Carbomedic Valve

[Bad Mad]

You may want to continue your research by looking at the websites for the various valve manufacturers.

The 'big four' mechanical valves available in the USA are made by ATS Medical, Carbomedics, On-X, and St. Jude. You can find their websites with GOOGLE.

I am impressed with the technological advancements available from On-X (see www.onxvalves.com and www.heartvalvechoice.com). The Ox-X valves have been approved by the FDA for a study using LOW and NO Anti-coagulation in Low and Mild Risk patients. This study will continue until 2015. The benefits (lower risk of clot formation and lower risk of damage to blood cells) come with the valve, regardless of the results of the anti-coagulation studies.

The Gold Standard for Longevity belongs to St. Jude whose valves have been around for 30 years. (see www.SJM.com).

ATS and Carbomedics are 'spinnoffs' of the St. Jude Valves.

ALL 4 use Pyrolytic Carbon for the leaflets which was designed for use in the Nuclear Power industry by the same person (my mind has gone blank!....) who subsequently has made a career out of designing Heart Valves. He is the founder of On-X which produces his 'latest and greatest' design.

'AL Capshaw'

It's Jack Bokros. I've read his name that many times on VR.com, I'll never forget it

 

[Freddie]

Hi there Angela,
Yes men can be difficult. Explain to him that he will feel like a train has hit him then a 18 wheeler followed. The first two weeks of recovery will be an experience for all of you. Walking, drinking (water, juice) doing breathing exercises and resting are most important. Trying to recovery to quickly could give him complications. And no one wants that. He'll learn that his body will tell him when he's had enough - its all boils down to learning to listen to your body. As the body heals, there will good days of being really sore and tried and days where he could take on the world (well almost). Three steps forward and two steps back - could be a normal recovery - but that too gets better. Everyone is different in the recovery process.

Your daughters will love playing "nurse" to daddy........daddy will have to learn to listen to them.
P.S.
Have a stop watch handy so they can time daddies walks. I started out at 10min 3 to 4 times a day.

 

[AngelaR]

Trying to recovery to quickly could give him complications. And no one wants that. He'll learn that his body will tell him when he's had enough - its all boils down to learning to listen to your body.

That is what I am most worried about. Him doing too much too fast. That is why I am setting up the "Ray Watch". All of our friends know how he is and our committed to helping "wrangle the beast". He has a very high pain tolerance and I worry that he won't know what he needs.

I am hoping to convince him to spend some time on these boards. He is mostly like just tell me what you've read. He's not one for spending anytime, other than checking out the Tampa Bay Bucs website and ordering gear from Black Hawk and Under Armour, on the computer.

I will try and get him to visit and talk with you all. It has been a great help for me =)

 

[Freddie]

That is what I am most worried about. He has a very high pain tolerance and I worry that he won't know what he needs.

I TOO thought I had a very high pain tolerance - but I gave in. Maybe he will too - to a point.

Try not to worry, relax and be confident - your kids are watching.

 

[Bad Mad]

Angela
As most people on the board have alluded to, whatever choice he makes, it will have little change/restriction on his life.

I went tissue in 2001, age 23 (AVR), so I could continue contact sport (Gaelic Football). Just over 3 months ago, age 30, my valve was replaced and this time I went mechanical.

I've been back coaching and exercising for over 6 weeks now, and have just returned from a game of 5 aside soccer about an hour ago, during lunch time at work. Unfortunatley Gaelic Football is very robust in the contact stakes, so I've hesitantly accepted that I must give it up, but do intend to continue to be as active as possible at other things

Having got kicked/knocked/fell a few times (accidently of course) in my "friendly" games of 5 aside in this past few weeks, I have learned first hand that the warafrin/comaudin isn't the big bad wolf some people have made it out to be

The "Blow outs" on the booze may be a concern, especially if its 2 or 3 days in a row. Pints and Pints of the black stuff for 2 or 3 days solid mightn't be a great idea
Again though, everyone is different, and I understand dehydration has a significant part to play in the effect of alcohol on the INR.

