Dual Valve Replacement

[whiterocks]

I am looking at Mitral and Aortic valve replacement soon, end of March. Has anyone had this procedure done and if so would you share your feelings, where you had the surgery done and how you are feeling today. I am concerned about flying home after the surgery. Has that bothered anyone? I live in Western Wyoming and I'm considering Denver as one location or Mayo. Please give me your input.

 

[Ross]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

There are a couple of people that had both done. Give them some time to pass through and I'm sure they'll post.

As far as flying-You can, but you will be very very weak, so you'll need to have the airlines really accommodate you with wheelchair or electric carts etc. It will be tough, but many have done it in the past.

 

[John & Joann]

Joann has had double valve surgery in 1971 and 1999. She lives an active life. Hits me over the head with the frying pan when I get out of line.

Cleveland Clinic has people fly in and out with double valve surgery often. You need to be careful of blood clots. You may also want to wait a few days after discharge to fly. The insurance companies kick you out before you are ready. BAD NEWS!

We HIGHLY recommend Cleveland Clinic. They do more valve surgeries than any other location in the world. Great success rate also.

Think positive! Let us know if we can help. Send private message with questions.

God Bless!

 

[whiterocks]

Dual Valve Replacement John/Joann

Dual Valve Replacement John/Joann

I have a cath. sch for the 27th of March and Surgery on the the 31st. Since A-Fib has been something on going with me I'm told I will also have the Maze procedure done. I am having the surgery done in Denver. Clevland is along way from Wyoming! How was your recovery Joann? Stay in touch and I'll do the same.

 

[Bill Hall]

White - I had a mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement in Jan 2001. I am doing great and enjoying life, no problems. I was afib for a month after surgery, but that has gone and never returned. I had my surgery done in Cleveland and flew back to Dulles Airport in VA. No problem, but thankfully also no turbulence. Good luck with your decision, I would not think distance should affect your decision about where to have it done.

 

[Mb]

Hello!

My husband had two valves installed, aortic and mitral, St. Jude mechanical, in October 2001. He has not faired quite as well as others on this site. He is in chronic a-fib. He had the chronic a-fib before surgery, and then reverted back into the a-fib afterwards. He now has a severely leaking tricuspid valve. He also has a variety of arrythmia's, some drug induced. All of that said, he would not be alive, were it not for the surgery. Regarding the a-fib, they did not think he would stay out of the a-fib, post surgery, so this was not a surprise for us. The doctors now want him on a pacemaker, but boy, is he resisting. He is now 57 years old.
If I had one recommendation for you, it would be to review the echo reports, and of course the catherizations. Make certain that they have a heads up about the tricuspid valve. Often when the mitral valve has a significant leak, and one has a-fib, the right atrial enlarges, causing dilation of the tricuspid apparatus. The tricuspid leakage is masked by the mitral leakage. I think had they placed a DeVega ring around my husbands tricuspid valve during the first surgery, he might not have the continued problems that he has now.
All of that said, he was sicker than most going into the surgery, and now, although he surely can't run any races, opr exert himself in ANY way, he is alive and has a decent quality of life. God has blessed us.
Godsped on your journey.
Marybeth
PS- I'd choose Cleveland if I had a choice!

 

[whiterocks]

Valve replacement

Valve replacement

I'm still six weeks out, and feeling pretty goood about it. I've got great friends for support and they all say it will be no big deal and I'll feel better after. They are RN's with ICU and heart surgery experience. I do get a little anixiuos at time but it passes. I have been introduced to a great book - "The Wellness Book". If you get a chance to read it prior to surgery I really recccomend it.

 

[tobagotwo]

I may have to have aortic and mitral. I guess they'll determine that in the cath. I'm still hoping for tissue.

I undeerstand there's a long waiting list at CCF. Is that so? Dose anyone know how long? What can I do to get on it, if my insurance company cooperates?

 

[Bill Hall]

Bob - The waiting list for Cosgrove (CCF) was around 10 weeks back in 2000.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I am looking at Mitral and Aortic valve replacement soon, end of March. Has anyone had this procedure done and if so would you share your feelings, where you had the surgery done and how you are feeling today

Hello Whiterocks

I had both Mitral and Aortic replacements with St. Jude mechanicals nearly 2 years ago. The surgery was performed by Dr. Edward Verrier at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. It was touch and go for me in the ICU due to some unforeseen complications, but now I'm feeling great.

 

[whiterocks]

Steven

Steven

What kind of complications did you have? What kind of activities do you know? I'm still really nervous about the surgery, but beleive it's time. I get real winded with minimal activity.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I had pretty serious respiratory complications, caused by damage from radiation treatments I'd had years before my surgery. Ironically, this is also likely what damaged my valves in the first place. I would have had these same complications if I'd had only one valve replaced - there was nothing about them that had to do with having 2 valves replaced

You can read about it in my personal story here

As far as my activities go, I pretty much do what I did before, but I do it without getting tired. I don't really do anything super-strenuous like cross-country skiing, or raquetball, I'm more of a computer geek.

To paraphrase John Glenn, "if you're not nervous, it's likely you don't fully understand the situation." All of us who've been through this can certainly relate to what you're feeling! Educate yourself, and embrace it - you will feel so much better afterward.