Did I make the wrong choice?

[JohnnyV_46]

I had a mild heart attack 3 weeks ago. I'm 46 years old, self employed. The next day they did a Cardiac catheterization and found 3 coronary arteries that had some pretty good blockage. The Doctor also pointed out that I had a bicuspid aortic valve that was showing signs of Calcification and Aortic Anneuryzm that was over 5 cm. I never left the hospital before my surgery. I knew very little about the procedure.
I know the doctor explained the mechanical and tissue valve and then brought up the whole Cumadin issue...The only thing I could rememeber was how much trouble my dad had with Cumadin after lung surgery. I decided on the tissue valve. I had a friend tell me about this site after my surgery. It looks like most here have Mechanical valves. I have a Cow valve. I know I'll have to have it replaced eventually.I'll definitely be more informed next time. So do most opt for the Mechanical?

 

[Mary]

I had a bovine valve implanted too. You're not the only one mooing around this place!

 

[Lynlw]

I don't think there really is a wrong choice. My son is 17 and has tissue, but I know alot of people around your age here seem to go Mechanical. because chances are it won't need replaced, others go tissue to avoid coumadin , I know it's not as bad as people think, but I'm glad Justin doesn't have to deal w/ any meds for 10-15 years. I know alot of the people that have tissue hope when they need the tissue replaced, there will be improvements
I'm glad you are doing well Lyn www.caringbridge.org/nj/justinw

 

[samiam]

Mooooo. I'm 55. Don't know about the valve you received, but mine is "supposed" to last 25 years. When it's time to replace your valve, imagine how much further along cardiac procedures will be. They will probably do it with a catheter or something we can't even imagine. Maybe Dr. McCoy from Star Trek will wave his hand over your chest. Who knows?

There was no way you could have been "better informed".

Welcome to the group.

 

[KristiinSD]

I have been looking at this issue since June.

I have been looking at this issue since June.

And my surgery is not until the 29th of this month...and I would go tissue. I'm your age with a insufficient mitral valve.

Kristi
mr

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Well it's nice to know I'm not the only one Mooo'in here. How long does it take for your Sternum to heal? I really didn't get a very good send off from my Cardiologist because it was the Infectious Disease doctor who dismissed me from the hospital the second time. My first visit to the Cardiologist is not until the 20th of this month. It just doesn't seem like it's been 3 weeks!..I'm so glad I found this Forum.

Thanks for your Replies!
JohnnyV

 

[CCRN]

The right choice

The right choice

You are alive and well......You made or had the right choice made for you. Having a mechanical valve does not mean you will never have to have another open heart procedure. I have a mechanical valve and wish I had a tissue! Don't give it another thought...for a while. Live your life and enjoy. You could be one of the many that prove tissue valves last WAY LONGER than some people like to project. Take good care of yourself and have great expectations. I envy you.

 

[geebee]

I don't think there are right or wrong choices for valves. There are so many different factors that result in deciding what valve we end up with. Some of us didn't even get to make the choice ourselves. Just enjoy being alive and the rest will take care of itself in time. As many folks say "who knows what will be happening in 15 or 20 years".

Glad to hear you are doing well. Enjoy your new lease on life.

 

[cocoalab]

I tried to post earlier but the computer had it's own ideas.;-D

Congratulations for making it this far! That is the most important thing. I am actually mom, not the patient so I have not been as brave as all you have here.

My son has had his valve replaced twice and had a mechanical the first time- chosen for us after the repair just wasn't good enough, and we opted for tissue this time. He has a Bovine as well.

My hope is that all our tissue valves will last a very long time and that each of us will have succesful surgeries (okay I don't really want to be in this part of the we.) Who knows what the future holds? so we live today with what we have and trust God to get us where we need to go in the future. TRy not to worry; it is a waste of energy. :-D

Hope you can just enjoy your life!

 

[rbl1999]

Hi, I also had a bovine tissue valve in July and feel that I made a good decision. Like everyone here says, it is an individual decision. My surgeon felt that is what I should go with, I am 59, he feels I should get about 20 maybe more years out of it.. And I liked the idea of not dealing with the coumadin. As for the sternum. it is going to take a while to heal, it is major surgery, I am 7 weeks post op and am doing good, but my doc says about 6 months for full recovery. All the best Rose

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome to the cow pasture and glad to see that you had successful surgery in the nick of time! You should do fine with the cow valve and as others have said, who knows what advances will be made in 15 or 20 years. In the meantime, have a speedy and uneventful recovery and enjoy.

 

[Ross]

I don't want to be the naysayer here, but don't bet the farm on future surgeries or techniques. There may be some advancements, but it's not likely to be much more then we already have. All I'm saying here is, if given a choice, do not base your decision on what "MAY" happen in the future. The future is uncertain and cannot be relied on.

