My surgeon gave me the wrong valve :(

[Andrea]

I dont know if this matters or not, but when I had my pre-op consultation the surgeon stated he would use a St. Judes and I thought Ok great now I dont have to push for one. I wanted the St. Judes as everyone said it seemed to be the quietest.

Well, I went in for my post-op followup and he said he had put in a cardio medic or carbo medic. I asked why and he said because they are easier to sew in.

Well, I didnt want to sound ungrateful in the office and he cant exactly change them out, but I couldnt help feeling a little mad. I had went in there wanting a St Judes and didnt even have to push for it. I never mentioned how much I wanted it because he said thats what he was giving me.

Now I hope all this ticking that is annoying me isnt because I got a valve thats easier to sew in

 

[Les]

Andrea,
Don't know if this helps...but I've got a St. Jude and it is loud! In an earlier post about valve selection, I stated that I didn't mind because it lets me know at all times that it is working for me! You'll get used to it....I don't hear the click all the time. What's funny is when other people do and comment on it such as, "Man, that's a loud watch!" (especially when you're not wearing a watch...) Just things like that. I do believe they should have told you up front though...doesn't seem right. However, "Click On" Andrea, it beats the alternative!
________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[Andrea]

Guess its not too bad

Guess its not too bad

Well I guess its not too bad. I just sound like I have a Timex stuck in my throat. No one has been able to hear it unless they put their head on my chest. You're right though I should think of it as a reminder that I'm ok now

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Andrea,

Mine seemed loud at first too. I think that over time, with the body healing, it become softer, or maybe it was all in my head, and I just got used to it. The point is, regardless of which it was, it took about a year.

These days, I honestly don't even realize it, unless I am in a real quiet area.

Tick tocking away...

Rob

 

[bvdr]

You know what Andrea? I think I would feel really ticked off. Even if he meant that by being easier to sew in that he meant it was more likely to get a good tight fit for you, he should have been sensitive to how brass that sounds. Almost like he was late for a golf game or something and he had this valve he could use easy-sew on.

Knowing me, I would probably chew on the whole thing for a few more days and then call and talk to him and tell him what you understood him to say, tell him why it bothered you, and ask him if you are correct. At that point he will probably be so caught off guard, what he says in response may be the absolute truth.

Next week I have my first appointment with a cardiac surgeon at Duke (since I'm still in the waiting room) and you have given me one more area in which to be vigilent.

I hope you soon get used to the ticking and that you heal up good and strong. Betty

 

[Nancy]

Hi Andrea-

There are many folks here who discussed valve selection with the surgeon prior to surgery, and when they woke up, there was a different type of valve there.

I'm sure there is a very good reason the surgeon chose a different one for you. The testing that goes on before they open you up can only show so much, and when they finally get into your body, there might be slightly different conditions. Getting the right fit for your own particular anatomy can make a difference, so can having to do special positioning to get a valve seated properly. Maybe it was a size issue. Some valves are easier to implant and there might have been some other condition in there that made that necessary.

No matter what valve you have, if it is mechanical, you will hear some noise for a time, and as time goes by, like Rob said, you become accustomed to it. Joe has two, and his heart rhythm isn't always normal, so the clicking isn't always regular. I can hear it, but he pays absolutely no mind to it. Maybe it's because he's had the one for 25 years.

My bet is that your surgeon didn't want to burden you with all kinds of technical surgical stuff, and just gave you an easy, brief answer.

Take care

 

[Georgia]

I'm sure you'll learn to love it . . .

I'm sure you'll learn to love it . . .

Hi, Andrea! I think that the reason we can hear the mechanical valves so well after surgery is because we're mostly sitting around breathing (not a noisy task) and napping and walking. And I'll bet you can't hear it while you're walking. I found that although I could hear my St. Jude's when I first came home, I'm down to only hearing it in the bathroom now. You're only 4 weeks out and you'll be getting much more active and less focused on your heart.

Please don't let this throw you; it's a fragile time for recovery - you feel like you should be able to do more than you can, and that can get kind of depressing. I can imagine how you feel, but I think Nancy's really right on target in her comments.

Take care of that ticker!

 

[Andrea]

Speaking of fragile time of recovery, has anyone here gone through a 'blah' phase? My emotions seem to be all over the place. I am now 3.5 weeks post op and its getting better by I cry at the drop of a hat. Everytime the Lacey Peterson story comes on the news I lose it and start ranting about how her husband should be tourtured and killed. Jason just tosses me a kleenex box and lets me go with it. Seems like one minute I'm up and happy and the next I'm blah.

When I was in the hospital and they were having problems I was very strange. At least once a day towards the end I went through crying phases and even was convinced at one point that I wasnt going to make it out of the hospital. I never told anyone because I was afraid I would end up staying longer, but I even once thought 'I bet they'd be sorry they kept me here if I killed myself' I immediately thought no way would I kill myself but the fact that it had entered my mind scared me. I'm normally a little high strung but geez this was different.

Is this maybe due to all the weird meds? Did anyone else get 'weird' after surgery?

 

[Georgia]

Absolutely

Absolutely

I'm sure that everyone has ups and downs after this surgery; I know I did (still am to lesser degree). In fact, the nurse from cardiac rehab who came in before I left the hospital opined that everyone should be put on mood elevators for a few months after having OHS. Both he and my cardiologist emphasized that if I got depressed or felt out of control I needed to call to discuss.

You have the added burden of still having hormone issues layered onto this most stressful experience. Don't hesitate to call your doc and discuss if you feel huge mood swings. It doesn't take much to give you relief.