Whilst I do not reccomend it, I've had a few more than the recomended 2-4 drinks since staring warafrin with no effect on my INR. I do avoid taking spirits now, though I did chance a couple of rather nice 'Mojitos' on Friday past

Good Luck with everything, and feel free to ask any questions you might have

 

[AngelaR]

Bad Mad, you made me laugh! ha ha.

No it's not 2-3 DAY benders. Just once or twice a month. Not two days in a row though....well there was last October when he decided him and his buddies were going to see a football game in New Orleans and he did drink like a fish for 3 days straight. He came home looking like a tomato and sweated hurricanes. And doesn't remember much of the game, other than there was booze there. (rolls eyes)

 

[AngelaR]

A new question

A new question

OK, reading I am learning more and more. We see the surgeon again on Tuesday.

What are some good questions I need to ask.

I want to ask about the stitching that he plans to use.

I will demand that we have access to home testing equipment.

What else? Thanks in advance.

 

[Bad Mad]

Guinness for 3 days solid?! I wouldn't like to have been tasked with cleaning his cage out after that!!

 

[halleyg]

I was a firm believer that there was nothing diet and exercise couldn't cure. So you can imagine how this rocked our world

This was me, too, so I do know how this feels. I have a carbomedics mitral valve, and so far, so good. I did have a minimally invasive repair first, which had to be replaced 6 months later. I've now had the carbomedics for 7 months and I feel pretty good, back to exercising and all that. Good luck. Sounds like you are asking a lot of great questions, which is always smart.

 

[Ross]

That is what I am most worried about. Him doing too much too fast. That is why I am setting up the "Ray Watch". All of our friends know how he is and our committed to helping "wrangle the beast". He has a very high pain tolerance and I worry that he won't know what he needs.

I am hoping to convince him to spend some time on these boards. He is mostly like just tell me what you've read. He's not one for spending anytime, other than checking out the Tampa Bay Bucs website and ordering gear from Black Hawk and Under Armour, on the computer.

I will try and get him to visit and talk with you all. It has been a great help for me =)

Don't worry about that either. The human body will tell you when you've over done it and won't let you do anymore. Self regulating you might say. To overdo is painful. Generally, Pain stops people from doing much.

 

[Brian]

Carbo Medics Valve

Carbo Medics Valve

Hi Angela,
Today March 26 is my 4th yr anniversary of having my 23 mm CarboMedic Valve installed. Hands down, for me, it was a fantastic decision and with out a doubt is a whole lot easier to live with than I have ever expected. I have been on Coumadin since, I switch my dosages from 10 mg to 7.5 mg depending on my INR, but usually I am on 10 mg and the 7.5 mg just keeps it in balance. My INR target range is 2.5 to 3.5. As long as I pay attention to having some Vitamin K rich food daily my blood stays with in the perfect range. After I came home from my surgery I also bought my own CoaguChek S monitor. It was the best $995.00 that I have ever spent. There has been the odd issue with the strips from the company being recalled, but it has caused me no problems what so ever. They replaced the strips free of charge. I check my machine with the lab results at the hospital usually once a month and so far it has always been very close if not bang on.
Getting back to my valve, I too was worried if I was making the right decision to go with it.. but with all of the FANTASTIC people on this website and consultation with my cardiologist and surgeon it made my decision and the day of surgery so much easier. My valve keeps ticking away.. each year when I go for my check up, all I hear the specialists say is "EXCELLENT". That is a wonderful thing to hear come out of their mouths.
As you have been told, it is a personal decision for which kind and or procedure to go with, but for me I have never looked back or been held back by ANY limitations since having my valve installed. It is just fantastic. the Carbomedics valves have an excellent, excellent success rate. The last I heard I believe it was some where in the neighbor hood of over 500,000 valves installed with out any failures... the numbers for me say it all. The fun part is, once it's installed they send a card with the serial number of the valve...LOL.. kinda like a passport..sort of. Ha Ha..
I just can't tell you how wonderful my valve has worked for me and still is working for me. I'm 45 and was 41 when I had it installed.. I usually joke it as the day I had a valve grind... If the day comes again that I need to have it replaced, I would do it again "in a heart beat", pardon the pun. The blood thinning thing for me is a non issue, just something that I have to watch and deal with, I don't do the BIG worry about it, I just live my life more or less the same as I have always done. Ross is correct, it's not as big of an issue once you are involved in it.. one gets used to working and dealing with it..

