Calcified Heart Valves Vs. Normal Heart Valves

Adam,
This is very interesting. My surgeon told me that my tricuspid aortic valve had two of the three leaves fused together, due to calcium deposits. therefore was not working properly, though I was asymptomatic save for a heart murmur. I asked what could have caused it, and he said he didn’t know (not very reassuring). I want to do everything I can to prevent fusing my new (12 weeks ago) bovine pericardium valve. Any suggestions or info would be appreciated. I am 56 and have recovered very well from the surgery, but needless to say, don’t want to do it again any time soon.
Becca

The Mayo Clinic several years ago started a heavy study of calcium in the wrong places of our bodies and they very much want to know if say kidney stones or dental problems are in any way linked by these nasty calcium problems. The woman running the study is Dr.
Virginia Miller and maybe you would like to check with her for more recent news. It just amazes me that every single thing wrong with me has an element of calcium involved. No one can tell me it isn’t systemic at least in my case. But still the question is WHY?

I had bovine valve placed in my heart on Aug 29 2002 at UCDavis in Sacramento, CA. I am 84 years old. Fit as a fiddle, and wondering how long my valve will last. Last stress test, excellent, and all blood work excellent. Need to take Simvastatin for colesterol even though only 99. I had one CBG during surgery, 80% clogged. wouldl not have had to have that if they were not already in the middle of the surgery. They used veins from my Thigh. I now understand if i should live so long to need a replacement, it would not be invasive as before. No chest cracking, but going up the legs, as they did to put stents in my new husbands arteries, after a heart attach. That is good news, as I am planning to live to at least 104. My mom made it to 93 with no problem with our mutual heart murmmer, from birth.
I certainly enjoyed finding your site and reading your articles, I will put it on my favorites for sure. Jean m Harris