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My spouse and a friend had both knees done at the same time. They are not on warfarin. Both did for the "one and done" reason. My friend said he knows many who need both done, but get one and then not the second, since one good knee was enough. He tells people to get them both done at the...

It's normal to second guess. I have a mechanical valve and second guess when I need surgery or need to take a disallowed anti-inflammatory drug. I'd still make the same decision, it's just no path is perfect. Rest easy that your surgery will be less annoying and risky w/o warfarin in your...

"It remains to me the sort of "dark horse hope" that I think (being brutally honest here) only the ignorant and the anxious would turn to ..." I don't know why you are calling proponents of different paths ignorant, or inventing scenarios such as: I think something else is driving that appeal...

Introvert is a label...don't label yourself. You can get done what is needed. We are all more complex than the labels. Prepare your questions so you don't forget what you want to know.

Congratulations. Your experience validates your chosen path. May you have many future years of good heart health.

Crying is a good release. Strangely it can help heal. My prayers are with you and yours.

For me the surgeon and cardiologist both said it was time to remove my BAV based upon the echo. I had no symptoms, but got my first within the month after I was told. Valve was removed 1-2 months later. Surgeon said it was ready to fail. A BAV can deteriorate slowly, but then there is a...

I read a study of Italian BAV patients who died from BAV based upon autopsy. They ranged in age from 17-80 (I think.) The median was 55yo, the age I was for my replacement. So with a fresh "valve job" and an age of 56, you should do well.

Good luck NorthVanJosh. Spring and early summer in Vancouver should be a good time for recovery. Take advantage of the nice weather and any offered physical therapy.

When I've had complications, I get true second and sometimes third opinions. For heart problems, several here have had good experiences with second opinions from one of the "factory" heart hospitals, such as Cleveland Clinic or Mayo, which provide pretty easy access to their team for second...

I am in the USA and my 1mg is pink and 5mg is peach (light orange)

Rest easy with the thought that both choices are good ones since they lead to life. The reason it is hard to chose is both paths have merit, which kind of means there is no wrong choice. At your age, if you have significant arthritis you may want to opt for a bio valve since warfarin keeps...

A) drive a car, as the driver - As soon as I was off pain killers, 2-3 weeks. B) play a round of golf , with a golf cart - Don't golf. C) have 2-3 drinks with dinner (I'll be on Coumadin) - As soon as I was off pain killers (I'd have 1 drink on them :) ) Ethanol does not interact with warfarin...

An EMT on here once said that if you have a mechanical valve and are on warfarin, they'd know that as soon as they ripped open your shirt, saw the scar, put stethoscope to your chest and heard the ticking.

I don't ride a motorcycle but have ridden bikes for many years. Given the accidents I've had on bikes, I would never ride a motorcycle with or without warfarin. Force=mass x acceleration is enough to keep me off a motorcycle irrespective of warfarin. Knowing three people who barely missed...

No of course not. I find Medscape's 5 question quizzes informational and a nice brain teaser. For example I didn't know men are more likely to get endocarditis than woman. It also reinforced what others have said from personal experience, that blood work is the best identifier of endocarditis.

My cardio indicated that there are current trials for development of new anticoagulants for warfarin replacement. One of the reasons for looking for new anticoagulants is to find one that doesn't require routine testing with dose adjustment. This is an expense as well as a risk. He didn't go...

Here is a 5 question quiz regarding endocarditis. Medscape Endocarditis Quiz You might find it interesting.

It's not really life vs. death when it comes to tissue vs. warfarin eater. There are complications with both paths. Warfarin eaters cannot take most arthritis medication and warfarin complicates a variety of procedures that a lot of people need as they get older. Tissue valvers will suffer...

Clean living will not keep your replacement tissue valve from deteriorating. Modern medicine has suppositions but no proof as to the cause of tissue valve degeneration other than it's the patient's individual internal biochemistry. Our society likes to think that a "healthy lifestyle" is a...