I hope this helps, I too was at a loss until I talked to people who had it done.

Best of wishes,
Brian Anderson
Champion, Alberta

 

[Natanni]

Hello!

My husband has had his Carbomedics since Sept 05 @ 34 years old He has also been home testing since 2 months after surgery and would agree that it was an excellent investment. The only thing he does differently because of the coumadin is wear a motorcycle helmet. He did not start bench pressing again, but that is more in fear of causing heart damage (he lifts 75+ lbs per day repetitive for work).

You sound alot like me shortly before Nathan had his surgery--he will probably over do, and after that they KNOW they need to slow down

Wishing you all best,

Ann

 

[cp172]

Hi Angela,
When I found out I needed OHS for my mitral valve the folks on this board convinced me the wait was the worst past.I asked my surgeon to proceed ASAP even though I could have delayed it. I am glad I did. I too am very independent but when I saw all that my family went through (which I think was worst than what I went through) I have allowed them to pamper me as they desire.If it makes them happy then that is the least I can do.I bet your husband will feel the same.

For me recovery was the fun part as the VR Veterans had already told me what to expect. I am 6 weeks post op.and glad I got OHS out of the way. It no longer consumes all my thoughts. Best of luck to you and your husband.

Thanks for serving our country!

 

[gijanet]

Another carbomedics valver here..........

Another carbomedics valver here..........

Sorry for the late response. I just don't have time to get by as often as I used to........sigh!......anyway, my 7 year old daughter Katie is the proud owner of a Carbomedics valve. It was implanted when she was 4. Our 3 year anniversary will be this July. She has the mitral valve, though, to replace her common atrioventricular valve (mitral and tricuspid merged). Regardless of the location difference, it has served her well, and we hope and pray that it will continue to for many, many more years.

I have to confess that I was hoping for the On-X valve like several others here because I was both intrigued and impressed with the hemodynamics and the preliminary studies; I even had the sales rep contact our surgeon. However, similar to your husband's surgeon, our surgeon didn't like the fact that the On-X did not have the proven track record that the carbomedics valve does, and, with her anatomy, he would never endorse Katie going coumadin free, regardless of whether or not the aspirin only regimine ever comes to fruition with the On-X. Katie's situation is a bit different, though,and it is not her aortic valve that was replaced, but your husband's is. ( I believe you have already researched, but the stats for the carbomedics aortic valve are very comparable to all the other top mechanical valves.) For the most part, I feel completely comfortable with the carbomedics, but still sometimes late at night (like tonight), I wonder if we made the right choice. I try and take comfort in the fact that I trust our surgeon implicitly (he has performed Katie's last four surgeries and we travel halfway across the country just for his hands and experience).

As for the coumadin, your husband will do fine most likely. Katie is a little tomboy and stays one big bruise, but is little worse for wear. I do sweat the occasional head bumps and stomach bugs (when she throws up her coumadin), and I do get a wee bit nervous when I look out in the backyard and find her swinging upside down from the gymset with a stuffed animal in her mouth trying to get the dog to jump up and fetch it out of her mouth.............sigh! We have also been very fortunate in that Katie's INR stays relatively stable. We did have to up it recently, but she is a growing kid. Once the initial up and down period of getting in range is over with, your husband will most likely stay relatively stable, except for stomach bugs and when taking antibiotics, and, as he gets back into his physical routine, he will most likely have to increase his dosage, but he will probably restabilize quickly. There are a few on here, though, who do have problems staying in range. I hope your husband will not join their ranks; the odds are that he will not.

AS for questions for the surgeon, all I can think of are the usual. How many valve replacements does he do a year? What are his mortality stats? What are your husband's limitations after surgery? Driving, lifting (your hubby most likely will not be able to pick up your kids for six weeks or so) going back to work, etc. Will he recommend cardiac rehab? Who does followup? surgeon or cardiologist?

Okay, I'll quit rambling. Good luck and keep us posted. Hugs. J.