Mechanical valve calcifying

[debsbionic]

I love this site. Wish I found it 5 years ago. Was born with aortic stenosis and had surgery at 15 years and then again at 39 when I received the St. Jude mechanical valve. Now 5 years later, I started becoming SOB and dizzy and went in for an echo. My mechanical valve may be calcifying and my aortic root is dilated 3.1. (I saw thru this site that 3.1 is not really that bad) Had a TEE done last WED and waiting for test results. Originally my cardio had an aortic cath scheduled for the next day, but we didn't need it. Should be good. Thousands of questions for the dr. but because my head has been in the sand for too long, I'm finally awakening to the fact that resurgery could be in the future. Do you think cholesterol and calcium pills could have something to do with the valve calcifying? Maybe I can head surgery off at the pass and start working to prevent this. I know this is a technical question, but if any of you have had resurgery of a mech valve, I would love to hear your take on this.

 

[RCB]

No correlation

No correlation

Although you think there would be most Drs. and studies feel there is no connection as far is the valves are concerned.

 

[debsbionic]

Although you think there would be most Drs. and studies feel there is no connection as far is the valves are concerned.

RCB - Wow - I'm impressed with your bio. you've had quite a few surgeries. I'm more impressed with how long the 2nd mechanical valve lasted. Did you ever consider a prosthetic valve to avoid coumadin?
Regards,
Debbie

 

[hensylee]

welcome, Debs, to VR. If there are answers, you will find them here - or at least there will be lots of replies to try to help. This is a great site for all VR questions. Sorry that I don't have any answers, tho.

 

[McCln]

On calicification, it is a natrual process. No pill or milk can cause this. You just hope that it never happens. I hope you get more information from the doctor soon. Here is a little story that made me scared. Had a quack tell me that the aortic valve was calicfying. When I did get with another cardio, and surgeon, on different days, told me that was not my problem, just that the aortic valve needed replacing. That made me feel better. Good luck on you and the tests results.

 

[geebee]

I wonder if "calcifying" even has anything to do with calcium or if it is just a term to describe a type of "hardening" or stiffening"?

 

[RCB]

2nd valve

2nd valve

RCB - Wow - I'm impressed with your bio. you've had quite a few surgeries. I'm more impressed with how long the 2nd mechanical valve lasted. Did you ever consider a prosthetic valve to avoid coumadin?
Regards,
Debbie

Debbie,
I didn't get the "miles" that I would have like because they were prototype
valves and had problems. Many who were implanted was newer versions,
lasted for 25 years or more on a first generation valve. The studies are buried
in old threads in this forums. There are a few on this site who have valves
going on 28 years(See Nancy's Joe) with second generation valves.

The word "prothesis" means "a fabricated substitute for a diseased or missing part of the body." So all valve implanted are in effect, prosthetic valves even homographs. If your question is did I ever consider other than mechanical, well not for the first three because all tissue valves had a horrible reputation at that time. Heart surgery was very dangerous back then and why would anyone want to have surgery again in 4 to 6 years is beyond my comprehension. I did consider it for my 4th surgery about a 11 months ago,
but my team advised against it for durability reasons. That decision should not affect you. A tissue valve may be just the thing for you.

 

[debsbionic]

Debbie,
I didn't get the "miles" that I would have like because they were prototype
valves and had problems. Many who were implanted was newer versions,
lasted for 25 years or more on a first generation valve. The studies are buried
in old threads in this forums. There are a few on this site who have valves
going on 28 years(See Nancy's Joe) with second generation valves.

The word "prothesis" means "a fabricated substitute for a diseased or missing part of the body." So all valve implanted are in effect, prosthetic valves even homographs. If your question is did I ever consider other than mechanical, well not for the first three because all tissue valves had a horrible reputation at that time. Heart surgery was very dangerous back then and why would anyone want to have surgery again in 4 to 6 years is beyond my comprehension. I did consider it for my 4th surgery about a 11 months ago,
but my team advised against it for durability reasons. That decision should not affect you. A tissue valve may be just the thing for you.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I now feel like I have a network of people to talk with.

