Need Help/Advice from anyone who needs or has had valve replacement surgery please - Heart Disorders Message Board

DarrenMellow10 · 08-06-2007, 04:13 PM

I am 29 years old, I enjoy motorcycling, tennis and have a lovely wife and two children.

Recently I have had a shock in that I need valve replacement surgery. I went to the hospital months ago and informed my surgeon I was experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath and tiredness. The chest pains are infrequent but the shortness of breath on physical exertion is guaranteed and I do feel tired. I had a catheta inserted into my arteries to check my heart and the surgeon confirmed I needed surgery. I currently have a very high probability of success and I am worried if I do not have the operation my heart will become damaged.

After researching this I noted there are risks of blood clotting, mechanical valve failure and bleeding to death should I have a motorbike accident because I will need to be on warfarin for the rest of my life. I was recently jumped on by four lads down at the local takeaway for no reason whatsoever and was injured and bruised. I was glad at the time I was not on warfarin. I have also heard following an operation I will need regular blood check ups and possibly injections of warfarin.

This leads me to my next set of questions, has anyone had heart replacement surgery with a replacement valve, does it actually make you feel better, do you feel less tired and physically fitter for instance can you exercise normally and jog, do the chest pains go away after surgery, do you stop getting chest infections, are you able to do normal things like ride a motorbike, jog etc, if you cut yourself and your on warfarin does your blood still clot or is it a trip to hospital, how often do you see a doctor each month after the operation, how often do you take warfarin, is the mechanical valve clicking annoying or too loud, do you fell better in your self.

I really need a no nonsense straight answer to all this, I love my Wife and Children dearly and I am currently able to do everything except running or jogging for a significant amount of time. I am also afraid being a bit of a wimp about things like this yet I feel guilty about not having the operation because it worries my Wife making me feel selfish and a bit of a coward. I also do feel tired and depressed normally towards the end of a working week and my Wife believes its to do with the heart condition. She feels if I had the valve replaced I would be more energetic, she is a nurse but I would rather hear the truth from someone who has had the surgery. Dont be afraid to say you had the surgery and it made no difference to you, please can someone give me some advice.

I would also be interested to know how you felt after the operation, was it painful during the procedure, how long did you take to recover after the operation, I would be really grateful for some straight advice

JayneHigh2 · 01-21-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenMellow10

I am 29 years old, I enjoy motorcycling, tennis and have a lovely wife and two children.

Recently I have had a shock in that I need valve replacement surgery. I went to the hospital months ago and informed my surgeon I was experiencing chest pains, shortness of breath and tiredness. The chest pains are infrequent but the shortness of breath on physical exertion is guaranteed and I do feel tired. I had a catheta inserted into my arteries to check my heart and the surgeon confirmed I needed surgery. I currently have a very high probability of success and I am worried if I do not have the operation my heart will become damaged.

After researching this I noted there are risks of blood clotting, mechanical valve failure and bleeding to death should I have a motorbike accident because I will need to be on warfarin for the rest of my life. I was recently jumped on by four lads down at the local takeaway for no reason whatsoever and was injured and bruised. I was glad at the time I was not on warfarin. I have also heard following an operation I will need regular blood check ups and possibly injections of warfarin.

This leads me to my next set of questions, has anyone had heart replacement surgery with a replacement valve, does it actually make you feel better, do you feel less tired and physically fitter for instance can you exercise normally and jog, do the chest pains go away after surgery, do you stop getting chest infections, are you able to do normal things like ride a motorbike, jog etc, if you cut yourself and your on warfarin does your blood still clot or is it a trip to hospital, how often do you see a doctor each month after the operation, how often do you take warfarin, is the mechanical valve clicking annoying or too loud, do you fell better in your self.

I really need a no nonsense straight answer to all this, I love my Wife and Children dearly and I am currently able to do everything except running or jogging for a significant amount of time. I am also afraid being a bit of a wimp about things like this yet I feel guilty about not having the operation because it worries my Wife making me feel selfish and a bit of a coward. I also do feel tired and depressed normally towards the end of a working week and my Wife believes its to do with the heart condition. She feels if I had the valve replaced I would be more energetic, she is a nurse but I would rather hear the truth from someone who has had the surgery. Dont be afraid to say you had the surgery and it made no difference to you, please can someone give me some advice.

I would also be interested to know how you felt after the operation, was it painful during the procedure, how long did you take to recover after the operation, I would be really grateful for some straight advice

JayneHigh2 · 01-21-2008, 10:45 AM

Hi, I had 2 valves replaced sept 07 so far so good long surgery long recovery and most days am sure am better than was before. Ticking can be annoying but you learn to live with it. I hope you are over it by now and on the mend, I really do know now how much I needed this surgery, even if is a long road am truly much better than I was before. I love my husband and family very much but it is your choice alone. No amount of medical talk or encouragement from your nearest or dearest can make you choose to undergo this risky surgery if you decide not too. It really is your choice and any one who loves you will respect that even if she does feel you are being a little selfish. Yes it is a hard road back to full health but surely one you want to tread than the alternative. At your age should be a little easier.Good luck lad please let me know how it goes. God bless Jayne

jrmom1 · 01-21-2008, 02:35 PM

If you get a mechanical valve, you will need warfarin for life, But if you are able to get a tissue valve ( ie porcine) you will not require anticoagulation therapy. I do not know the specifics of your valvular disease but it is worth discussing your options with your surgeon/cardiologist.

And yes, you will feel better after replacement .
Also if you do not get the valve replaced, your heart will become increasingly weaker

Mileena42 · 01-21-2008, 06:04 PM

Here I am jumping in again. I noticed this was an old thread and don't really know if the OP is still around. I have some questions myself on this same issue. I have a stenotic mitral valve that I am having checked once a year. My last echo was November 07 and my valve measured at 1.4cm. It measured at 1.5 last year. At this rate my cardio doesn't want to do surgery for another 3 years unless I develope symptoms. I can tell nothing different about myself except some major PVCs at times and a racing heart when climbing stairs or doing any lifting. I cannot tell I am tired or more so than usual. Maybe it has come on so slowly I am not noticeing. My heart is not enlarged and everything else seems to be fine.

My question is of course.....assuming I do have to have replacement.....I do NOT want to take a blood thinner for the rest of my life...what is a porcine valve? How long have they been using them? What are the draw backs of having one? Do they not require blood thinner?
I am 44, in three yrs....47. I dont want to take blood thinner for that long.....assuming I live to be 70! BUT I think I said that already.

Mileena