Worried about ticking

halleyg · Sep 17, 2007

Hi Jenny,
My valve is very new, not even 4 weeks, but it seems pretty loud to me. However, this is only when it's very quiet, like when I'm in my bed at night w/no noises or in the bathroom as others have mentioned. (although I have the TV on right now and can heart it fine) I am also a very small person (not short, just thin) so my surgeon had mentioned it might be more audible in me. In reading others posts I am hoping it may quiet down in time.
One hint: I have noticed when I breathe with my mouth closed that it quiets the ticking considerably!

aussie girl · Sep 17, 2007

Hi Jenny,

Welcome to vr.com. I had my aortic valve replaced almost 6 weeks ago with an on-x valve, most times I can't hear it except like others have said in bathrooms etc. When I go to sleep I can feel it more so than hear it. My daughter (25) can often hear it even when I can't so I guess it depends on one's sensitivity to sound.

Hope this helps,

Mary

ALCapshaw2 · Sep 17, 2007

ANOTHER reason that Mechanical Valves tend to be heard shortly after surgery is that patients often have a Pounding Heartbeat until the heart 'readjusts' to having less back-pressure since it is no longer pumping against a narrowed (diseased) valve. It may take a few months to fully adjust.

'AL Capshaw'

Arthur · Sep 17, 2007

Aortic valve redo

Aortic valve redo

Hello Jennyr,

Valve replacement with a tissue valve at 46 is unusual.
Where are you located in UK ? Typically a bileaflet heart valve generates at closure about 25 decibels. If you are a music professional it may be good to get the advise of doctor specialized in acoustic. He can check your ears.
To the best of my knowledge the On-X valve is the more quiet.

Arthur

Ambience · Sep 17, 2007

Hi there.

I've had my AAV since May of 2002, it's a St Jude valve and it is pretty loud. It would appear that I'm the exception to the norm, but I've even had an echo tech ask me if I was wearing a watch. Most people at work ask the same question and I tell them I have a mechanical heart valve. Some people say "Cool" and then "Wow you seem too young to have that sort of thing." on rare occasions people get apologetic. I tell them no biggie, it makes me unique.

My niece thinks I have a robot in my stomach, and has taken it upon herself to punch it out of me. I was never like that when I was a kid, right?

According to some strange PDF document that comes up when I google the model number of my valve, I have a coated Aortic Valve graft 33MM Master. There is even a price next to it $5,050. I feel expensive.

I hear it all the time, and I'm not sure if it's psychological or not but if there is heavy background noise, or if I'm in the shower and enough water is falling...I can't hear it and it makes me nervous. I'm not sure why I have such a loud valve, except that maybe my heart size is bigger than most because I'm a tall guy 6'3". But when I took my LSATS, people were looking around wondering where the noise was coming from, and I'm outed in a generally quiet room.

PhillipCinci · Sep 24, 2007

Hello...very new to this but, have had my valve since last Tues. It is a St. Jude and so far it is not loud. I have heard it but it is not obtrusive. My wife and daughter have heard it but I think we are very concious of trying to hear it at this point. It does not appear to be more than the ticking of a watch/clock. And I cannot hear every watch or every clock all the time

so I think I will find this very easy to deal with. FYI...I was concerned about this myself but appears so far so good. Good luck.