wait, how do I know I'm me?
I just took a selfie in the bathroom and I think I've been abducted
Recently told I need valve replacement but may not be able to take warfarin
- Thread starter Zara0006
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I just took a selfie in the bathroom and I think I've been abducted
Yes, I guess you're just a floating arm.
It's a shame how a once important thread devolved. I'm glad to see that it mostly returned to the original topic.
(The other nine of me agree).
It's a shame how a once important thread devolved. I'm glad to see that it mostly returned to the original topic.
(The other nine of me agree).
my present view on the topic is this:
If you have no desire to bear children soon, then there is no pressing need to avoid anti-coagulation; however if you feel you would not in your present frame of mind be a good candidate for taking seriously ACT (monitoring weekly, having a good system setup to minimise errors in taking and forgetting taking) then perhaps there is as much risk from mismanagement of ACT as there is in second surgeries.
I don't see your age (like, say year of birth) in your "about" (and I'm not wanting to fish through every post you've made to try to see if you've mentioned it) which makes it hard to be sure of what I'm saying. Presuming that you're between 40 and 60 then I'd say the approach of "kick the can" can bring benfits as I mentioned here:
I believe now (more so than I did 10 years back) that having a bio as your first intervention can be a good thing. Its good because it transitions you from being able to recite data to actually possessing experiential learned knowledge. You grok it if I may use that word.
During recovery you become aware of what all those words people said mean when over (say) 10 to 15 years you go through recovery, to yearly examinations, to eventually turning the corner when Structural Valve Degradation (SVD) becomes an actual in your personal face reality. I recommend you read this about SVD.
Heart Valve Structure and Function in Development and Disease
The mature heart valves are made up of highly organized extracellular matrix (ECM) and valve interstitial cells (VIC) surrounded by an endothelial cell layer. The ECM of the valves is stratified into elastin-, proteoglycan- and collagen-rich layers that ...www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
You'll experience it and I believe that if you don't experience it you may well always wonder if that was what really happened. When people close to me have died suddenly and unexpectedly there was always some nagging part of my personal unconscious half expecting to see them ... this went on for years. This never happened to me with those who I saw getting sick, went to sit beside them during Chemo, went through remissions with them and then eventually there was no remission and I went to see them in their last days at the hospital and finally went to their funerals.
So based on what you've said, unless you decided otherwise I would suggest that you get a bioprosthesis and consider it not just "kicking the can down the road" but part of your personal life journey.
Remember, my journey started when I was about 6, with all the hospital visits (which increased in frequency) and then an OHS at 10, a (then called) catheter examination (as the technology was introduced) of how the repair was going, then at 28 got somebody elses valve, then at 48 (with the development of an Aortic Aneurysm) chose a mechanical valve with my bental.
I've since learned a lot about all of that and what it entailed and what I was lucky to avoid. I did however have a bit of a bumpy first year after an infection from the OHS #3 emerged.
WRT
I'd say that such a risk is minor and directly related to your age and the duration of time spent on the cross clamp. As you know I've had 3 and so after my redo (#2) I noted some time needed to get back into form. I was at the time in the middle of my degree in IT. I managed to graduate (with good marks) and work in the sector for 20 years
HTH
There have been a few women who have posted in this forum that they have had successful pregnancies while taking warfarin and/or with mechanical valves. Suggest you seek a second opinion on this, perhaps with a high-risk OBGYN, as this is a big decision.
My wife is on warfarin and stopped taking Levothyroxine (generic), not because of any known interaction, but because she experienced heart palpitations. She switched to Synthroid (brand) and the palpitations ceased.
well thats good, for a second I was concerned I'd been grafted onto a vampire
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I'm not even convinced that I'm the real Chuck C.
I've been reading up on Gilbert Harmon and am more and more convinced that I'm just a brain in a jar and all of you are just part of electrically generated imaginary memories.
I was going to shoot back, asking you how I know that you're the real Superman. Then I remembered that you presented photographic evidence that you went rim to rim at the Grand Canyon. Definitely the real Superman (at least as far as my imaginary brain in a jar universe is concerned
)
I'm not even convinced that I'm the real Chuck C.
I've been reading up on Gilbert Harmon and am more and more convinced that I'm just a brain in a jar and all of you are just part of electrically generated imaginary memories.
I was going to shoot back, asking you how I know that you're the real Superman. Then I remembered that you presented photographic evidence that you went rim to rim at the Grand Canyon. Definitely the real Superman (at least as far as my imaginary brain in a jar universe is concerned
Hey Zara, someone just posted that their wife gave birth with a mech valve - maybe you can pm them? I will try to find that thread since it’s recent.
I gave birth with a stenotic native mitral valve (did not know I had it prior) and that was extremely sketchy, bad option. I would agree to consult a high risk ob gyn (perinatalogist) as you decide what to do about your valve choice. They would have a better grasp on managing a mech valve pregnancy than a cardiologist would.
I gave birth with a stenotic native mitral valve (did not know I had it prior) and that was extremely sketchy, bad option. I would agree to consult a high risk ob gyn (perinatalogist) as you decide what to do about your valve choice. They would have a better grasp on managing a mech valve pregnancy than a cardiologist would.
It’s Shiv who just posted again - baby is 3 now.
slipkid
Well-known member
The talk above about the logical conundrum reminded me of this favorite scene from Star Trek that I first saw as a kid and never 4got..
I have already gone through one bowl of popcorn on this string. 8>)
then its been a good thread
Thank you! I will see if I can consult a high-risk ob gyn for advice! Cardiology don’t seem to have detailed knowledge in this area as I guess they see mostly older patients.
Superman very good comment
Astro
Well-known member
Hi Zara,
Hope you are going well. Have you decided tissue or mechanical yet?
Warfarin is a big challenge with pregnancy. Warfarin creates birth defects so clexane injections are generally required throughout the pregnancy. Full anticoagulation excludes epidurals or spinal options for delivery and increases risks of big bleeds. A tissue valve is much easier with pregnancy. I suspect that your doctors have already discussed these issues with you.
If you have a tissue valve, you can see how long it lasts. If you are lucky with how long it lasts, a TAVI might be an option when it wears out.
Good idea to get more than one medical opinion if you feel that they are not considering all the factors.
Lots of people have pregnancies with valve replacements so you won’t be your medical team’s first.
Regards,
Astro
Hope you are going well. Have you decided tissue or mechanical yet?
Warfarin is a big challenge with pregnancy. Warfarin creates birth defects so clexane injections are generally required throughout the pregnancy. Full anticoagulation excludes epidurals or spinal options for delivery and increases risks of big bleeds. A tissue valve is much easier with pregnancy. I suspect that your doctors have already discussed these issues with you.
If you have a tissue valve, you can see how long it lasts. If you are lucky with how long it lasts, a TAVI might be an option when it wears out.
Good idea to get more than one medical opinion if you feel that they are not considering all the factors.
Lots of people have pregnancies with valve replacements so you won’t be your medical team’s first.
Regards,
Astro
