Mechanical valve: does it make a noise?

[Smiley2000]

I read somewhere that the Mechanical Valve makes a "ticking" noise. Is that true? will I be ticking away for the rest of my life??? Then maybe the "pig valve" is a better option?

The Surgeon said he is first going to try and repair my Valve but if he can not repair it, he will have to replace it. I have 2 children and had a Hysterectomy - he said that if I was planning to have more children, he would've suggested the "pig valve" because you can not get pregnant while on Warfarin.

Does anyone have information on when a valve can be repaired or when it has to be replaced?

sorry for all the questions but now I am not so sure if I made the right valve-selection...

 

[Ross]

Yes they do. How loud depends on the person they are in. Most of us cannot hear them except being in a totally quiet environment. You get used to it very quickly. Nothing to concern yourself over.

 

[ctyguy]

I can't speak to the question on valve repair but I can tell you that I have a mechanical valve and I don't hear the clicking sound. Its odd because my wife can stand next to me and when all is quiet she hears it. I feel it from time to time but have yet to hear the click. Im 2+ weeks post-op at this point. I feel my heartbeat more pronounced why I lay down at night for sleep but as I sit here typing right now I don't feel or hear anything. I've got an On-X Valve in the Aortic position. I don't know if that makes any difference or not but Im sure others will post their experiences as well.

 

[Magic8Ball]

Yep they do, i have a st jude in aortic and i consider it to be akin to a loud cheap analogue watch.

You'd think it would drive you mad but i got used to it quite quickly.

My wife can hear it when we lie at night but she too is used to it.

In noisy environments people can't usually hear it but if i'm not focused on something and begin a little daydream i can hear the tick tick tick...

I've had people say 'thats a loud watch' before (i wear a digital watch with a fake set of hands to take the blame for the tick tick).

The noise should not be your main concern with valve choice....you look young by your avatar so a mechanical is your only shot at not having to go through this again (although not guaranteed) going tissue you will likely have to have a second and more than likely third operation to switch the tissue valve out for a new one.

There are other considerations such as warfarin & lifestyle....but by your 2nd or third tissue valve there is nothing to say you won't be on warfarin anyway.

Anyway, just to say its a big decision and there are many factors other than noise to take into account.

Remember that we all post our 'opinions' and mine is probably slanted slightly towards mechanical because thats what ive chosen and my major reason was not having to go through a second surgery if at all possible....if thats not a concern of yours (& you are a heavy drinker or a karate instructor ) then tissue may be your best choice.

There is no wrong valve choice, just a choice that is right for you.

Best of luck.

 

[Ross]

If your planning on children, go tissue. Warfarin and pregnancy are not something to strive for. It's just too risky. It's been done before, but I sure wouldn't want my wife and child placed in that sort of danger.

 

[Freddie]

Yep, mechanical valves tick like a cheap wrist watch. Each person is different when it comes to hearing it.

But don't get us wrong. In most cases the ticking isn't very loud. If you put an old wrist watch about 1" away from your ear.....thats about how loud mine is.

Relax, you'll be fine

 

[dick0236]

You will probably hear the ticking for awhile. It has been years and years since I, or anyone around me, heard the valve tick.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

In the beginning, the ticking was really loud. Over time, I don't notice it except in certain situations/positions. If it's really quiet, or if you're near a glass (window/mirror), other people might notice it, but they generally think it's your watch.

 

[netmiff]

just over 6 months out and I can only hear it when lying in bed at night in certain positions, or if it has something to "bounce" off, like a window or a mirror ...

 

[Cooker]

What did you ask?....I could not hear you over this dad burn ticking ......It's been two years and I don't ever hear it any more.....never was a bother.

 

[aussigal]

I am trying to figure out how to explain this sound/feeling to someone who doesn't have one.

OK...imagine this
...Mine is very much like the sound and feeling you get when you have just run to catch a bus and your heart is beating a bit harder except mine is just beating at regular speed. Like most here I hardly ever notice it and it very rarely annoys me. I can feel and hear it now but I am alone in a quiet house enjoying the noise of the wind outside. I think if it stopped (apart from the fact I would be dead) that I would miss the sound.

PS...I was very concerned pre-op that this would annoy me and keep me awake.

 

[bvdr]

This morning I was in a tiled bathroom and brushing my little 3 y/o granddaughter's hair. She is one of the delights in my life. She paused and looked at me and said, "Mimi, I can hear your heart click. Hearts usually go Lub-Dub and they took out your Lub and now it goes Click-Dub, Click-Dub."
I could hear nothing at all but Children's senses are sharper than their grandparents'. Mine bothers me on very rare occasions at night and then I just turn onto the other side and the problem is fixed.

