Re-operation.. should it be a deal breaker?

[Alerion]

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fair go david, do you know the old saying "do not ask the question if you do not want to hear the awnser"

Hi Westie,

Absolutely right. But the question I asked had nothing to do with ACT.
I asked, of both mech and tissue valve patients, if the operation and recovery was for them a deal breaker - something they would never, under any circumstances, wish to repeat.

From my original post...

"My question is -

How bad is the operation?

I mean, I really want to know if I'm facing excruciating agony or debilitating, long-term physical hardship coupled with searing humiliation or whatever."

I re-phrased this several times in the thread so I hope it was made clear.

I suppose it was un-avoidable that the post-surgery issue would come up. There are, however, countless pages devoted to that subject here so my naivety can be excused I hope.

"all of us are worthy of respect; all our inputs are from the perspective of our actual experiences, "from the heart". we present our opinions; yes there are many duplications and restatements of advice, but perhaps the comments repeated ad nauseum reflect our collective experience and may have some value...... and should not be dismissed easily..."

I hope you can believe me when I say I dismiss nothing easily - nor do I treat with disrespect anyone here who I understand is trying to help me and those like me.

The thing I started getting testy about was that the same people have been telling me the same thing in several different places and I cannot for the life of me understand why, unless they think I don't believe them. I certainly do.

You admonish me not to judge too harshly those who offer advice, or at least information, that comes from a sense of empathy. I do not.

...But at some point, it should be pointed out that I am not asking the question they are answering. It seems the coumadin issue almost always hijacks posts like this and here I have gotten pulled into it too! I have nothing against coumadin. I very well might be taking it myself. But I didn't ask about coumadin.

To be frank, I have a couple of weeks before OHS and I've had 3 weeks to adjust to that so far. I am trying, in the few hours a day i have to myself, to evaluate my situation in a manner that will help me and others like me. I have been given a few days before my dental appt to mull it over with Heidi, my wife, and that's what I'm doing. I'm certainly nervous about it and so is Heidi.

I hope I apologized sufficiently in my last post for my frustration but in case I didn't, please accept my my further apology. Between my job deadlines, my home being in mid-rebuild and my sudden health issue, I am stressed.

I am grateful to the folks who have endeavored to enlighten me and, again, sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings.

 

[Marguerite53]

David. Time to take a break, dude.

Honestly. Stay off the computer for a day. Go outside and smell the smells and hear the sounds and eat some great food. Devour life for a day. Let the thinking rest, feed the soul. Please. You have to let your brain process this stuff. That means some rest from it. You will be amazed at the clarity that can arrive if you just let go abit.

We're an opinionated bunch, here! Good of you to let us exercise it!!

Best wishes.

Marguerite

 

[Alerion]

Ahhhhh.
Thanks,M
Quite right.
I think deliberation here is about done when I start to get in exchanges where I actually start quoting myself. Most people can't stand to hear me once!

I believe I will be back sometime later. For now, I think I will mull off-line. I will drop a general line to the group to let you know when my grim date with destiny will transpire and I'll have Heidi post when it all goes down.

Thanks to all who have shared their stories, insights, and information with us. You guys have made us smarter and braver than we had any idea we could be.

See you later.

 

[geebee]

Bridgette - Understood.
I just wonder if the thing I'm supposed to be avoiding, the main reason people give for avoiding a tissue valve, i.e. the actual operation, is really a deal breaker. Is going through it twice worse than going through it once and being on ACT? That's not a question anyone can answer for me but I can try to make up my own mind if I get a good enough idea of how bad the actual operation is.

Sorry - but you did ask about ACT in relation to the valve types. What other reason would one choose to have multiple surgeries if it were not to try and avoid ACT?

 

[pamela]

Sorry - but you did ask about ACT in relation to the valve types. What other reason would one choose to have multiple surgeries if it were not to try and avoid ACT?

1. ... to avoid ACT
2. to gain a greater effective valve area
3. to carry a child to term without possible dangers of warfarin consumption (this is not avoidance of ACT, but it is avoidance of drug side effects and needs to be considered separately)and
4. to be happy and comfortable with your immensely personal choice

 

[Jkm7]

Sorry - but you did ask about ACT in relation to the valve types. What other reason would one choose to have multiple surgeries if it were not to try and avoid ACT?

One reason I chose tissue was to avoid the risk of the clicking noise some mechanical valves make being more than I could adjust to. I was terrified of it bothering me beyond my endurance for it. I really, really cannot stand the sound of a ticking clock and it bothers my DH as much as me.

It was a very real consideration for me.....in addition to ACT. We all make our decisions for our own reasons and all the reasons are valid for each of us.

 

[Eva]

David. Time to take a break, dude.

Honestly. Stay off the computer for a day. Go outside and smell the smells and hear the sounds and eat some great food. Devour life for a day. Let the thinking rest, feed the soul. Please. You have to let your brain process this stuff. That means some rest from it. You will be amazed at the clarity that can arrive if you just let go abit.

We're an opinionated bunch, here! Good of you to let us exercise it!!

Best wishes.

Marguerite

David,

As Margueritte said...take a break from the computer and from your own thinking about this...I drove myself crazy asking everyone I knew from far or near...I am sure you are asking all this because the more info you get the smarter the choice you will make... we understand we are not making the choice for you, but our answers will help you make a smart decision. This is a gig operation, my Goodness.

