st jude valve

[SHerrin Hutt]

Welcome Cherieo
This ia a great web sight. The people you meet here are the greatest. I found back in 2002 by chance. I think it was my Angel that brought me to this sight.I went to the reunion in last year and everyone treated me & my husband like they knew us forever. I can't wait till Denver!Three weeks away.

 

[cherieo]

Old St Jude Valves

Old St Jude Valves

Hi Sherrin:
I hope the reunion is fun. I would really like to get more information on old valves. When you are there, if you think of it, would you ask around. My is almost 21 years old (Mar 1984). I was told originally that it would last a lifetime, which of course could mean different things. As in does that mean I go when the valve goes or does the valve go when I go. Since then I have been told by many drs that 10 to 15 years is the normal life span of a mechanical valve. Anyone hear any different. If you hear anything Sherrin please let me know. thanks Cherie

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Cherie,

I think you have been misinformed or misunderstood something. The typical lifetime of a good (older) TISSUE valve was in the range of 10 to 15 years.

The standard St. Jude Mechanical valve should last LONGER than most of us will live. There was a problem with the St. Jude Silzone valve in SOME people and that model has been recalled.

Bottom Line: If you have a standard St. Jude Mechanical valve, it should still be ticking until you no longer are (for some other reason). SO, go on with your life and ENJOY !

'AL'

 

[Harpoon]

Tick tick tick tick tick....


Funny thing is, there's this new Metallica song playing on the radio and in the chorus, whatshisface is sort of screaming, "Tick tick tick tick tick tick tick TOCK!" and then he goes into this, "your lifestyle, becomes your deathstyle" crap...

Whatever, it's Metallica, they're trying to sound tough and edgy to sell more records. Kids dig it, fine.


Anyways, whenever I hear the song on the radio I think of my St Jude's valve....


Certainly not what they intended in the song I'm sure.


Lessee... I'm at 18 months (and two weeks I believe) post tricuspid replacement, going fine valve-wise anyways.


"Murphy's law" says a valve COULD fail on you within your lifetime, but the damn things are built stronger than anything else of that size in your body so chances are, you'll wear out before the valve does as long as you take care of yourself.


That's the trick really, just living a healthy life which should be fairly easy for ALL of us to do given that we've all gotten a second chance at it and REALLY owe it to our families, our doctors, and finally ourselves to shape up and live a good life.

 

[jayahnt]

cherie

cherie

hello cherie,as for as your valve goes they say there suppose to last a lifetime.i was told by my surgeon that my st jude valves should last a lifetime.you might wont to check with your docter about yours.aortic valve replaced 2002 and mitral valve replaced 2004.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hi
They said that it should out live me. But they also said that the repair would last 5-10 yrs and I only got about three. But I guess it depends on you over all health. The first surgery was a real bear! But I breezed through the second ones so much easier. But I was really sick ! And now I have cardiomypothy that is were the heart musle is not pumping very well my injection fraction when as low as 15% when 50& up is normal. On new meds and doing a little better up to 35% now after 6mo. of house arrest. Have been given thee OK to travel to Denver . Thank God! I need to get away.
I can't wait till Denver . Chicago was so great and everyone are the greatest!

 

[cherieo]

cardiomyopathy

cardiomyopathy

Hi guys:
thanks for all the positive replies. I guess I will just have to live to 100 years and give this old valve a workout.
I also have cardiomyopathy, which did not improve on coreg for over a year. I added Coenzyme Q10 and mannatech nutrients to my diet and in one month there was a marked improvement. I went from around 30% to 45 to 50%. My dr was pretty sure I would need a transplant to raise my kids (I was 45 when diagnosed). He now thinks I won't. I don't know for sure but I was on statins for about 2 years before the cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. It could have been part of the problem. They never figured out what caused it, as my valve was just fine. Oh Well.
So I take my nutrients and eat a healthy diet and am trying (DESPERATELY) to lose weight. I got rid of the biggest stressor in my life (he now resides in Europe and is ruining someone elses life) and I feel so much better. Life is good and God is even better to me. take care Cherie