needinfo
Active member
Thansk and damn glad to be here!
Need some info
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Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
Sorry about the late reply, but wanted to wish you a warm welcome to this great forum. Unfortunately, I don't have any answers for you. I, too am in the severe category (AS) and still playing the waiting game. Wishing you all the best with your decisions and do keep us posted.
Have you checked out the carbomedics and on-x websites? They might answer some of your questions. I never asked what my life expectancy is but I do know that I shouldn't have to worry about my aortic valve again that is why I went with mechaniocalinstead of tissue this time. The doc tells me that I will probably need my pulmonary valve replaced in about 20 years but I can't even think about that now. So much can happen in 20 years you just never know. For now I am just so happy to be healthy and alive that I am not worried about too many things. Going thru major life events like this make a person so much more thankful for "today". http://www.carbomedics.com/patients_faq.asp?faq=PFMech#2
Not saying you're not thankful just telling you my personal experience.
Hi there,
Like you, I knew for quite a few years that I'd eventually need surgery due to aortic stenosis. Still, it was a surprise when at age 19 I was suddenly told it was time for a valve repair. I remember my mother was shocked and said to the doctor, "She's never complained of chest pains, shortness of breath, or anything. Why does she need surgery now?"
The doctor replied, "Oh, she won't necessarily show symptoms. She might just have a dizzy spell one day and never get up."
Nice way to comfort a worried, scared patient, eh?
It was also a surprise when at age 42 I was told I needed an AVR and aneurysm repair. I'll admit I'd been negligent about going to the doctor but was a faithful exerciser and felt great, except for some fatigue. (I put that down to a stressful job and general aging.) In fact, I spent June and July of that year in London, walking for hours every day - three months later I learned that I needed AVR and aneurysm repair.
So yeah, symptoms don't always show up. Since you're pretty much the same age I was when I had AVR I would suggest a mechanical. My valve will be ten years old on February 1st and the coumadin has been no problem.
Best of luck with whatever decision you make. It is amazing what advances have been made and at your age you're bound to come through it with flying colors.
Take care and Happy New Year to everyone.
Cheers,
Michelle
Like you, I knew for quite a few years that I'd eventually need surgery due to aortic stenosis. Still, it was a surprise when at age 19 I was suddenly told it was time for a valve repair. I remember my mother was shocked and said to the doctor, "She's never complained of chest pains, shortness of breath, or anything. Why does she need surgery now?"
The doctor replied, "Oh, she won't necessarily show symptoms. She might just have a dizzy spell one day and never get up."
Nice way to comfort a worried, scared patient, eh?
It was also a surprise when at age 42 I was told I needed an AVR and aneurysm repair. I'll admit I'd been negligent about going to the doctor but was a faithful exerciser and felt great, except for some fatigue. (I put that down to a stressful job and general aging.) In fact, I spent June and July of that year in London, walking for hours every day - three months later I learned that I needed AVR and aneurysm repair.
So yeah, symptoms don't always show up. Since you're pretty much the same age I was when I had AVR I would suggest a mechanical. My valve will be ten years old on February 1st and the coumadin has been no problem.
Best of luck with whatever decision you make. It is amazing what advances have been made and at your age you're bound to come through it with flying colors.
Take care and Happy New Year to everyone.
Cheers,
Michelle
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
Be sure to discuss a Plan B as well, 'just in case' your agreed upon Plan A is not viable or advisable 'once he gets in there'.
That's what happened in my case, with the same surgeon you mentioned.
That's what happened in my case, with the same surgeon you mentioned.
needinfo
Active member
Hi there,
Like you, I knew for quite a few years that I'd eventually need surgery due to aortic stenosis. Still, it was a surprise when at age 19 I was suddenly told it was time for a valve repair. I remember my mother was shocked and said to the doctor, "She's never complained of chest pains, shortness of breath, or anything. Why does she need surgery now?"
The doctor replied, "Oh, she won't necessarily show symptoms. She might just have a dizzy spell one day and never get up."
Nice way to comfort a worried, scared patient, eh?
