How do you prolong the life of your new tissue valve?

[valerie415]

I am 4 weeks and 2 days post op after getting a Perimount bovine valve. My recovery is going well, I think. The still have sternum pain and I still have a big lump and lots of swelling at the top. But otherwise I think I'm doing well!

My big question now is: with this new lease on life, what things can I do to prolong the life of this valve? In thinking about it, it seems the best thing to do is to be physically fit, making sure I get lots of exercise every day, having an excellent healthy diet, maybe not eating meat? Maybe I'm answering my own question here, but I just wonder if there are specific things that have been researched to do to slow down the calcification process on the new valve so it can last as long as possible!!

 

[Ross]

Not a darn thing, but live your life to the fullest. Clean living is the best way, but if it's bad for you, I like it.

 

[Nancy]

If there was something magical that people could do to prolong the life of a tissue valve, it would be BIG news, and would be all over this site.

Unfortunately, your own body chemistry, and I would imagine, the structure of the valve itself are things that impact the valve.

Other than being reasonable with your life, staying healthy, trying to avoid colds and flus are about all you can do.

Just enjoy your new life and do what makes you happy.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Tissue Valves are known to deteriorate more Slowly in Older Patients.

SO, (an admittedly sarcastic answer) would be to 'Figure out how to Age Your Body Faster'

Other than that, "Que Sera, Sera" (Whatever will be, will be)

 

[tobagotwo]

Yup. Your body's chemical reactivity - one of the functions of being physically younger - is the usual culprit in the slow decline of your biological valve.

There is no method, exercise, nor mixture of drugs or nutritionals that has any proof of enhancing the longevity of a biological valve.

Best wishes,

 

[Lily]

I have worried about this question too. And wondered if various things could exacerbate the valve's decline. I still don't know. But I take as little as possible, by way of medication or suppliment, because I hoped nothing might accidently contribute to an accelerated decline of my valve. One thing my cardio told me was to take care of my teeth and gums. He said that was a big issue. Personally, I also think that keeping your heart in the healthiest state possible would include exercise, if you're cleared for it. When I exercise, I feel better; I think it helps my heart and lungs and circulation and everything to work better.

 

[Mentu]

The other night I had what was probably the most delicious filet I have ever eaten. It was from a local farm and never knew the inside of a feed lot. It was tender and full of flavor and cooked to perfection and I enjoyed every bite. As I enjoyed its taste and texture I did find myself thinking about our very real connection. Cattle have sustained us for millenia with their milk and meat and now in this new much more intimate way. I don't eat a lot of red meat anymore but when I do, I look for beef that has been raised respectfully. The old idea of blood brothers is maybe not too far off the mark....sister cow - brother bull. Perhaps, they are our new totems.

 

[Philip B]

Tissue Valve Longevity?

Tissue Valve Longevity?

As others have indicated, there's really no way to prolong the life of a tissue valve. There are lots of things you can do to promote overall cardiac health and it sounds like you already have some thoughts about pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

-Philip

 

[valerie415]

Thanks, everyone, I appreciate the good input!
And Mentu, I also find myself with a sudden affinity for cows! When I was in the hospital, there was a painting of four lovely cows on the wall across from my bed, and I liked to gaze at them, and would think grateful thoughts about them! I actually was not eating beef before the surgery, but since then, I've had some, and I felt surprisingly good about it. Isn't that funny? And I'm thankful to the cow who gave me his tissue, and all cows. They really live to serve, which is what we all should do. God bless the cows!!

 

[ottagal]

Valerie,
Nothing to add from what the others have said. I, too am sharing an affinity and appreciation for the cows since the implantation of my CE bovine valve! Yes, God bless the cows.

 

[Luckyguy17]

Yep, and thanks as well to the little piggy that contributed to mine as well.

Am looking forward to asking the surgeon why my preference for C-E bovine, was overriden at surgery (a mystery)? but am thankful that my St-Jude Epic jhas been working faultlessly

Avoid infection i have been told, but do not become a Howard Hughes recluse either.

Gil

 

[Lily]

The beef comments struck a chord with me. While I still enjoy a little bacon and a little ham now and then, I am not interested in eating regular pork; and I have occasionally wondered if it's because of something chemical, within. So I'll have to think twice about what kind of valve to get next time because beef is my favorite

 

[hansong]

Valerie,

It is hard to think of cow and pigs as mere menu items after valve replacement. But in spite of my appreciation of that anonymous pig's contribution to my continued well-being, I'm strangely reluctant to make any further acquaintance of his cousins, other than, say, as a slab of ribs.

That said, I'm a great believer in preventive maintenance. I started looking for information as soon as I got home from the hospital. I was reassured to find that all the available opinions were completely contradictory: avoid calcium; eat plenty of calcium; food sources OK, supplements bad; etc. Obviously no one has the slightest idea what a good general recommendation is, much less how your particular body chemistry affects your calcium metabolism. So all we can do muddle along, eat right, keep fit and hope for the best, the best being intravenous nanobot assembly of replacement valves during an outpatient visit to your doctor's office. Sometime in the distant future.