 

[kchristian]

What a Darling plus 'That Darn Ticker'

What a Darling plus 'That Darn Ticker'

Betty I hope you tell your granddaughter that your heart now says 'Love You' over and over. She sounds delightful.

Smiley my husband can't hear my ticker. I can hear it loudest when I lie down on my left side. I could hear it before my surgery so I guess I'm a bit more sensitive than most but it doesn't bother me at all. It's a healthy sound you know. I understand that valves from 30 years ago were louder than those today. I have also heard that you may not want a mechanical valve if you are a serious poker player as your opponent may be able to pick up gambling cues from your heartrate.

There are new devices & procedures being test/developed that will probably result in mechanical valves that do not require coumadin and surgical procedures that will not require a sternumectomy. We recently heard a presentation by Edwards Lifesciences on the current and future state of valves. It was at a Mended Hearts meeting. The rep even passed around some different tissue valves to the group to operate with our hands. I've learned so much more since my surgery.

I chose a mechanical valve because it is supposed to last a 'lifetime' (hey whatever that really means, right?). I would like to avoid OHS every so many years and that would be providing I am healthy enough to handle it. I know a number of people who have had repeat procedures and the risks are now no greater than that of the original surgery (assuming same health risk).

I even offered to go to my daughter's RN class to be a show & tell so they could all listen to my clicker if interested. She grinned but didn't say a word. She was probably thinking 'Oh mom'. I noticed that she was researching coumadin the other day because one of her clinical patients is taking that medication. We had a brief chat about my therapeutic range. I believe that the more knowledge we have the better.

We know you will make the choice that works best for you.

 

[Smiley2000]

Thanks to each and every one of you I smiled and laughed at some of your comments and stories. Really made my day

I think the Mechanical is the best option. Hopefully, I'll never have to go for OHS again in my life! It is reassuring to know that the tick isn't that bad and if it starts bothering me, I'll just sing or play the radio or put some music on and the tick can follow the beat!

Have a wonderful, Blessed Easter!
hugs

 

[temp69]

I did an interview...

I did an interview...

and the sound guy asked me to take off my watch, the lavalier mike was picking up the ticking. when i told them it was my heart valve, the two twenthy-somethings looked confused.

i sure as hell hear mine, i tell you. but after awhile it's simply reassuring. it be the strongest, most durable thing in my body (well, after you know what) -- and will last until the cows come home and beyond.

 

[Bonzo Dog]

Not wanting to sully the forum, but ................. come on ladies and gents who have/have had mechanicals, let's be up front and candid.
To cut to the chase a mechanical valve is probably at it's noisiest after sex. With a regular partner it becomes hardly noticed; with varied partners it could add to the fun.
Hope my tell it as it is, hasn't caused embarrassment and offence.

 

[Cooker]

Not wanting to sully the forum, but ................. come on ladies and gents who have/have had mechanicals, let's be up front and candid.
To cut to the chase a mechanical valve is probably at it's noisiest after sex. With a regular partner it becomes hardly noticed; with varied partners it could add to the fun.
Hope my tell it as it is, hasn't caused embarrassment and offence.

Actually, mine starts to quiet down "after"

 

[Smiley2000]

Thank you for that info... a bit more than what I bargained for

If my ticker is going to make a noise, then all the more reason to play music around me, all the time.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Smiley,

FYI, Clot formation is more prevelent at the Mitral Valve than the other valves.

The On-X Mechanical Valve has the lowest rate of Clot Formation in the Mitral Position compared with other Mechanical Valves. See www.onxvalves.com for more info.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Fast Eddie]

My On-X

My On-X

I can't speak to the question on valve repair but I can tell you that I have a mechanical valve and I don't hear the clicking sound. Its odd because my wife can stand next to me and when all is quiet she hears it. I feel it from time to time but have yet to hear the click. Im 2+ weeks post-op at this point. I feel my heartbeat more pronounced why I lay down at night for sleep but as I sit here typing right now I don't feel or hear anything. I've got an On-X Valve in the Aortic position. I don't know if that makes any difference or not but Im sure others will post their experiences as well.

I am 10 months post-op also with an On-X in the AV position, My experience is the the same as ctyguy. As I sit here typing I am completely unaware of my On-X. In a quiet area or when lying down I can sense it and hear it softly ticking. Reassuring!

Good luck.

Fast Eddie