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    Mechanical Valve Data

    Are you asking how long a mechanical valve lasts after implanting in a patient? Before my surgery the surgeon told me the valve had been tested to last 50 years............mine is 56 years old and my docs now tell me that the valve will probably never fail during my remaining lifetime...
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    Need to make decision quickly for AVR please help

    At 55 I would go mechanical valve and, hopefully, it will be a one-and-done surgery. Doctors are used to treating "senior" patients for valve surgeries.......not young people, like yourself.......and do not see a patient as having a long life in front of them......and having a need for a valve...
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    Redo valve surgery within a year

    I am not sure where you've gotten your info about the restrictions of a mechanical valve........but I do not agree with them. I've had my mechanical valve 56+ years (got it when I was 31 and am now almost 88)) and have raised two young men (then 6 & 8 yrs. old, now 62 & 64 yrs old). There are...
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    Salutations!

    Welcome to the site. Although I have had sharp left-side chest pains infrequently over the years I've written them off as muscular pains and have never had them to the extent that I sought medical advice. This is a good forum for that type of question. Hopefully, someone will come around that...
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    33 years since #1!

    Well done:)
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    4.5 years after Mitral valve replacement, 34 age

    I use my PCP's lab, and they use coagucheck.
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    4.5 years after Mitral valve replacement, 34 age

    Making sure I take the anti-coagulant as prescribed and testing INR every two weeks is the only "must-do" I follow.
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    Inr

    I have an Aortic valve.
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    From possible to confirmed BAV and all that is to come

    Welcome to the forum. You are very young for a tissue valve and even if you are lucky enough to get 20-25 years out of the valve you will need another operation when you are still in your sixties......and likely another surgery, or surgeries, after that. The "noise"is normally not an issue...
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    I will have my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve next week

    There is no problem with drinking alcohol......responsibly, after your surgery. Getting "falling down drunk" will cause you problems.....on warfarin or not. When I had the surgery in 1967 there were no modern diuretics to help remove water from my body post-op. I was actually prescribed a 12...
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    Is this drop in INR a normal variation?

    That is an interesting question. In the early years (1960s-70s) after my surgery, doctors maintained my PT (pre-INR) at a fairly low clotting time, about 18 seconds PT, today's 1.6 INR and I compounded the problem by going several days without warfarin (on a fishing trip).......and I had my one...
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    I will have my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical valve next week

    I am sure you will have a long and normal life. We all have thoughts like yours when we approach this surgery. I was about your age (31) when I received my one and only mechanical valve......I am now 87. My valve has not interfered with my life and lifestyle......altho I did think twice (most...
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    Is this drop in INR a normal variation?

    You and your Cardio have the right idea. 2-3 is a reasonable, and safer, INR range. I'd also have my Rx written for 4mg tabs and splitting the 1mg tabs you have. The fewer tablets you have to take lessons the chance of error.
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    Is this drop in INR a normal variation?

    From your bio you have an Onyx valve so the 1.8 INR should be OK (per the Onyx guidelines) but I agree that since you have shown a couple weeks of trending down I would get another INR about midweek. It will take a little while to get your warfarin dose adjusted after recent surgery and as your...
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    I’m in the system!

    The rule of thumb is ages 60-70 the choice is either mechanical or tissue so you can choose whichever makes you the most comfortable. Good luck and Godspeed on your upcoming surgery.
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    Traveling after surgery?

    I would talk with your cardio and/or surgeon. Depends, I guess, on what kind of trip. I moved my family from one city to another city about 3 months post surgery and went thru the physical and mental stress of such a move without problems. If you go on the trip.....DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR...
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    mechanical or tissue valve and an active lifestyle?

    That's a long time. He must be doing something right! I had a friend who received, what he called, a Pig Valve in his early 30s that lasted 30+ years and was replaced with a mechanical valve in his mid-60s that lasted until he passed in his 80s. He died of cancer complicated by a dental...
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    BAV facing OHS in Oct (AVR and aorta graft)

    Ah Yes, I remember that time when we had to show the world, and our wives, that a little thing like Heart Surgery couldn't keep a good man down:giggle:. Relax and let life come to you......don't push it. You have a long life to live.
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    mechanical or tissue valve and an active lifestyle?

    I have a blood panel drawn annually that measures various functions. Nothing indicates any "out of range" functions, including the Liver, have shown up. That was also a concern I had based on "stuff" I had heard over the years. I also have a full head of hair.....another "old wives tale"...
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    mechanical or tissue valve and an active lifestyle?

    Welcome Yanina. I don't have a St. Jude but I also have an old valve. Mine is a Starr-Edwards mechanical that is 56 years old. If you are like me you can learn much from this Forum......I know I did even tho I didn't find this Forum until 40 years after my surgery.
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