Surgery again for me

[Andrea]

I wasnt sure if I should put this in pre op or post op so I put it here. I had my first mytral valve replacement last March 31st. Everyone here was such a great sorce of support. Since then I have been working 10 hour days and trying to take care of my two little girls. Unfortunatly I havent had time for posting however I have read some of the posts from time to time.

I was in the hospital about 2 weeks ago with bad CHF and they said I had not only a blood clot on my valve but also that a stitch was leaking and my aorta (I think) was cloudy and enlarged.

I saw my surgeon today and he wants to do another TEE tomorrow and then decide when I am going back in for another valve. He said it will probably be in a few days.

I will have to be admitted 3-5 days pre-op to be on heperin.

I'm not nearly as scared as I was the first time but still sad that I have to do it again so soon. I thought with my mechanical valve that I may not need to do this again, let alone a little over a year later. I had just paid off all of my hospital bills from the last surgery.

Has anyone else had to have a second mechanical valve surgery?

 

[atydev]

Sorry

Sorry

I have just had one valve replacement surgery on June 21st 2004 (mitral and aortic) plus a section of my heart removed because it was to thick. I am so sorry. I just wanted to wish you luck and I know all will go well. Do you know how you got the clot? Best of luck and keep us posted

 

[Christina]

Mechanical valve replacement?

Mechanical valve replacement?

Hi Andrea,

Sorry to hear that you have to do it again so soon.
I had my 2nd mechanical replacement within eleven days of my first in 8/2000 because of a blood clot underneath the valve. It had lodged itself there because of a too low INR (1.4). I did fine but was quite scared the second time as well because I was afraid the clot would move and I'd die of a stroke, or worse be a vegetable the rest of my life.
One good thing that came out of the second surgery was that they changed brands of valves and I received a shining 19mm St. Jude's. The first one was a 21mm Sultzer Carbomedics. It was too loud and a bit too big for me.
I am doing well.

Wishing you the very best. Let us know how you do. OK?

 

[Karlynn]

Andrea,
So sorry to hear about your additional surgery. Let us know when you are going. You're in my prayers.

 

[Andrea]

Well I got the clot because I was skipping my coumadin and lab draws

I just felt better when I didnt take my meds but it turned out that the med making me feel bad was a different med and finally after months of complaining about not feeling well they found out which med was making me feel bad and switched it. By then it was too late. I went into heavy CHF the day after the switch and two days later found myself back in the hospital. That was two weeks ago.

Tomorrow I have another TEE (second in two weeks) and then the surgeon said it will be a couple of days then he'll admit me

I screwed up. I thought 'Hey I'm young, I'll be fine, and besides I feel good when I skip meds so I must be doing something right'. I'm an idiot I know.

I can tell you this : I will NEVER skip coumadin again!

 

[bethanne]

I was wondering if that was the culprit... watch out you will be Al's poster child with a disclaimer don't skip your caumadin dose

Andrea I am so sorry you are having to go through this again...

 

[Debrinha GT]

Mitral Valve Replacements

Mitral Valve Replacements

Hello Andrea, I am too very sorry for what you're going through but no, I wouldn't call you an idiot, you did what you thought was best for you at the time. Now, there's no point in crying over spilt milk, instead of that which might just make you feel even worse, move on and do what has to be done. I know it's easier said than done, but as you yourself have said, you're young and take it as something else to be dealt with in your life. Let us know how things are progressing and don't forget you can always count on us for emotional support and advice. Best of luck!

Debora from Brazil

 

[bvdr]

Hi Andrea, I am so sorry you are facing another valve replacement. When I read your post I immediately thought back on your coumadin issues in the initial months after your replacement. I know you will never take that chance again. If someone with a mechanical valve quits coumadin, a clot is the expected outcome. I'm glad you are still alive and hope this never ever happens to you again. We are really going to have to stay on your case this time, beloved problem child!

 

[Marguerite53]

wishing you the best

wishing you the best

Hello, Andrea.

I am still in the waiting mode so I can't even really relate to one surgery let alone two! When I read of your choice to skip the coumadin I immediately thought of my friend, approaching 50, who decided she was tired of taking hormones and just quit. Well, once you've had a hysterectomy, you simply have to take them. Several months "free" of the hormones, her workouts were leaving her in pain. Turns out, all her bones were breaking! Many many tiny fractures and one ankle that is broken in so many places she is in a cast indefinitely. I mention this because I'm sure that there are many people who make personal judgements that don't always turn out to be the wise choice. And this one from a very bright woman, a teacher, mother of 2 teenagers, working on her PhD, husband with adult onset diabetes. Both are athletic coaches! In wanting to take matters into your own hands, you are not alone!

I am sorry that you are headed in for another surgery, but you sound confident about it. I'm hoping that your actual surgery went well, so you have nothing but a good experience to look forward to again.

Thank you for coming back and letting us share in your experience. For those of us waiting around, this community's honesty and caring are amazing comfort. You are helping many people by coming back and sharing your new story.

My very best wishes for a successful second go around!

Marguerite

 

[Marge]

I hope things go well for you Andrea ... Have to admire your positive attitude and strive to emulate it!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

And you never told your Doctor, or your pharmacist, or US, or anybody, that you were stopping your medicines?

Isn't it a 'rule' to NEVER stop a medicine without telling your Doctor?

I'm sorry you had to learn this rule the hard way.

The corollary to the above rule is the famous line that "a little knowledge is a DANGEROUS thing!"

This should be a lesson for ALL of us.

Hope your re-do goes well.

Best wishes,

'AL'

 

[Andrea]

LOL well I guess I am the black sheep.

I didnt totally stop taking them, I was just skipping doses. But I wont be doing that ever again!

I try to stay as positive as I can because getting your self worked up and worried doesnt accomplish anything. We must do what we must do as we all know.

For those of you still awaiting your first surgery I can tell you this. Before my first surgery I was on here scared as hell asking a million questions and whimpering like a baby but look at me now I'm pretty calm and confident. Surgery wasnt nearly as bad as I was expecting and so now for my second I'm pretty calm about it. So please keep that in mind. Its not too bad and its something that we have to go through. So enjoy the time off work, all the popcycles you can eat and catch up on cheesy hospital tv I've become a Dawsons Creek addict since they show it twice during soap/Judge whoever time.

Oh and my Dad is getting me a portable dvd player this weekend. That man loves me

Going to pack my bags this weekend. The surgeon will view the TEE tapes Monday and they think he will call me Monday and want me to admit. I'm going to go to work Monday anyways until he calls and just be preparred to leave early - I'm limited on my FMLA so I'm trying to save it.

 

[gijanet]

Sending prayers.........

Sending prayers.........

I don't have any advice to offer, just sending lots of prayers your way. Please keep us posted.

Take care and God bless.............

 

[Karlynn]

Andrea,
Your Dad is great. The DVD player will be so nice for you in the hospital. Too bad you don't live near me. I'm a movie junkie and have about 150 DVD's. You could take your pick!

Keep the good attitude up and let us know when you find out anything.