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keev7

Member
Joined
May 20, 2012
Messages
8
Location
warwick, rhode island
hi all
my name is kevin. i am having surgery on june 5th. i had endocarditis in jan. of this yr. and need aortic valve replacement and double bypass while they are in there. im 59 yrs old and have chronic bronchitis. i don't know what valve to get. not very active sports wise, no known problems with meds. any thoughts....do you think im too young for a mechanical valve?
 
A heart felt WELCOME to our OHS family glad you found the site , there is a wealth of knowledge here for the future ... and I have listed some links for your research and prep ....WAITING IS THE WORST PART..

Bob/tobagotwo has up dated a list of acronyms and short forms http://www.valvereplacement.org/foru...4&d=1276042314

what to ask pre surgery http://www.valvereplacement.org/foru...t-of-questions

what to take with you to the hospital http://www.valvereplacement.org/foru...al-a-checklist

Preparing the house for post surgical patients http://www.valvereplacement.org/foru...House&p=218802

These are from various forum stickies as mentioned above and there is plenty more to read as well


And Lynw recently added this PDF on what to expect post op
http://www.sts.org/documents/pdf/whattoexpect.pdf

Again WELCOME Kevin to our OHS family I am putting you on the "family calendar" for June 5
 
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Welcome Keev7. At 59, valve choice is in the grey area between tissue and mechanical. If you are more sedentary, a tissue valve may last a good long time....but even if it lasted twenty+ years, you would have to have a re-op at 79+. I am 76 and can tell you that I would not look forward to surgery at that age. A mechanical valve should easily last your lifetime, but anti-coagulant therapy(warfarin) would be necessary for the rest of your life, unless they come up with a Warfarin replacement. There is also the question of medical advances that may occur, and change everything we now know concerning valve replacement, in the future. After reading many posts on this form, I can tell you that this surgery doesn't seem to be greatly different than when I had it 45 years ago. Read, Read, Read all you can and make the valve choice that you think best serves your situation. You will get a lot of good info, on both sides of the vave issue, on this forum.....and it is all based on personal experience, not internet BS.
 
Welcome to the site. This is going to sound wishy washy, but there is no single answer to the tissue or mechanical valve question. Both have their perceived advantages and disadvantages. In addition, either of the choices will be far better alternative that's presented by not having surgery. I know I kept going back and forth between the two for the full four months between the time I was told surgery was needed and my operation -- medicine for life or the possibility of another surgery. I ended up with neither, since my surgeon was able to repair my mitral valve. But I went under the anesthetic requesting tissue if needed, and changed my mind to that one during the last days leading up to surgery. I may have swung the other way if I had been on this forum beforehand, because so many of the people who have to take warfarin indicate that this is not as bad as they feared.

Good luck with your decision!
 
Welcome. Valve selection is a very personal one all of us here, except those few lucky ones who can have a repair done, must face. I would venture a guess that this topic has been discussed as much if not more than any other in this forum. Simply put, many factors come into play, like future surgeries for tissue valves when they wear out or going the mechanical route with the hope and expectation that it will last the rest of your life, but it comes with the need for taking Coumadin for the rest of your life. For me, being 53 years old at the time of my surgery and not liking the idea of having another surgery, let alone the potential of two, to replace tissue valves in my lifetime, I chose mechanical. For me, I liked the new generation On-x valve and its potential for reduced anticoagulation needs in the future (there is a long term study looking at that with results expected in a few years). I do not believe in counting on things that are not now fact, so I am comfortable and accepted the fact that if this trial does not show solid evidence of reduced need for anticoagulation, that I will be on coumadin the rest of my life. That being said, being on coumadin has been fine with me in the eight months since my surgery. There are other brands of mechanical valves that have similar benefits too. Many chose tissue valves and are very happy with those -- like I said, its really up to you. I would just suggest doing what you are doing now -- research the types, talk with your cardilogist and surgeon and then make a decision that feels right to you. After all, you're the one who has to live with it in the end.

Best wishes on your selection and your upcoming surgery.
 
Kevin,
I had my surgery when I was 50. My cardio (also my b-in-law) recommended mechanical but I was leaning towards tissue. I was relieved when my surgeon strongly recommended tissue and that settled it for me. I am physically active and did not like the idea of crimping my lifestyle by following a strict regimen of taking blood thinners. In the end, it is a personal choice. I hope to have a minimally-invasive tissue valve replacement in another 20 years what with the advancement in technologies and all. Fingers crossed. Do research all the pros and cons of both valve types on this forum and make the right decision for you. Once you do it, be sure not to regret it for the next 20+ years :)
All the best on June 5th. See you on the post-surgery forums soon.
 
Many people feel tissue is a great choice for folks approaching 60 years old.
That is what I chose and am grateful I made that choice but each of us have to decide for ourselves.
I knew I did not want to risk a loudly ticking valve and definitely did not want to have to deal with coumadin if I could avoid it.

Do lots of reading here on this site and hopefully the answer will become clear to you.
It is harder choice for some than others but we all have to make that decision for ourselves.

Good luck. :)
 
hi and welcome aboard, i was 52 when i had a tissue and am happy with my choice,being on anti coags and the problems that may occur with them didnt appeal to me, saying that a lot of members on here do ok on them, remember this is your choice and try not to be to swayed by what you read on here , yes get all the info but make your own choice for YOU, also pick the brains of your cardio and surgeon, whichever you pick is a good choice for you ok
 
thanks for all of your responses. i dont know if i will see my surgeon on my pre admission on may 29th, but i will be asking alot of questions
about my choice of valves than................again thanks.
 
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