38/M - 5.5 weeks post AV/Root Replacment (Surgeon Selection, Recovery & Pericarditis)

[jeffreycaulfield]

A mechanical valve cannot be done via TAVI. Only tissue.

Thanks, dont know how i missed that!

 

[acki46]

Hi @jeffreycaulfield

My current energy levels are no different to pre-surgery as I was asymptomatic. The pericarditis pain has now eased, but the advice seems to minimise any strenuous activity for 1-3 months .

I was always a casual surfer at the best of times and given current circumstances (travel, winter & pericarditis) I haven't been in the water for the best part of 4 months. I definitely still had discomfort during my last surf but it has eased over the past 12 months. I did discuss it with my surgeon post-op and he said that it can be caused by a build up of scar tissue at the base of your sternum. Apparently you can have an operation to remove this scar tissue if it is significnatly affecting your comfort but I have not explored this further.

As others have saide - TAVR/TAVI is not possible with a mechanical valve.

 

[jeffreycaulfield]

Hey @acki46 ,

I hope you've recovered from your second pericarditis episode. How are you feeling now?

I've spent the last couple of months weighing up valve options and this thread has been a massive help in choosing a valve and easing the anxiety about what's to come. Thank you for this.

I've decided to go with a mechanical valve with the hope that it's a one and done scenario. The plan is to have the surgery mid november.

I'm either going to go with Dr. Jansz at St Vincent's or a surgeon in Ireland to be closer to family for the recovery.

I hope you don't mind answering a couple of final questions. I feel like our lifestyles are similar with regard to travel, hiking and casually surfing so you're answers have been really helpful for me.

- Did you have a full sternotomy or was Dr Mathur able to do a mechanical valve via a mini sternotomy?
- What type of mechanical valve did you choose and why? I'm considering either a On-X or St Jude

Thanks for all your help. I plan to do a similar post following my surgery to give back to this amazing community.

 

[Lisa from LJ]

Do you have autoimmune issues? I've had recurrent pericarditis since my surgery in 1998. It's nothing like it was the first couple of years and I always feel it coming on, so I take colchicine and Aleve immediately, but they say it's an autoimmune issue, just like a few other things that I have.

 

[jeffreycaulfield]

Do you have autoimmune issues? I've had recurrent pericarditis since my surgery in 1998. It's nothing like it was the first couple of years and I always feel it coming on, so I take colchicine and Aleve immediately, but they say it's an autoimmune issue, just like a few other things that I have.

No autoimmune issues but that’s interesting. It sounds like pericarditis is more common than I realised

 

[acki46]

Hey @jeffreycaulfield ,

The pericarditis episode didn't last longer than a couple of days, however medical guidance has been to reduce exercise for a period of 1-3 months (dependent on a number of factors) - this is probably the most frustrating thing about the whole thing.

I started excercising two weeks ago and went for my first decent bike ride in 5 months (most of this delay was due to international travel rather than pericarditis)

In regards to your questions:
- I had a full sternotomy. I did ask Dr Mathur if he would consider doing a mini. His guidance was that he wanted full access should something go wrong.
- I have a Medtronic Open Pivot valve; this was what Dr Mathur recommended based on his surgical experience

In both cases, I deferred to the surgeon's recommendation given his vastly greater experience in this matter than mine.

At this point I have no regrets with my choice of a mechanical valve. I'm approaching 2 years post OHS and I can imagine that I'll reach the 10 year anniversay before I know it. I'd hate to be staring down the possibility of another OHS (probably more from the mental aspect rather than the physical recovery).

Cheers,

Alex

 

[acki46]

Thanks for sharing @Lisa from LJ ,

I don't have an autoimmune disease, I do however have Hereditatry Fructose Intolerance. I haven't found anything that would link HFI with pericarditis.

How often do you suffer pericarditis?

 

[Lisa from LJ]

How often do you suffer pericarditis?

Not very often anymore, maybe once or twice q year, and when I feel it coming on, I take medicine immediately that knocks it out. The first round of colchicine didn't completely put it into remission, but it did slow it down immensely.