Hello.

[Summer]

I'm so happy to have found this forum! What a wealth of information.

I was born with a "bad" heart. That's what they called it. I now know that I had sub-aortic stenosis with regurge.

My first surgery was performed at age 12. The did a repair, and I remember waking up feeling pain that was totally overwhelming. I recovered and worked out through my 20's.

I hit 35, and had an echo that revealed that my heart valve was even worse than before. Because I was married at the time, we wanted a child so I choose a tissue valve. So naive I was at the time. I didn't know anything about the difference in valves. My surgeon came in my hospital room and spoke to me for about 3 minutes. I had the tissue valve put in and then went through a divorce and didn't have that child.

About 3 months ago at age 41, I was walking up at night gasping for air. I had been gaining weight and I could not figure it out. I work out, eat right and have always had a nice figure. Finally, one night I couldn't breathe at all. Luckily, I live right down the street from the Mayo Hospital in Scottsdale/Phoenix. I was taken straight to icu for a torn aortic valve and heart failure. I was in the hospital for a month total. I left with an On X valve and take coumiden. Lost the 25 pounds of fluid. And am now 8 weeks out.

I'm adjusting to the ticking sound, lol. Well, kind of. And I'm walking a mile a few times a week.

I hope I didn't leave anything out.

Nice to meet all of you!

 

[MethodAir]

Not a very nice feeling when you can't breathe, is it? I was in a similar predicament and also gained 25lbs of water after surgery. Losing that water and gaining back your exercise capacity are good signs. You are young and muscle memory could very well be on your side.

 

[Seaton]

Hello Summer. Lovely to meet. And thank you for the introduction to your story.

Very glad to hear all’s gone well with your recent OHS and that you’re managing a steady recovery.

I’m very new on the forum, too and am currently in the Waiting Room. I listen, learn and marvel and am ever grateful for all the information deposited here, your journey being no exception.

I wish you the very best for the weeks and months ahead.

 

[MrsBray]

OMG! So thankful you were close to a great heart hospital! I have an On-X also, and it took me a good while to un-hear the tick. Actually, I didn't hear it for about a week after surgery. Then it was ALL I heard for many months. Now, 18 months out, I can't hear it unless it's dead silent around me and I concentrate on listening for it. I chose the mechanical valve because of the (at the time) prospect for a lower INR range. A few months ago I received a letter form On-X showing the FDA has approved a lower range for the valve. If you haven't heard about it yet, you should talk to your doctor or coumidin nurse.
I still have the occasional twinge in my sternum, especially if I lie on my stomach for more than a few minutes. But right now, that's the only negative after-effect I'm feeling.
This board is a great source of info. Please, feel free to ask ANYTHING! (Seriously, I don't think anything is sacred here!)
Again, welcome!
Meredith

 

[cldlhd]

Does the ticking sound diminish over time or do you just get used to it? I had my valve repaired just about 6 months ago and for awhile after surgery I could hear/feel my valve closing but now it's pretty much as before. Could it have to do with the pediatrician?

 

[Tank]

Hey summer, glad to here things are going your way. My situation is quite different than yours with severe left ventricular hypertrophy and AV stenosis to the point that if I walk even short distances my shoulders become numb all the way to my fingers at times L > R. My cardiologist did every test he could think of and then told me all tests were neg. and that I should wait for a heart attack or a stroke whichever cME FIRST. pUT

 

[Tank]

Hey summer, glad to here things are going your way. My situation is quite different than yours with severe left ventricular hypertrophy and AV stenosis to the point that if I walk even short distances my shoulders become numb all the way to my fingers at times L > R. My cardiologist did every test he could think of and then told me all tests were neg. and that I should wait for a heart attack or a stroke whichever come first. He put me on a med that would relax specific muscles in the heart and told me to have a nice day. I sent all my records to my surgeon that did my 1st AVR and he set me up to have surgery on the 12th of Aug. Good to check around and not give up in my case, however my hospital is 31/2 hours away and I will need to make the trip often I'm assuming. Have a good day, thanx, Tank

 

[carolinemc]

Summer, I am sure the doctors explained to your parents that the repair was just that, only a small percentage guarentee that you would need another surgery in the future to possible replace. Mine was 15 years and I went 28 years with not good monitoring And the Aortic valve replaced when I was 36, repiair was at 8. That replacement has been 14 years ago next month. Glad you are doing better and things happen for a reason. Do nit blame yourself for what happened, keep making the best of it and keep going onward. You are doing great. Things are happening to you for a reason and you will be fine. Hugs for today.

 

[Summer]

Thank you all for the kind welcome!

 

[Heart Of The Sunrise]

Welcome Summer:

I too have an ON -X Valve. I choose it. Been 29 months come next Tuesday. I home test with the Couguchek Xs meter. Recently, my INR range target was lowered from 2 to 2,5.
It is now 1.8 to 2.2, The FDA approved the valve for 1.5 in April.