Keep in touch. This is tough stuff, kiddo.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Andrea-

Weirdness goes right along with this surgery. Most get it. The lucky few escape the depression phase. But depression is very, very common with any heart surgery. Sometimes it's temporary, sometimes it can linger. It's mostly chemical in nature, so not something you can help. Just be patient with yourself for a little while, let yourself cry if you feel like it, it will calm down eventually. If you are having self-destructive thoughts, please call your doctor asap. The antidepressants available today are terrific. A large number of people on this board are on them.

It takes a surprisingly long time for the drugs they give you and even the anesthesia stuff given, to leave your body. This lingering stuff and the major trauma to your body make for a tough mix for your body to handle.

But be assured, that a couple months from now, all this will be almost ancient history. It really does get better.

Just remember, if the depression is bad, and you can't function, speak with the doc about some antidepressants.

Feel free to vent to your friends here when you feel down.

You will be OK.

Take care.

 

[Ross]

After my second surgery, I think I wrote the book on getting weird. The funny thing Andrea, is that everything you mention fits almost to a perfect T of what I felt and experienced. Of course I nearly didn't make it, but I was so convinced that they were trying to kill me that well, ..........it was weird and I sure don't want to have to go through it again.

I still remember sitting there crying for absolutely no reason and a Doctor walking by stopped in and asked why I was crying. I told him I didn't know and I just couldn't stop. He said to go ahead and ball my eyes out, there isn't anything you can do to stop it anyhow.

 

[Marty]

Valve noise,weird feelings,etc.

Valve noise,weird feelings,etc.

Andrea, I know you wanted a St.Jude valve but the Carbomedics is a very good valve. You need to rely on your surgeon. If he was more comfortable sewing in that valve there had to be a reason and that is good for you. Now, there is evidence that the trauma of open heart surgery, being on the bypass pump is one of the toughest things a surgical patient undergoes. It really gets your body and brain chemistry all screwed up. Your blood is just full of stress hormones and chemicals. Some folks have severe depression, anxiety, panic, hallucinations, etc. As mentioned above there are good treatments for this and you should not be ashamed to consult a good young chemically oriented psychiatrist. Now having said this, I also suggest you get into rehab as soon as possible. This helps burn off those nasty chemicals mentioned above and also gets your brain to produce those pleasant morphine like endorphins. I personally did not need chemicals post op but I found the rehab to be an absolute lifesaver. It took about a year for the valve to quiet down and to get up to full speed. So hang in there.

 

[Creed3]

Andrea,
Everything you are feeling is normal. Right after my surgery I had a lot of ups and downs. Sometimes you will cry for no reasons and others you may feel like you are more like yourself and happy. You have definately been on a rollercoaster ride. I remember one thing I was told in the hospital was that when you are on the heart lung machine your whole body is shut down. Once everything wakes up again, it is like it all has to reboot and try to get back to normal. That doesn't happen right away. They told me that my hormones would be all over the place and that I would probably feel like I was pregnant, feel anxious, depressed, happy etc....If you start to feel like this isn't getting any better, please talk to your doctor. It is ok to take an antidepressent. In the meantime, try to look at your recovery on a week to week basis. You will see more improvement that way. You are still early on in the recovery period. Things will definately get better.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[John & Joann]

Carbomedics valves are used by many hospitals. They formerly were a supplier for St. Jude, but went into their own product a few years ago. Carbomedics claims that their valves are the lowest sound of any produced. They also use to claim that they never had a valve failure.

The old Starr-Edwards were the loudest on the market. We could hear them 30 ft. away in a quiet room.

Joann never could play cards, but with the old Starr-Edwards she was a disaster in the casino.

 

[Gail in Ca]

Before my surgery I was shown a St Judes valve but told it could be a Carbomedic brand, and the surgeon would determine which one to use. I got the carbomedic valve. They all tick, and some of us are more sensitive to the noise than others. I am still sometimes bothered at night by the ticking. I am a musician, so maybe I just am tuned into hearing sounds.
I am glad to be alive so I feel that whatever valve I got was fine with me.
Gail

 

[Swill]

One good thing about my St. Judes is that I don't need to find an artery when taking my pulse, I just count the clicks...

My wife says she loves that click; it lets her know I am still alive.

Guess I was lucky. I don't remember any abnormal mood swings after surgery. Just that I was very tired and wanted to sleep all the time. Still need my nap in the afternoon, but it looks like it is related to the Beta-Blockers the docs have me on. They have reduced the dosage and have said that I should be off them soon...

Will

 

[mike anthony]

Andrea,
I have so for recovered pretty fast and have not really had any mood swings, but I have found myself sometimes crying for no reason at all. Actually, I find it interesting, because it shows that I have this sensitive side I knew I had, but doesn't show up very often.

 

[Andrea]

I cry at hallmark commericals, folgers commercials and God forbid they show soldiers returning home because I absolutly turn into a baby then. And the angry gumball commercial scared me at first and now I cant get it out of my head. I have caught myself in the grocery store singing 'I'm an angry gumball, so bitter and highstrung' ... I'm pretty sure I'm crazy at this point

Other than being crazy I think I am recovering pretty well now too

 

[Ross]

'I'm an angry gumball, so bitter and highstrung' ... I'm pretty sure I'm crazy at this point

You too? Tell you what, why don't you help me out. Together we can take over the world?

 

[Jim Trickey]

Hi Andrea
I was told that the heart lung machine messes with your body while you are on it. I ran a temp of 100 for several weeks. The mood swings might go along with this, assuming of course you were on the Machine durning the operation. The ticking took some getting use to but it fades into the background with time. My wife said she loved it, sounded so much better than the swishing sound the blood made passing through the damaged valve. What was funny was the fact that at the time of the operation I was taking classical guitar lessons. The guitar makes a great amp when you hold the back to your chest