Aortic Valve Choices

[Chuck C]

Personally, I have never met a younger person, like under 70, who had a TAVR

If being under 70 makes someone "younger", at 54 I guess that makes me sort of a toddler
It's all relative.

 

[pellicle]

... It's all relative.

yep

 

[cldlhd]

If being under 70 makes someone "younger", at 54 I guess that makes me sort of a toddler
It's all relative.

It's funny how that works isn't it. I'm 52 , the other day a guy know who's almost 60 referred to somebody who's 72 as being young. Twenty five years ago I would have considered 52 to be virtually ancient but now I still feel young physically and mentally ( although I think I have matured a bit, wife might agree) But I'm sure if I could have my 22-year-old body back for a little while I'd feel the difference. I guess it's kind of gradual like a set of shocks wearing out....

 

[Superman]

It's funny how that works isn't it. I'm 52 , the other day a guy know who's almost 60 referred to somebody who's 72 as being young. Twenty five years ago I would have considered 52 to be virtually ancient but now I still feel young physically and mentally ( although I think I have matured a bit, wife might agree) But I'm sure if I could have my 22-year-old body back for a little while I'd feel the difference. I guess it's kind of gradual like a set of shocks wearing out....

I’ve noticed it’s the trade off of explosive strength for “old man strength” over time. I never was much for jumping ability. But now I really can’t jump. Can’t even touch the rim on a basketball hoop anymore. I look at the front porch steps and take them one at a time. A flying leap off the porch was no big deal when I was young. I could jump and roll of our garage roof when I was a teenager.

But my teenage boys can’t hope to push me out of the way. Or at basketball for rebound position, I get my spot these days.

Your shocks analogy is spot on. No shock absorption left.

 

[jcgtok17]

I had AVR surgery at 50 and a tissue valve. No air time given to mechanical. St Jude Trifecta GT 27mm. Edwards the "go to" valve in Japan due to sizing (21mm avg.). If this valve lasts < 10 years I will switch to mechanical. If > 10 tissue via TAVR.

 

[brijeshb]

My On-x ticks too . The intensity of sound varies slightly at times . I know someone with a St Jude but absolutely no ticking sound since his surgery (that was 23 years ago ) . I too feel it’s to do with the orientation of the valve and individual body structure

 

[cldlhd]

I’ve noticed it’s the trade off of explosive strength for “old man strength” over time. I never was much for jumping ability. But now I really can’t jump. Can’t even touch the rim on a basketball hoop anymore. I look at the front porch steps and take them one at a time. A flying leap off the porch was no big deal when I was young. I could jump and roll of our garage roof when I was a teenager.

But my teenage boys can’t hope to push me out of the way. Or at basketball for rebound position, I get my spot these days.

Your shocks analogy is spot on. No shock absorption left.

Yeah my son is 14 now and he had a growth spurt this year so I think he believes he's almost at the point where he can post me up.....

 

[Chuck C]

But I'm sure if I could have my 22-year-old body back for a little while I'd feel the difference.

Your wife might feel the difference too.
Please let us know if you find a way to get your 22-year old body back and sign me up!

 

[cldlhd]

Your wife might feel the difference too.
Please let us know if you find a way to get your 22-year old body back and sign me up!

I think she knew me when I was 22 but she wasn't fortunate enough to know me intimately until I was 25

 

[Deepak khanka]

Must be different for diff people. Maybe related to the size of the valve? Maybe with your chest cavity etc. Mine is inaudible. Can only hear it through a stethoscope or if I am lying on my stomach with chest touching the mattress, then I can hear it if an ear is on the mattress, it gets amplified somehow that way.

Or did you ask your surgeon ? Maybe his watch fell off during the operation!



View attachment 888001

Slipkid,What size is your on-x?

 

[jcgtok17]

Feel broken after "shoulder boxing" with 17 year old (with some boxing training). I "won" but highly bruised and full of lament. His challenge, not mine. Never again.

 

[Chuck C]

Feel broken after "shoulder boxing" with 17 year old (with some boxing training). I "won" but highly bruised and full of lament. His challenge, not mine. Never again.

Sorry to hear about your bruises......and lament.

Shoulder boxing, meaning regular boxing, but no punches to the head allowed? Or do you mean taking turns hitting each other in the arm until one person cries "Uncle"?

 

[tom in MO]

Feel broken after "shoulder boxing" with 17 year old (with some boxing training). I "won" but highly bruised and full of lament. His challenge, not mine. Never again.

A family friend used to wrestle and did with his son. He won consistently, but was slammed pretty good into the carpet by his boy...detached his retina. Be careful when you Dads try to play hard.

 

[jcgtok17]

Sorry to hear about your bruises......and lament.

Shoulder boxing, meaning regular boxing, but no punches to the head allowed? Or do you mean taking turns hitting each other in the arm until one person cries "Uncle"?

Boxing without the use of your arms. Strikes are with your shoulder to the opponent (upper arms, shoulder, chest). Head shot a rarity (gracefully). Almost healed up. One and done!

 

[Chuck C]

Boxing without the use of your arms

That sounds like the kind of thing that is more likely to happen when beer happens

Almost healed up. One and done!

Glad that your on the mend.

 

[Estrazz]

My On-x valve makes a lot of noise. I am 3.5 weeks post surgery. The noise has been a tough point for me at times, especially since I am having some arrhythmia issues and the audible tick just makes it more noticeable. My aorta was also replaced with Dacron which some are saying could cause more noise for me. 3.5 weeks post op I still am not allowed to do a whole lot so that makes the tick more noticeable as well. I really don’t notice it much when I am occupied.

While relaxingit is usually just a soft metal click like a watch. Depending on position or if I breath deep it can be more of a thud noise which really bothers me. As many have said, the tick beats the alternative.

 

[NorthWoods]

It will get better. Just remember that organs have been moved around in your chest cavity and have to settle back-in over time. Mine was a little audible after surgery, and now I am 10 months post surgery. It also depends on the position you are sitting or laying. When I breathe deeply, it is more of a thud than a tick, but that also gets better with time. Between 6-8 weeks post-op, you will notice bigger changes... way less pressure / pain on the sternum, the zipper will look more like a long scratch than a wound.

 

[Keithl]

My On-x valve makes a lot of noise. I am 3.5 weeks post surgery. The noise has been a tough point for me at times, especially since I am having some arrhythmia issues and the audible tick just makes it more noticeable. My aorta was also replaced with Dacron which some are saying could cause more noise for me. 3.5 weeks post op I still am not allowed to do a whole lot so that makes the tick more noticeable as well. I really don’t notice it much when I am occupied.

While relaxingit is usually just a soft metal click like a watch. Depending on position or if I breath deep it can be more of a thud noise which really bothers me. As many have said, the tick beats the alternative.

It should get better as your body just filters it out. I do know when I was recovering and mentioend the lciking one DR said they had to reoperate on a patient that just could take the clicking. I had my aorta replaced with dacron as well, and I heard it a lot in the first few weeks, then I rarely hear it now unless I am laying on my left side.

 

[AZATADINE]

Jeepers! They actually had a patient that they reoperated on to replace mechanical valve with a tissue valve? Holy Smokes!!

 

[Keithl]

Jeepers! They actually had a patient that they reoperated on to replace mechanical valve with a tissue valve? Holy Smokes!!

That is what they said, my guess is was some time after original to make sure the patient wanted to go through it again. Personally it could be a myth. I went mechanical to be 1 and done.