Last Day to make a decision

[skeptic49]

Best wishes for your surgery, Alex. Your call will be right for you, but if it were me at your age I'd definately go mechanical...heck, I hope to go mechanical at my age (60), and I'm always banging myself up with hammers and saws, bumping into things, stumbling around semi-stewed, etc.. Don't worry about ACT...Ross will beat you over the head until you get it right.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[JeffM]

Hey Alex. Wow! Tomorrow's the big day. Can't wait to hear how your recovery is going. Have you started thinking about how your exercise routine will go so that you can gradually prepare yourself to play round ball in a few months? Don't forget, there's a ton of stuff you'll be able to (and should) do for your cardiovascular conditioning well in advance of basketball. What's the plan, man? Meanwhile, kick butt tomorrow, enjoy some well deserved rest and touch base when you're feeling up to it.

 

[mainframe]

Hi Alex,

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. I chose a tissue value 7 years ago at age 45 knowing that a re-do was in the cards "in the future". It seems the valve is now leaking and the future is now. At the time I was hoping that by the time I needed a re-op there would be advances in either valve technology or surgical procedures would advance. No such luck I'm back to chosing between the mechanical and tissue and this time no doubt I'll opt for the mechanical. Hindsight is 20-20.

Chris

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Alex....

Whatever you decide will be the right decision. For my husband at 59 there was no decision....he didn't want to face the possibility of a second replacement surgery in 10-15 years, so he wanted mechanical. As to St. Jude's or On-X, we discussed it with our surgeon and his recommendation was St. Jude which is what he ended up with.

It has been 7 years since the surgery, he doesn't monitor food, does everything he used to do activity wise, and has a glass of wine every day. We home test (recommended by our cardio, btw) and have never looked back. You will be fine with whatever you choose, but definitely consider home testing.....it's the ONLY way to go. If your cardio won't approve it, get another cardio. Our cardio's office uses the very same INRatio that we use for home testing.

Good luck with your journey over the mountain. I'll put you in my prayers.

Evelyn

 

[Ross]

Hi Alex,

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. I chose a tissue value 7 years ago at age 45 knowing that a re-do was in the cards "in the future". It seems the valve is now leaking and the future is now. At the time I was hoping that by the time I needed a re-op there would be advances in either valve technology or surgical procedures would advance. No such luck I'm back to chosing between the mechanical and tissue and this time no doubt I'll opt for the mechanical. Hindsight is 20-20.

Chris

Welcome back Chris. Been along time. Sorry to hear about the valve going south already.

 

[kpearse]

Hi Alex, I wanted to say good luck tomorrow, and have a good recovey!

 

[Karlynn]

Hi Alex,

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow. I chose a tissue value 7 years ago at age 45 knowing that a re-do was in the cards "in the future". It seems the valve is now leaking and the future is now. At the time I was hoping that by the time I needed a re-op there would be advances in either valve technology or surgical procedures would advance. No such luck I'm back to chosing between the mechanical and tissue and this time no doubt I'll opt for the mechanical. Hindsight is 20-20.

Chris

Some people disagree - but it's my belief that you make your decision based on what is being done now and not what may be done in the future. Valve replacement through catheter is in it's beginning trials and being done on people who would not survive the standard valve replacement methods. The wheels turn slowly. As it stands right now - no one knows how these valves placed via catheter are going to hold up in an otherwise healthy, active person. It's my guess that we may not know that for a few decades.

One quick suggestion - if you go mechanical - find a doctor who knows ALL the current studies on warfarin and home testing. The doctor that made the comment to you about home testing doesn't know jack. And if you go to him for your INR management, you'll most likely end up getting very frustrated, and think it's the drug and not the management.

One person's hassle is another person's freedom. Taking Coumadin once a day and home testing has given me the ability to living a very unencumbered life.

 

[mainframe]

Thanks Ross. I'd say it's good to be back but ....

Chris

 

[Alex B]

thanks all, this is my last post before I go to bed, tomorrrow early is the big day. I will post back as soon as I can. I'm going to request a mech valve.

Of course my plan is to get walking ASAP, and then jogging and hopefully running before too long. I was surprized that my surgeon told me I was going to get out of bed and sit in a chair to eat dinner the night of the surgery. WOW! Awesome.

Thanks again, Alex.

 

[Ross]

Thanks Ross. I'd say it's good to be back but ....

Chris

Hey bud, I know what you mean. I have an abdominal aneurysm now, so I'm not out of the woods either.

 

[Ross]

thanks all, this is my last post before I go to bed, tomorrrow early is the big day. I will post back as soon as I can. I'm going to request a mech valve.

Of course my plan is to get walking ASAP, and then jogging and hopefully running before too long. I was surprized that my surgeon told me I was going to get out of bed and sit in a chair to eat dinner the night of the surgery. WOW! Awesome.

Thanks again, Alex.

Well I'll put you on the calendar and we'll see you in the post op forum when your ready. Good luck!

 

[Karlynn]

Just in case you read this Alex. You have a lot of people praying for a great surgery for you.

 

[realkarl]

thanks all, this is my last post before I go to bed, tomorrrow early is the big day. I will post back as soon as I can. I'm going to request a mech valve.

Of course my plan is to get walking ASAP, and then jogging and hopefully running before too long. I was surprized that my surgeon told me I was going to get out of bed and sit in a chair to eat dinner the night of the surgery. WOW! Awesome.

My best wishes for your surgery! I am 13 days out myself with an On-X valve. Tissue was never an option for me. I was up walking the day after surgery, and I have been taking my daily walks since. I have to admit it takes longer than I thought to notice much improvement in my shortness of breath, and I am long long way off from pre-surgery. It's a combination of some fluid buildup limiting lung expansion as well as a very low red blood cell count. A little tick upwards every day is what counts

 

[Ross]

His surgery should be said and done now, so I'm closing this thread until we hear from him in post surgery.

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32130