I was originally thinking maybe a tissue valve because if this first mechanical valve started calcifying this quickly, what's to say a 2nd mechanical valve wouldn't and I've heard tissue valves can provide 10-20 years of life. Again, I know this all depends upon the individual.

I've got quite a bit of info from this site and now know that a mechanical valve is the only way to go for me as I'm only 45 years old and there are no guarantees to any valve and it's longevity.

 

[Nancy]

Joe had an echo once that showed both his mitral and aortic mechanical replacements were "in trouble". The decision to go on to a TEE was made, and after the results came in, it turned out to be just some kind of shadow or other echo anomaly.

So, I'm hoping that when you get the TEE results, it will show as OK.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

By the way, as RCB mentioned, Joe's aortic mechanical has been in place for 28 years.

 

[Emma]

don't want to highjack this at all and i think it's still along the same lines...

but I'm getting slightly concerned at reading this thread. I didn't know this could happen to the valves. Chloe's had her mitral On-X valve 4 years this year and I thought I'd read everything there was to about these valves. How likely is this to happen on a valve???

Emma
xxx

 

[debsbionic]

Joe had an echo once that showed both his mitral and aortic mechanical replacements were "in trouble". The decision to go on to a TEE was made, and after the results came in, it turned out to be just some kind of shadow or other echo anomaly.

So, I'm hoping that when you get the TEE results, it will show as OK.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

By the way, as RCB mentioned, Joe's aortic mechanical has been in place for 28 years.

Nancy - thank you for that. I'm so happy to hear that and happy to hear that Joe's has lasted 28 years. You just made my day.

 

[Debrinha GT]

Surgery again for me

Surgery again for me

Hi Deb, I'm Débora from Brazil. I had rheumatic fever when I was seven and have been having heart suregeries ( 3 MVRs so far) since the age of ten, and all tissue. In January last year the cardio told me that my valve was beginning to calcify and that I would eventually need to get it replaced once again. That's when I found VR and I've visited the site nearly every day ever since. Last October I went to see my surgeon who then told me that it should still be a couple of years until he operates on me again. We discussed valve choices, and both agreed that another tissue will be the one I'll get put in me. I've heard about all the pros and cons of coumadin as well as reoperations, but my personal choice still is to go tissue, and believe me, I haven't been brain washed by the DR. , it's just me. Hope things go well for you whether you need to get your valve changed or not. Take care and keep us posted.
Débora

 

[tobagotwo]

Very unusual for a mechanical valve to calcify. Perhaps it's actually the tissue next to it. I doubt a tissue valve would be better, but if you are actually calcifying the mechanical, and do have to have it replaced, perhaps a tissue would do at least as well, without the required ACT.

Best wishes,

 

[debsbionic]

thanks all for your comments. I did go in last week for results and the TEE did not show any problems. Dr. said it was probably a shadow (as Nancy suggested) and calculations on the root from the first echo were wrong. Needless to say, I"m very happy about this but my eyes are now open wide and will not take mechanical valves for granted anymore. Thank you all for your input.

 

[geebee]

Deb,

Happy to hear your news. Hope all stays well.

 

[Dirk]

Well, the most common reason for the failure of tissue valves is calcification. Hence extended research has been done for treatments of the valves to prevent this.
There are some studies saying that lowering cholesterol by taking statins could slow down the calcification of either natural stenotic valves or tissue valve prosthesis.

Greetings

Dirk

 

[debsbionic]

Well, the most common reason for the failure of tissue valves is calcification. Hence extended research has been done for treatments of the valves to prevent this.
There are some studies saying that lowering cholesterol by taking statins could slow down the calcification of either natural stenotic valves or tissue valve prosthesis.

Greetings

Dirk

Thanks for your comment Dirk. I am going to watch my cholesterol better than I had been. I did have one cardiologist that believed that also.