It was also a surprise when at age 42 I was told I needed an AVR and aneurysm repair. I'll admit I'd been negligent about going to the doctor but was a faithful exerciser and felt great, except for some fatigue. (I put that down to a stressful job and general aging.) In fact, I spent June and July of that year in London, walking for hours every day - three months later I learned that I needed AVR and aneurysm repair.
So yeah, symptoms don't always show up. Since you're pretty much the same age I was when I had AVR I would suggest a mechanical. My valve will be ten years old on February 1st and the coumadin has been no problem.
Best of luck with whatever decision you make. It is amazing what advances have been made and at your age you're bound to come through it with flying colors.
Take care and Happy New Year to everyone.
Cheers,
Michelle
Thanks! I have no worries. I meet the surgeons on Jan 19 and go from there.
needinfo
Active member
Good mornig,
After rereading this I want to apologize for the question about YOUR life expectancy, I hope you and I live forever! I was really wanting to know what they told you about life expectancy of the on-x valve. Sorry for the confusion oin my part....
needinfo
Active member
I even want a plan C. I meet him Jan 19th. I believe one of his team will be doing my case due to the option I am requesting, but again that will be determined in a few weeks.
Philip B
Well-known member
Worried?
Worried?
Yeah, life comes with no guarantees even if you weren't blessed at birth with congenital heart issues. The corrective surgery stuff seems to vary for different folks, but here's a perspective from someone who has had a positive experience...
Like you, I lived my life with no symptoms and was shocked when surgery became a reality. Unlike you, I avoided yearly checkups for twenty-seven years. I lived a very active life and participated in all kinds of rigorous activities. I even passed the stress test required for qualification to work federal wildland fire management teams for fourteen years. The only thing I ever flunked on the basis of my heart murmur was the physical for a pilot's license. Incidently, I flew without a license because one of my uncles who owned his own plane thought the rules were stupid.
The thought of surgery was traumatic and the emotional rollercoaster that went with it was a real bummer. OHS is a big deal. The thought of being on coumadin was depressing. The thought that a tissue valve would need to be replaced was unacceptable.
Here's how it played out...I had the surgery. I only took five days off work. There were ups and down, but rehab went well...I'm back to being as active as I've always been. I even took a run at a solo winter ascent of a 14,000 ft mountain peak today (I made it to 12,500 ft, before deteriorating weather forced me to retreat). I gave up working the fire teams several years before my surgery and my uncle sold his airplane years ago.
The short story here is that having the surgery is about getting back to living your life. There's no guarantees, but life doesn't come with any anyway. Taking coumadin is still not something I like to do, but it's not really a big deal either. I don't see the drug as restrictive or limiting like some others do.
Most days I feel so normal that my wife has to remind me to take my meds. If you're going into surgery in decent physical shape, odds are pretty good that you'll have a positive experience. When you're facing this stuff it's normal to focus on the negatives. Try to focus on a positive outcome rather than the negative stuff.
-Philip
Worried?
Yeah, life comes with no guarantees even if you weren't blessed at birth with congenital heart issues. The corrective surgery stuff seems to vary for different folks, but here's a perspective from someone who has had a positive experience...
Like you, I lived my life with no symptoms and was shocked when surgery became a reality. Unlike you, I avoided yearly checkups for twenty-seven years. I lived a very active life and participated in all kinds of rigorous activities. I even passed the stress test required for qualification to work federal wildland fire management teams for fourteen years. The only thing I ever flunked on the basis of my heart murmur was the physical for a pilot's license. Incidently, I flew without a license because one of my uncles who owned his own plane thought the rules were stupid.
The thought of surgery was traumatic and the emotional rollercoaster that went with it was a real bummer. OHS is a big deal. The thought of being on coumadin was depressing. The thought that a tissue valve would need to be replaced was unacceptable.
Here's how it played out...I had the surgery. I only took five days off work. There were ups and down, but rehab went well...I'm back to being as active as I've always been. I even took a run at a solo winter ascent of a 14,000 ft mountain peak today (I made it to 12,500 ft, before deteriorating weather forced me to retreat). I gave up working the fire teams several years before my surgery and my uncle sold his airplane years ago.
