seeing or keeping old valve? Attatched to my pig valve.

[hedgewick]

Ok, this is probably going to come across as a really weird and maybe disgusting question but here it goes. Have any of you asked about seeing and/or keeping your old valve after it is replaced? I'm 36 and have a pig valve that will be replaced on Monday. I've had this valve since I was 12 years old and as strange as it sounds I feel somewhat attached to it. I feel grateful to the pig who "donated" part of their body to me. I realize it's not at all the same as a heart transplant but I still feel that way on a smaller scale. I'm actually feeling a little sad about having to "say goodbye" to it. My husband and I joked last night that I could have it framed with the saying "that'll do pig" under it (like from the movie Babe") .

Anyone else feel this sort of connection with their old valve? How did you deal with it. Thanks for humoring me LOL!

ps. I posted this on the pre-op board first and then realized it might fit in better here...sorry.

 

[Lynlw]

Justin didn't have his valve removed, but had a section of his dacron conduit removed and asked if he copuld have it (he does have his old pacemaker) but they said they needed to do tests on it ect.

 

[catwoman]

I think RCB has kept a couple valves over nearly 50 years of living with valve replacements (first one was in fall 1960) -- but we're talking mechanicals, which are a little bit easier to keep as paperweights, doodads, etc. Spray-paint a mechanical and it'd make a unique Christmas tree ornament.

Seriously, it's your call. You'd probably need to keep it "pickled" or preserved in some solution in a container, wouldn't you?

 

[lb151]

I would think its not any different than when we were keeping our tonsils in a jar. We all did that "way back when",,not so much anymore. My doc gave me my old ring from my repair.

 

[tobagotwo]

Can't do it in New Jersey, even after the lab has gone over it. State considers it contaminated medical waste.

I feel somewhat the same way, and even moreso when it was my original valve. I wanted my valves.

Best wishes,

 

[catwoman]

Sounds like we're talking about failed car parts -- the mechanic holding on to it to show us that it really was bad and do we want to take it home?

I didn't know that some states would not allow you to keep one of your own organs or part of an organ.... but the thought that it is "contaminated" does make some sense.

 

[hedgewick]

LOL ok now that I think about this it seems pretty nasty. I mean who wants to see that hanging on your wall or in a jar on the shelf. I guess I was just wondering if my "attachment" to the valve and it's little donor is odd.

 

[Freddie]

All you have to do is ask your surgeon.

It would be something I would do for sure. Wish I had, cause I needed the proof.

 

[davidswife]

I asked David's surgeon if we could have his old valve. David has a collection of autographed baseballs in lucite cubes and I thought it would be interesting to put his valve in one of those cubes on the shelf with the baseballs! David thought I was crazy and I think the surgeon did too, but he did take me seriously, I guess, because he didn't just dismiss my question. He said that it was probably so calcified that it would just break into pieces when he removed it and that it had to be sent to pathology anyway. And since we are in New Jersey, I guess we couldn't have gotten it in any case.

Nadine

 

[Superbob]

I certainly understand the attachment -- I oink, too! And you've had this same tissue valve for 24 years -- since age 12? Wow! Could you tell us some more specifics about the model and brand -- that's a good long run in a young person.

Wishing you all the best in your upcoming replacement surgery. Do keep us posted.

 

[ChouDoufu]

keeping your old valve after it is replaced?

checked with surgeon beforehand, he said no problem. they'd still have
to examine the valve in pathology, but i could have it after. plan was to
have it sealed in a glass ball, like those scorpions you get at the tourist
traps in cairo, for an interesting paperweight.

anyway, he came to visit me in icu, brought the remains of the valve in
a petri dish. was so calcified and crunchy it came out in seven small
crumbly pieces. too small to really tell what it was so passed.

 

[lcwhitney]

Why not keep your valve You paid for it. A tissue valve would be preserved in either formaldehyde or alcohol but, your surgeon may want the hospital pathologist to do a microscopic examination of the valve after it is removed. It can't hurt to ask the surgeon about his plans for the valve before your surgery.

Lettitia

 

[Gail in Ca]

I wonder if they will let you have it? I asked my daughter's oral surgeon for her wisdom teeth, and was told they couldn't give them to us. It's now considered hazardous waste!
So, it would be interesting to ask about your valve. I think it would be interesting to see it. I didn't even think to ask for my old carbomedic, darn!

 

[lance]

Well, for what it's worth .............

Well, for what it's worth .............

I asked for and received "part" of my natural valve prior to it being replaced by a mechanical. It now resides in a vial of preservative. So there you have it.

It's not that unusual for patients to request the return of their valves either from what I've heard.

The pathology report notes that part of the valve was missing when they examined it.

And when I awoke after having gall stones removed there they were in a vial next to my bed. I couldn't throw them into the trash fast enough.

Heart tissue is much different.

Go head, ask for it--don't be shy. Maybe part of it will be returned.