ElectLive
Well-known member
Is it just me or are On-X valve recipients overly exuberant about their manufacturer? Does it come with some sort of rewards program? Has the marketing team been stealthily infiltrating users’ passwords on this site for years? Is Cupid the head engineer? Stock options? Is the president of the company secretly posting comments here nonstop daily under multiple false identities?
Seriously, though. Sometimes it’s blatant, sometimes it’s subtle. But more often than not it seems, it’s not “you should consider mechanical” but instead “you should go mechanical, and there are these amazing On-X valves by the way…”
So you know, I am a tissue valver with zero stake in this issue. In fact, On-X was the available “fallback” based on a few scenarios my surgeon might have encountered once he opened me up. But I’ve just been casually browsing posts of all types the last year, and the theme just never seems to stop, kind of spreading like wildfire. I originally thought it might be limited to a selected few major perpetrators, but now I’m wondering if it’s infectious.
I don’t know if it’s different for tissue valvers, or what, but sometimes I can’t even remember what my valve is, and have to look at my wallet card more often than not. Now, on the other hand, though, if tissue vs mechanical is the issue at hand, I could voice opinions about that until the cows (so to speak) go home…
In all seriousness, I do actually have a point to this discussion: should you really choose a valve before a surgeon? Now I chose surgeon first, but didn’t really have time to do otherwise. I would like to hear other reactions, though, so how about a poll:
If you had to choose between your favorite surgeon and your favorite valve, and you could not have both, which would you choose? Assume you could still get your tissue or mechanical decision with your favorite surgeon, just not your favorite manufacturer / model #.
Of course, didn’t mean to step any toes with the jokes, just curious. And by all means, I hope the pro On-X forces will post responses too.
Back to my open, maybe it is just me. It’s not like there are any big banners with the On-X name on it flying over this website… Oh wait, whoops. Kidding of course, I know that’s an entirely different matter.
Thanks for your input!
PS Attention any On-X employees, I’ve got a great plan for you: if you have enough money to throw at college football and change the minds of the powers that be, imagine this: a playoff (finally!) culminated with a championship “On-X Heart Valve Bowl”. It’s a great idea, I know, go ahead, it’s yours to use…
Seriously, though. Sometimes it’s blatant, sometimes it’s subtle. But more often than not it seems, it’s not “you should consider mechanical” but instead “you should go mechanical, and there are these amazing On-X valves by the way…”
So you know, I am a tissue valver with zero stake in this issue. In fact, On-X was the available “fallback” based on a few scenarios my surgeon might have encountered once he opened me up. But I’ve just been casually browsing posts of all types the last year, and the theme just never seems to stop, kind of spreading like wildfire. I originally thought it might be limited to a selected few major perpetrators, but now I’m wondering if it’s infectious.
I don’t know if it’s different for tissue valvers, or what, but sometimes I can’t even remember what my valve is, and have to look at my wallet card more often than not. Now, on the other hand, though, if tissue vs mechanical is the issue at hand, I could voice opinions about that until the cows (so to speak) go home…
In all seriousness, I do actually have a point to this discussion: should you really choose a valve before a surgeon? Now I chose surgeon first, but didn’t really have time to do otherwise. I would like to hear other reactions, though, so how about a poll:
If you had to choose between your favorite surgeon and your favorite valve, and you could not have both, which would you choose? Assume you could still get your tissue or mechanical decision with your favorite surgeon, just not your favorite manufacturer / model #.
Of course, didn’t mean to step any toes with the jokes, just curious. And by all means, I hope the pro On-X forces will post responses too.
Back to my open, maybe it is just me. It’s not like there are any big banners with the On-X name on it flying over this website… Oh wait, whoops. Kidding of course, I know that’s an entirely different matter.
Thanks for your input!
PS Attention any On-X employees, I’ve got a great plan for you: if you have enough money to throw at college football and change the minds of the powers that be, imagine this: a playoff (finally!) culminated with a championship “On-X Heart Valve Bowl”. It’s a great idea, I know, go ahead, it’s yours to use…