Mechanical vs Tissue - need help deciding

[tom in MO]

Thanks for the responses. Interesting, I do have a gummy every now and then, but not sure the long term effects of thc? Of course, most sedatives have their side effects. Also I do have an air cleaner going at night, which acts like white noise. Very good suggestions, although I take advantage of them already.

A vape is instant delivery with an effect within minutes, as opposed to a gummy which needs digestion and takes a longer time to reach maximum effect and will leave your system by the time you wake.

 

[newarrior]

I had my AV replacement 2 years ago at 49. I chose a mechanical valve on the basis that I did not want to endure another surgery or possibly two. That along with the accompanied degradation in health leading up to a tissue replacement and subsequent rehab. That being said I can hear my ticking and is both comforting and at times a somber reminder. Taking warfarin is a pain but it is what it is. I have had a few instances where the warfarin has come back to haunt me with treatment for other issues. It does limit my use of my old standbys to treat pain/inflammation but I have dealt with it. To me it still beats the prospect of surgery and rehab at least two more times.

How is your INR now ? Relationship with coumadin ? Ticking ? Any bad bruising or bleed outs ? Hope you are good Patrick !) All the best David

 

[oo0My_Valve0oo]

This is sort of reassuring:

"Current consensus guidelines state that choice of either a bioprosthetic or mechanical prosthetic aortic valve is reasonable in patients aged 60 to 70 years, and that a mechanical valve replacement is reasonable in patients younger than 60 years without contraindications to coumadin."

I was 63. It was a quick decision for me to go with a biological valve. As I have stated here before, if I had known of this forum while deciding I probably would have opted for a mechanical valve. There is nothing I can do about things now except take care of myself as best as I can.

I am not worrying about a future surgery, yet. now that I have recently experienced a burst of rejuvenation I am feeling younger than I am again.

 

[newarrior]

good god sorry to hear man--why were your experiences so bad in the hospital ?

 

[newarrior]

love this

 

[Chuck C]

This is sort of reassuring:

"Current consensus guidelines state that choice of either a bioprosthetic or mechanical prosthetic aortic valve is reasonable in patients aged 60 to 70 years, and that a mechanical valve replacement is reasonable in patients younger than 60 years without contraindications to coumadin."

I was 63. It was a quick decision for me to go with a biological valve. As I have stated here before, if I had known of this forum while deciding I probably would have opted for a mechanical valve. There is nothing I can do about things now except take care of myself as best as I can.

I am not worrying about a future surgery, yet. now that I have recently experienced a burst of rejuvenation I am feeling younger than I am again.

Yes, most guidelines in the world indicate that either a mechanical valve or tissue valve is a reasonable choice if the patient is between 60 and 70. These are not established arbitrarily, but are meant to give the patient the best chance at a normal lifespan, based on many studies and meta-analysis.
Nothing wrong with going biological at age 63 at all. Sort of a coin flip at that age, especially with the hope that the new anti-calcification tissue valves will last a little longer.

 

[Timmay]

Yes, most guidelines in the world indicate that either a mechanical valve or tissue valve is a reasonable choice if the patient is between 60 and 70. These are not established arbitrarily, but are meant to give the patient the best chance at a normal lifespan, based on many studies and meta-analysis.
Nothing wrong with going biological at age 63 at all. Sort of a coin flip at that age, especially with the hope that the new anti-calcification tissue valves will last a little longer.

Agreed Chuck. If I were 63 I would have seriously considered an Inspiris Resilia tissue valve hoping for 10-15 years and also hoping for TAVR at 73-78 to get me to 83-90.

 

[pellicle]

good god sorry to hear man--why were your experiences so bad in the hospital ?

David, stop being _______ and just pick something and do it. You are (and have been since day one here years ago) acting like a little kid who asks mum for a cookie and is told no, then goes and asks dad and is told "do what you mother said". You can't play one off against the other here. So the lessons you learned as a (petulant) child don't apply now.

Act like an adult human (rather than a spoiled self absorbed spoiled child) and just do it. Go with the guy that said he'd widen your annulus, he seems like the right stuff.

There are no ideal choices, the only thing is the opposite of an ideal choice and that's to not do surgery.

The longer you shop around for someone who says you're not urgent the worse you'll be for it. Your window of time for going back to the USA closed years back. As we say in Australia, take some concrete powder and harden up.

because once you've injured your heart you will only come back here and whinge about it ... but unlike doing surgery that won't change what is (what happened to you by your own hand).