May you be led to the right one when you least expect it..be careful as this process debilitated me and it was the worst time for me. Take time off with Heidi and clear your mind and the answer will come to you through your heart and mind...my final choice came to me three days before my surgery..I thought I was driving my surgeon's office crazy with changing my mind back and forth; but they were so understanding and they were willing to go with me even if I changed my mind the morning of the surgery; as I was told many patients do that.

Good luck.

 

[geebee]

Thank you for bringing reasons (other than to avoid ACT) for choosing a tissue valve to my attention and I stand corrected. I was responding mostly to Alerion's question.

BTW - I have never said or implied that anyone who chooses tissue has not made a valid choice and it kind of hurts my feelings that anyone would imply that I have.

 

[Jkm7]

Thank you for bringing reasons (other than to avoid ACT) for choosing a tissue valve to my attention and I stand corrected. I was responding mostly to Alerion's question.

BTW - I have never said or implied that anyone who chooses tissue has not made a valid choice and it kind of hurts my feelings that anyone would imply that I have.

No, GeeBee, you never said anyone's reasons are not valid. I did not mean to imply you did and didn't expect you would think so. Sorry if your feelings are hurt.

Originally Posted by geebee
Sorry - but you did ask about ACT in relation to the valve types. What other reason would one choose to have multiple surgeries if it were not to try and avoid ACT?

Also, BTW. This was my second OHS and by choosing tissue valve, I was not choosing to have multiple surgeries. I hope I never have to endure another. What I chose was to have a tissue valve and we shall see where that takes me.

 

[Ross]

Folks this thread is taking a turn away from it's original intent. I realize that part of our particular views stem from what we've been through, but in all honesty, Alerions question is another of those, well, we can tell you our experiences, but no one here can tell him what his will be. That's just the sad part of the decision process.

We want no one to feel hurt or even perhaps driven away. It is only our intentions to correct possible errant information and to provide OUR OWN experiences. We have new people that read threads and never post a thing. Later on down the road, I'll suddenly get a message from them out of the blue, yet they've never posted here. It's for these people that we do what we do and to those on their way to the great new life after heart surgery, not to make someone feel pressured or driven. Please keep that in mind.

 

[geebee]

Also, BTW. This was my second OHS and by choosing tissue valve, I was not choosing to have multiple surgeries. I hope I never have to endure another. What I chose was to have a tissue valve and we shall see where that takes me.

Oh good grief - I just plain give up. I really don't give a hoot what kind of valve someone chooses or why. I wish you all well.

 

[Karlynn]

This was my second OHS and by choosing tissue valve, I was not choosing to have multiple surgeries. I hope I never have to endure another. What I chose was to have a tissue valve and we shall see where that takes me.

This is a confusing statement for someone coming on that is 30 years old and reading it. If you could let us know your age that would be helpful. If you're 60 - I fully understand the statement - because your tissue valve may last your life. If you're 40, I'm sincerely not understanding.


The bottom line, as I see, for this thread. People who have had multiple surgeries were asked about the effects. Many people have commented, a few who have experienced them. Coumadin was also discussed. People who use it have commented on their experience.

If you get a mechanical - you'll be on ACT the rest of your life, and I hope the information on this thread and others, has given you enough comfort with it to not be frightened at the thought. If you get a tissue and you're below the age of 60-65, you should make the choice knowing another surgery is in the cards and hopefully this thread has helped you feel comfortable about that choice.

The bottom of the bottom-ests lines at VR - the choice is yours - we just all wish you much luck with that choice. No one gets a new vacuum cleaner for having "sold" you your decision.

 

[Cameron]

Not to be facetious, but I just want to know where vprnet got the time machine to go forward to Dec 19, 2009 for the valve surgery - I could do with one right now!!
Cameron

 

[Karlynn]

I'm a music director for a church. I listen to LOTS of music through headphones. I never hear my valve. Right after surgery the sound can be loud when in a tiled bathroom. As you heal it becomes less and less noticeable. I never hear it going about my daily routine. It's also not the kind of sound of a ticking clock. Once you're healed, when you hear it, if you hear it, it's very soft and muffled.

 

[vprnet]

Carmeron,

Who said 2009? Nice thing about time machines, they can go forward or backward!!!

Thanks....Vincent

 

[Dina]

I chose a tissue valve for a few reasons..some personal and unrelated,
but one consideration for me was that I needed a Tricuspid Valve replaced.
There is alot less pressure and subsequent wear in this right sided position.
So I may be able to expect a few more years out of it.
Re giving a tissue valve to a youngish person(about 40,like me)...I think
the decreased longevity of the valve has more to do with body chemistry
and not the increased activity of younger people. Supposedly the
newer treated tissue valves are lasting longer and countering some
of the calcification,I am hoping this is so.
My best-Dina

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I'm really beginning to think it was better 10 years ago when I didn't know anything and the doctor made the choice for me. As I've said before, I thought tissue was "old school" except for really old people. If I knew then what I know now, I would have chosen mechanical. Why? Lower chance of multiple repeats surgeries. I was only 36 when I had my surgery and since my maternal grandmother just turned 100 and my paternal grandmother died at 85, I have a genetic history of immortal women! Coumadin was a non-issue when I was making my decision, and it's a non-issue now. The ticking was also a non-issue then and now. Nothing could be louder than my murmur!

As I've said before, if this valve decides to go south and I am somewhere close to 70, I might go with a tissue valve, only because I've heard that Coumadin can be more difficult to regulate in older people, and at that age, the tissue valve would probably last me the rest of my life (especially the ones that I expect will be around in 2031!).