The short story here is that having the surgery is about getting back to living your life. There's no guarantees, but life doesn't come with any anyway. Taking coumadin is still not something I like to do, but it's not really a big deal either. I don't see the drug as restrictive or limiting like some others do.
Most days I feel so normal that my wife has to remind me to take my meds. If you're going into surgery in decent physical shape, odds are pretty good that you'll have a positive experience. When you're facing this stuff it's normal to focus on the negatives. Try to focus on a positive outcome rather than the negative stuff.
-Philip
Philip B
Well-known member
Worried?
Worried?
Yeah, life comes with no guarantees even if you weren't blessed at birth with congenital heart issues. The corrective surgery stuff seems to vary for different folks, but here's a perspective from someone who has had a positive experience...
Like you, I lived my life with no symptoms and was shocked when surgery became a reality. Unlike you, I avoided yearly checkups for twenty-seven years. I lived a very active life and participated in all kinds of rigorous activities. I even passed the stress test required for qualification to work federal wildland fire management teams for fourteen years. The only thing I ever flunked on the basis of my heart murmur was the physical for a pilot's license. Incidently, I flew without a license because one of my uncles who owned his own plane thought the rules were stupid.
The thought of surgery was traumatic and the emotional rollercoaster that went with it was a real bummer. OHS is a big deal. The thought of being on coumadin was depressing. The thought that a tissue valve would need to be replaced was unacceptable.
Here's how it played out...I had the surgery. I only took five days off work. There were ups and down, but rehab went well...I'm back to being as active as I've always been. I even took a run at a solo winter ascent of a 14,000 ft mountain peak today (I made it to 12,500 ft, before deteriorating weather forced me to retreat). I gave up working the fire teams several years before my surgery and my uncle sold his airplane years ago.
The short story here is that having the surgery is about getting back to living your life. There's no guarantees, but life doesn't come with any anyway. Taking coumadin is still not something I like to do, but it's not really a big deal either. I don't see the drug as restrictive or limiting like some others do.
Most days I feel so normal that my wife has to remind me to take my meds. If you're going into surgery in decent physical shape, odds are pretty good that you'll have a positive experience. When you're facing this stuff it's normal to focus on the negatives. Try to focus on a positive outcome rather than the negative stuff.
-Philip
Worried?
Yeah, life comes with no guarantees even if you weren't blessed at birth with congenital heart issues. The corrective surgery stuff seems to vary for different folks, but here's a perspective from someone who has had a positive experience...
Like you, I lived my life with no symptoms and was shocked when surgery became a reality. Unlike you, I avoided yearly checkups for twenty-seven years. I lived a very active life and participated in all kinds of rigorous activities. I even passed the stress test required for qualification to work federal wildland fire management teams for fourteen years. The only thing I ever flunked on the basis of my heart murmur was the physical for a pilot's license. Incidently, I flew without a license because one of my uncles who owned his own plane thought the rules were stupid.
The thought of surgery was traumatic and the emotional rollercoaster that went with it was a real bummer. OHS is a big deal. The thought of being on coumadin was depressing. The thought that a tissue valve would need to be replaced was unacceptable.
Here's how it played out...I had the surgery. I only took five days off work. There were ups and down, but rehab went well...I'm back to being as active as I've always been. I even took a run at a solo winter ascent of a 14,000 ft mountain peak today (I made it to 12,500 ft, before deteriorating weather forced me to retreat). I gave up working the fire teams several years before my surgery and my uncle sold his airplane years ago.
The short story here is that having the surgery is about getting back to living your life. There's no guarantees, but life doesn't come with any anyway. Taking coumadin is still not something I like to do, but it's not really a big deal either. I don't see the drug as restrictive or limiting like some others do.
Most days I feel so normal that my wife has to remind me to take my meds. If you're going into surgery in decent physical shape, odds are pretty good that you'll have a positive experience. When you're facing this stuff it's normal to focus on the negatives. Try to focus on a positive outcome rather than the negative stuff.
-Philip
