugs inhibit excessive bleeding? Don't know yet.
They say they gave me the choice in the Hospital and recommended, because of my age, the mechanical valve. I don't remember anybody asking that question. I was probably too wacked out to do any decision making.
I can sympathise with you on this decision. I was a very active Scuba Diver, Qualified Rescue Diver going for Dive Master. That all went flying out the window and got me totally depressed. But....., Will the new drugs allow me to get back into the swim? I just stopped myself from flinging my equipment in the garbage in anger. Who knows what's going to happed? The scientists, God bless them are coming up with new medicines/procedures at a really rapid pace. Maybe soon we can all just take our medicine and forget we have valve problems.
If I were you, I'd ask your Cardio Doctor, just what he sees in the near future, then talk to another one. This is a real important decision.
Make a good one,
Icarus (Rich)
