Aortic Valve Replacement 9/2021, now Tricuspid at 3+

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Golfjk

New member
Joined
Jul 2, 2021
Messages
1
I had OHS for aortic valve replacement last September along with a pacemaker at age 78. I have exercised and always led an active lifestyle. Being back on the golf course in April was an encouraging sign of my recovery. A few weeks ago I ended up in the ER with chest pains and high heart rate. Many tests done and the echocardiogram showed the tricuspid now at 3+ (moderate to severe) and pulmonary hypertension. The aortic valve was great and EF 60. The tricuspid has never been an issue before for me. Any advice, suggestions or recommendations from fellow heart warriors would be appreciated.
 
Any advice, suggestions or recommendations from fellow heart warriors would be and appreciated.

You and I share some common issues and concerns...
....we both have had aortic valves replaced. you recently and my valve several years ago.
....our valves are performing OK. yours biological mine mechanical
....we are both "seniors". you 78 me 85
....we were both very active thru our seventies. golf gym, etc
....we have both recently received a diagnosis of "pulmonary hypertension" PAH.

Over the last few years, I noticed a lack of stamina, shortness of breath, etc. In Jan 2022 I was diagnosed by my Internist and Cardio with PAH (the first time such a condition was mentioned to me). PAH, as it was explained to me, is "fatal and non-curable". My symptoms were so bad that I was referred to the Hosperus program for "end of life care" in March 2022. I was placed on 24 hour "in-home oxygen" and have improved to the point that I believe Hosperus will remove me and release me back to my regular doctor care in Sept. 2022. Like you, I am dumbfounded about what may be going on.......and I will be interested in any comments made by others.

PS: My 55th valve replacement anniversary of my only OHS is today, Aug 16, 1967 - Aug 16, 2022........Like my docs have always told me "the failure of your valve will not be what gets me in the end".......and OHS more than doubled my pre-surgery life expectancy (age 40)
 
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I was born with aortic stenosis and a bicuspid valve. At 47 I had my first OHS to fix both. 2 years later my tricuspid valve starting having problems and then 11/2 years ago I needed another OHS to repair the tricuspid valve be cause it would not close. No one can explain to me why my tricuspid valve did this.
 
I was born with aortic stenosis and a bicuspid valve. At 47 I had my first OHS to fix both. 2 years later my tricuspid valve starting having problems and then 11/2 years ago I needed another OHS to repair the tricuspid valve be cause it would not close. No one can explain to me why my tricuspid valve did this.
Hi there! Sorry for such a "fashionably" late reply, my tricuspid valve was repair "preemptively" during my aortic valve replacement. My surgeon (head cardio-thoracic surgeon at Mayo Clinic) said that he specifically does it usually with the larger sized aorta replacements because the tricuspid valve tends to "loosen" from its new fatter neighbor.
 
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