Did you make the wrong choice? Absolutely not! Your alive and that's a choice anyone can live with.

 

[MarkU]

I don't want to be the naysayer here, but don't bet the farm on future surgeries or techniques. There may be some advancements, but it's not likely to be much more then we already have.

I think it depends on the timeframe. If you're talking about the next five years or so, then you're most likely correct. If you're looking at 10-20 years out, then I would tend to believe that we will be seeing significant advancements in minimally-invasive procedures, robotic surgery, valve technology, etc.

Mark

 

[hensylee]

recovery:
don't lift anything above 5# for first few weeks, graduate to 10# and eventually to 25#

Walk a lot and do your breathing exercises

No driving for about 4-5 weeks

Don't expect your sternum to be healed for some time. My surgeon told me it takes a full year to recover from MAJOR surgery, which opening the sternum definitely is.

Others may have more on this subject.

 

[LLJ]

You had alot done with so little notice! The decision would'nt be any easier if you had more time. I still debate if I should have gone bovine or porcine (I'm oinking ) Mechanical was never an option I considered due to lifestyle. I know alot of people have strong opinions about it and that"s good, because debate often produces change as well as solidifies ideas. Truth be told, it doesn't matter now, you will be going forward with a healthier heart! Take care of it with exercise and diet and it will take care of you. I'm with Ann,sternums take awhile to heal. Let the people who care about you take care of you. It's your job to get better and work on positive attitude in the face of sudden change!
Laura

 

[Eric]

Johnny,

Surgery to replace my ascending aorta and maybe my BAV (the doc will make a game-day decision) is this coming Monday, September 12th. If he decides to replace the valve I'm going bovine. Here's why...

I'm 42 and, very active and I don't want to have to deal with the drugs for the rest of my life. Also, a mech may not last me the rest of my life. If there is significant improvement in technique or the quality of valves over the next 10-15 years, I'll be the beneficiary of that. If not, at least I'll have a better quality of life in the meantime. Maybe I'll have a mech put in at that time which should last me for the rest of my life.

So, although the decision is personal and there is a degree of subjectivity to it, I made the same decision you made but took longer to make it.

 

[tobagotwo]

There may be more here on the site who have mechanical valves, but I am not sure. If so, it might be partially due to continuing information and support for warfarin (Coumadin) use, rather than a preponderance of people receiving mechanical valves. It seems a pretty even split among preops visiting the site.

People who receive mechanical valves will often stick around a bit to learn how to manage their Coumadin in practical terms, whereas those with tissue have less impetus to remain after the first few months postop. And the longer you stay, the more you're apt to find friends, and thus the more likely you may be to poke your head in and out long-term.

The use of different types is more split by different age groups than by any other criterion. The use of tissue valves in younger age groups has expanded greatly in the last five years, due to improvements in their longevity. However, there is no clear edge for either type over time as far as the patients' overall health and length of life in the most common implantation age groups. The deciding factors are usually best tied to your individual heart issues, general health, and personal preferences.

Of the tissue valves, the bovine models (such as the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna) have the longest proven lifecycle so far. As such, you've been given a fine valve, even if you didn't get to choose it yourself.

Relax and enjoy the benefits you derive from your valve. If you've read much of the posting here regarding tissue vs. mechanical, you realize that people in your age group wind up in a terrible quandary as to which is the better choice for them, as it really is a toss-up, in terms of safety and prognosis.

Don't go back. Move forward.

Best wishes,

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome to our family. Some of us click, some of us moo, some oink and some have props from The Dawn of the Dead movie. We all share the common that we had screwed up valves, we had them fixed (or are going to have them fixed) and we now have a greater appreciation for life.

Life is to be lived with as few regrets as possible. Live away!

 

[momshell7]

HI

I just wanted to give you my two cents worth. My husband had his aortic valve replace last October and he went with the porcine valve. He is very happy with his choice. Like a lot of people on this forum, he didn't really know much about the different valves when he was told of his need for surgery. He was lucky in the fact that he had a few months to do research the valves.( although in the begining reading all the information was confusing.) His surgeon and cardiologist both recommended the porcine valve, but the decision was completly up to him. Like others have said, there really isn't a right or wrong choice. Any valve that saves your life is a good choice. Enjoy your new valve. There are a lot of oinking and ticking valvers to go along with your mooing valve! Glad you found the site. It is very helpful. Just ask anything you need to.

 

[lance]

You did make the right choice

You did make the right choice

JohnnyV 46

I think you made the right choice. Any choice would have been the right choice--you're still alive.

You're not on warfarin--now that's a good thing.

Cheers