Yes, yes, and yes. I'm getting the On-X

[Dustin]

Dear Valvers,

Just to let you know that after some tough and heated negotiations, the surgeon has agreed to install an On-X in the aortic position. It feels great that the days of this crippling aortic valve are coming to an end.

Take care,

 

[Karlynn]

Congratulations Dustin!

 

[Phyllis]

Great news Dustin- glad you are getting your valve of choice!

 

[Ross]

Did you tell him that you want to be awake to watch him install it?

 

[Dustin]

Did you tell him that you want to be awake to watch him install it?

Nope, I hope to be far away when they insert this clicker. But I do expect a certificate showing authenticity and a sticker on my chest saying "Powered by On-X".

 

[RCB]

Good for you, Dustin!

Good for you, Dustin!

Dear Valvers,

Just to let you know that after some tough and heated negotiations, the surgeon has agreed to install an On-X in the aortic position. It feels great that the days of this crippling aortic valve are coming to an end.

Take care,

I always am so proud when people like you and Randy ( of Randy and Robyn fame) hold your ground with these doctors and demand to get what will be a part of you most likely the rest of your life. You guys are my heros!

 

[Andyrdj]

Jolly Good indeed

Jolly Good indeed

It goes without saying that if I was required to have a Mech valve, the ON-X would be the one I'd go for. Have you checked out their homepage?

There's a section on what's been done so far in the low and/or aspirin only trials - 5 year results from south africa for example

http://www.onxvalves.com/about_news_item.asp?NewsID=18

The On-X group was comprised of patients with varying amounts of anticoagulation. Approximately 58% of the patients in the On-X group were considered to have "satisfactory" anticoagulation, 23% were categorized as "unsatisfactory" anticoagulation and 19% had "no" anticoagulation. The unsatisfactory and no anticoagulation was due to poor patient compliance to established protocols.

In spite of the high incidence of unsatisfactory and no anticoagulation, the patients receiving On-X mitral valves experienced 0.0%/ptyr thrombosis, bleeding and thromboembolism. Patients receiving On-X aortic valves had 0.0%/ptyr thrombosis and bleeding and 1.8%/ptyr thromboembolism.



I believe the 1.8% per patient year is comparable to the stuff we've been slogging through the maths with in the other discussion - and that's with some of them with no anticoagulation at all!

I wonder where the aspirin only bit will appear on that? Personally, I'd go with that and reduce my INR further with copious pints of beer!

But anyway, this was in 2003, so follow up on this study should be around 6 years by now.

looks like within a few years there should be an established precedent for you to go on at least low INR, and possibly the aspirin only.
The nice thing is that you yourself can review the evidence and go with whatever risk you deem appropriate.

Good luck mate, from a fellow patient who will probably face an uphill fight!

 

[Dustin]

I always am so proud when people like you and Randy ( of Randy and Robyn fame) hold your ground with these doctors and demand to get what will be a part of you most likely the rest of your life. You guys are my heros!

Thanks for the kind words. But the biggest hurdle is yet to come: surgery.

 

[Dustin]

It goes without saying that if I was required to have a Mech valve, the ON-X would be the one I'd go for. Have you checked out their homepage?

Yes, and I looked at some medical publications. Then I asked myself and the surgeon the following questions on mechanical valves:

1) Based on the data, is the On-X inferior?

Answer: No.

2) Based on the data, can you think of a compelling reason NOT to use the On-X?

Answer: No.

Verdict: On-X has the benefit of the doubt.

So when one decides to go mechanical, there is no obvious reason not to use this valve. When clinical trials with reduced ACT continue, one can only benefit from its enhanced performance when stats support the hypothesis that the On-X is less hemolytic and thrombogenic.

 

[Emma]

Welcome to our little on-x family!
Emma
xxx

 

[baradonai]

Wow,

Wow,

I've only had my St. Jude a little over a year and I already have valve-envy!

I guess unlike cars, we can't trade these in every couple of years.

 

[Dustin]

I've only had my St. Jude a little over a year and I already have valve-envy!

I guess unlike cars, we can't trade these in every couple of years.

To be honest, I have surgery-envy.... I still need to go through that hell and pray I don't end up with some serious afib, infection, paravalvular leak or what have we.

Anyways, the St. Jude has a hard to beat track record as far as number of patients and years of succes are concerned. That's why many surgeons tend to say St. Jude is the "golden standard", at least that's what my surgeon said to me. My choice is based on the anticipation of an improved performance, but it has yet to be proven beyond reasonable doubt. We'll hear the verdict when the aspirin trial with 1200 patients finishes in 2015. The jury is still out on this one, so until then your valve is the sheriff in town.

 

[Randy & Robyn]

Just wanted to say congratulations, Dustin. I think you have chosen well.

I've had my On-X for a little over four months now and life is completely and totally back to normal for me. The coumadin is a pill I take every day. Nothing more. I hardly ever hear any clicking at all and when I do it is very quiet and not bothersome whatsoever. I have every ounce of my energy back and feel great. You have an excellent chance of having the same outcome.

Wishing you all the best,
Randy

 

[Christina]

Feeling a bit of envy too..

Feeling a bit of envy too..

Dustin..

Reading all this I can't help but suffer from a bit of valve envy as well. I've had my St.Jude's for almost 6 years, working well, no ticking, no afib or any other problems, but to stay INR stable I need to take 24-26mg Coumadin per day. I worry what that's going to do in the coming years. I've suffered from Osteporosis since my surgery in 2000 and been told that Coumadin causes bone loss.
I think I can't win this one since bone health needs to be supplemented with mega doses of vitamin K.

Wishing you well Dustin.

 

[Dustin]

Just wanted to say congratulations, Dustin. I think you have chosen well.

I've had my On-X for a little over four months now and life is completely and totally back to normal for me. The coumadin is a pill I take every day. Nothing more. I hardly ever hear any clicking at all and when I do it is very quiet and not bothersome whatsoever. I have every ounce of my energy back and feel great. You have an excellent chance of having the same outcome.

Wishing you all the best,
Randy

It's good to hear you're doing OK. Let's hope things turn out the same for me.

Take care,

 

[Dustin]

Dustin..

Reading all this I can't help but suffer from a bit of valve envy as well. I've had my St.Jude's for almost 6 years, working well, no ticking, no afib or any other problems, but to stay INR stable I need to take 24-26mg Coumadin per day. I worry what that's going to do in the coming years. I've suffered from Osteporosis since my surgery in 2000 and been told that Coumadin causes bone loss.
I think I can't win this one since bone health needs to be supplemented with mega doses of vitamin K.

Wishing you well Dustin.

What about increasing your milk intake? Does this improve bone strength at all?

 

[temp69]

Good choice!

Good choice!

I had one installed on 6/27 and the little sucker is ticking away (quietly) like a Swiss Watch. The coumadin doseage thingy will take a little adjusting in the beginning, but after awhile I think it will be just another pill to take daily.

I'm 3 weeks post op with an On-X so if you have any questions, fire away.

temp69