Aortic heart valve replacement required can you help - Heart Disorders Message Board

chriso4905 · 03-10-2007, 03:51 AM

Hello

I am a 45 year old fit and active man and just been told I will have to have a replacement aortic valve so I am obviously very concerned. Can anyone give me any tips or advice?
I dont relish the idea of having my chest ripped to pieces, some valves last longer than others,comadin will have to be taken but it is very bad for you apparently !!!
There are so many questions and it would be good to hear from someone who is going through (or has been through ) the same dilemma.

Thanks for taking the time to read this

chriso4905

Mileena42 · 03-10-2007, 03:09 PM

Hi Chriso,

I have been on the board since I found out last Nov that I needed a Mitral Valve replacement. I don't think you will find a lot of people who have gone through this, I havent. Do you know when they are going to do your replacement? Have you decided on a mechanical valve for sure? I was wondering if they would even consider a pig valve in someone our age (I am 43). My cardio says I have maybe 5 years before I have to have to replacement. Are you having any symptoms now, or are you just waiting like me? The hardest part for me is waiting. In a way I wish I was going ahead and doing the surgery now, but I am so worried about it. I am sure you are as well. I wish we both had someone who could tell us that it isnt as bad as we might be worried it is....lol. Did your cardio say anything about repair, or is replacement your only option?
Mileena

luanne320 · 03-11-2007, 06:06 AM

my son had an aortic valve replacement at 3 1/2. he had the ross konno procedure where his aortic valve and subaortic region were removed and his own pulmonary valve was put in the aortic position. then a cadaver valve is put in the place of the pulmonary valve. i wonder if your doctor would consider that option. nick's cadaver valve has lasted 10 years so far and is just now starting to leak and become calcified. so he'll need it replaced soon.

the reason they do that instead of just putting the cadaver valve in the aortic place is because the aortic side has higher pressure and the cadaver valve couldn't tolerate that.

i hope everything goes well with your surgery.

mohel2 · 03-12-2007, 06:09 PM

Hi Chriso:
I understand your anxiety as I was there on November 22/05. I am now 60 years old and because of my age I had to make the decision as to type of valve, mechanical or biological. I chose the pig valve due to the fact I was not comfortable with the realization that I would have to be on an anti-coagulant for the rest of my life if I chose the mechanical valve. I am still happy with that decision even though I know it means I may have to have it replaced again at some point in the future. I recently had an echocardiogram and the valve work's perfectly!!
I guess a part of my thinking at decision time was that by the time the valve needed to be replaced medicine would have advanced to the point where they could put a new one in by using a less invasive type of surgery at that point in the future. We'll see if I was right but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it as I'm prepared for the current method as well if it has to be. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I had myself worked up to quite a state by surgery time and I, like you, looked all over for advice and comforting words. After you get home from Hospital you need help with things we take for granted such as getting your clothes on and sweaters over your head because of course you have to be careful you don't lift you hands/arms too high.The pain was never very bad at all and you have to be sure to do the exercising they want you to do as well as keep your arms close to your body for the first few weeks so the sternum can mesh together as it is supposed to.
Try to relax as it will make it much easier for you. I know it's easy to say but, I can say it because I was there just 15 months ago.
Good luck.

Mileena42 · 03-13-2007, 07:22 AM

Hi Mohel,

I am so glad you responded to this post. I know you werent talking to me, but I have been looking for someone who had this surgery done. Like I said....I don't want to do it...I am stressing about it (which my cardio said NOT to do). Which valve did you have replaced? Was repair not an option? WHY did you have it replaced....what caused it to need replacing? MY cardio says within the next 5 years I will need my mitral valve replaced. I have rhumatic heart disease, and my valve is now 1.6cm. It should be from 4 to 6. He says this is still considered MILD to MODERATE. They want to wait until it is worse. That worries me too. I dont see him again until NOV, and he says he will know more about how fast my degeneration is progressing then.

Anyway, thanks for the encouraging words. I have read on here of little children and babies having open heart and feel like a baby myself because of the horrible fear I have!!!
Mileena