In the meantime, there are some interesting whispers out there concerning K2's effect on calcification. Here's one: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2009/03/latest-study-on-vitamin-k-and-coronary.html The reference in the third paragraph about inhibition, and possible reversal, of calcification caught my eye. Other posts on his blog talk about the effect of warfarin in promoting calcification, which is unfortunate.

Good luck in your recovery! Slow but steady wins the race,

Gordon

 

[valerie415]

Dear Gordon, that's very interesting about the K2 ... thanks for sharing that. I'm inspired now to do more research and find some answers! I'll let you know what I come up with.
--Valerie

 

[neil]

live life to the full.........and lay of the pigs ha ha

 

[Paleowoman]

Have you looked at Dr William Davis' Heartscanblog ? Although he doesn't specifically address congenital valve disease - in three years he hasn't answered one question I've put to him - he is very strong on diets that do not lead to arterial plaque and calcification. He has written about vitamin K2 and advises people to take it. Also low carb/wheat free diets. Have a look at his blog: http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/

Anne

 

[hansong]

Thanks for the link. I'd seen that site before but hadn't bookmarked it.

Perplexing question, how best to take care of the new valve and everything attached to it. Life used to seem so simple.

 

[valerie415]

Hi Anne, yes I've looked at his blog...I've been very interested in what he's had to say about Vitamin D. Yesterday I read what he had to say about Vitamin K2, and also read what he had to say about oatmeal, which has really got me reeling! Here I thought I was doing my body a favor having oatmeal every morning, only to find out it all turns to sugar. So is it better to eat eggs instead? I'd stopped eating eggs as I thought they weren't good, and I'd heard that oatmeal cleans your arteries. I guess Dr. David was only addressing the sugar issue, but still, it makes me question if I should stop the oatmeal! http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/oatmeal-good-or-bad.html

 

[Marguerite53]

What an excellent question! And some great and interesting answers.

We just moved to a new house. I love it. But.... we left a street that shared suburbia with a little hold-out farm. Every morning we could hear the cows moo-ing and a quick walk to the mailbox or drive out would bring us fence-side to them, lumbering down a little hill, munching on the grass.... I miss them!! It was a lovely reminder of how grateful I was to one cow (probably a steer, someone once told me) for his gift and sacrifice to me. I actually have a little toy cow (farm animal hard rubber little guy) who came to the hospital with me and who hangs out on my bedside table now. I just like him there (well, I don't know -- its probably a her, but the real one was probably a him) as a token of my deep gratitude -- to all the scientists and medical professionals and less fortunate heart patients who came before my little moment who contributed to perfecting a procedure that has given me my renewed life.

So, what should you do to keep that valve in good shape? Love it. Your photo shows you with a radiant smile. Let that smile run deep through you as you face your future with this renewed life. Keep that energy out front -- keep it true. And then have a few too many drinks once in awhile, over-indulge in an ice cream sundae, walk, run, bike as much as you feel good doing, but never fret about what you should be doing. Breathe deeply and keep your lungs full of life. The list is yours to make!!!!

Congratulations on a successful surgery!!

Marguerite

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Anne, yes I've looked at his blog...I've been very interested in what he's had to say about Vitamin D. Yesterday I read what he had to say about Vitamin K2, and also read what he had to say about oatmeal, which has really got me reeling! Here I thought I was doing my body a favor having oatmeal every morning, only to find out it all turns to sugar. So is it better to eat eggs instead? I'd stopped eating eggs as I thought they weren't good, and I'd heard that oatmeal cleans your arteries. I guess Dr. David was only addressing the sugar issue, but still, it makes me question if I should stop the oatmeal! http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/oatmeal-good-or-bad.html

Hi Valerie, I got very interested in Dr Davis's blog when I was first researching vitamin D and it's beneficial effect on the heart. I now take 2000IU D3 per day and get my levels of 25(OH)D checked every few months, it's currently 125 nmol/L (50 ng/mL) which is optimum. I don't eat oatmeal - I cut out all grains due to intolerances and also diabetes. Dr Davis is addressing the sugar issue because carbohydrates, particularly grains, are quickly converted to glucose in the body and that leads to higher LDL and triglycerides which cause arterial/plaque problems - diabetics have more heart and vascular problems than the rest of the population because of the damage higher blood glucose levels causes. So anyone, even non-diabetic, will benefit from keeping blood glucose low and he recommends getting a blood glucose meter and testing yourself after something such as oatmeal. I eat a lot of eggs - they have been found not guilty of causing problems and deemed healthy after years of being blighted. I take a highish dose of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) in the hopes that that will help too....not that I have had my replacement valve yet but I am trying to prolong the life of my bicuspid valve and reverse calcification if at all possible so I am after the same thing as you in a sense.
Anne