Comments on: Mechanical Valve Still Clicking… 27 Years Later

By: Paul Klaassen

Paul Klaassen — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:00:08 +0000

Hi Claudette, Sorry your husband is having a hard time adapting to his click. I have heard that some people do have trouble with it though most will admit that when they are busy they don’t notice it. It is only when falling asleep or in a quiet room reading that they can hear it. I had a little trouble with mine at first, it kept me awake for a while. Now I make a point to listen for it and find it reassuring. In time your husband will likely feel the same way. With a pig valve it isn’t so much the risk of reoperation as the certainty.
Paul

By: Claudette

Claudette — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:39:24 +0000

My husband had an AVR this past January — and he can not get used to the click. I know he probably would never had done this again. He definetely would have had the pig valve and taken the risk of having the surgery again. Will he ever get used to this click? Will the sound ever deminish?

By: Claudette

Claudette — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:38:44 +0000

By: Amy Durham

Amy Durham — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:05:53 +0000

Bob,

I loved reading your story. I am newly diagnosed with a bicuspid valve which has severe leaking so I will soon (within the month)be going in to have that valve replaced. I have a huge mix of emotions as I try and come to grips with what I will soon go through. I feel that the first thing I must figure out is the issue of the what type of valve to have put in. My surgeon thinks I should go with a mechanical valve because I am only 40. The thought of being on coumadin scares me. How hard is it to regulate? What if I cut myself? What is the scare of having levels to high? What if I eat the wrong things? Bleeding internally? Some times I think the internet has way too much info. As you can see I am on overload. It sounds like you have had very little trouble with coumadin. Are my fears unwarranted? It feels like my life as I know will change. Did you have anxieties before you became acclimated to the medicine?

Thank you again for you post it was a source of inspiration to hear how you have thrived and are still going strong so many years later.
Amy

By: Bob Collins

Bob Collins — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:11:16 +0000

I have really enjoyed reading this Blog since finding it a few weeks ago. I had aortic valve replacement on November 22, 1974. I had a blood infection (subacute baterial endocarditis) about eight years prior to the replacement. I was very young and very healthly, and when I went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. John Kirkland examined me and told me that my aortic valve had not gotten to the point where it needed replacing. I continued to go to UAB once a year until 1974, at which time Dr. Kirkland said it was time to replace the valve. I had been told that I would be recieving a pig valve, but when I got to the hospital, Dr. Kirkland informed me that he had a new valve that he was very high on. It was the Bjork Shiley Valve, and that is what he used. I was placed on coumadin, and have been taking it ever since. It has not caused any problems, it is just a hassle getting my protime or INR checked every other week. I got a machine whereby I could check my INR at home, but the insurance company decided after a coupple of years that they no longer would pay for the suppplies, so I quit using it. (I have it available if anyone is interested) I was just in the hospital to have a pacemaker implanted, and the doctor did a procedure where they placed a small camera down my throat, and made images of my heart and the mechanical valve. The doctor told me that based on these images, my valve was still in very good condition, no leaks, and it should be good for several more years. I was very happy for this test, and I would reccommend it to anyone who has had a valve for several years. I got used to the ticking after a few months, but at first it really did bother me. Dr. Kirkland told me not to worry as long as I heard the valve ticking, but if I didn’t hear it, then I could start worrying. I have had many experences with my mechanical valve, and I would be happy to share them with anyone. Just email me. Thanks for providing us with this method for discussing “matters of the heart” with other folks. Bob

By: Matt Wyglendowski

Matt Wyglendowski — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:56:10 +0000

Margret,

Thanks for sharing your story, but I think I have you beat and we may have interesting degrees of separation. From your story and follow up comments I assume you had your surgery at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio and Dr. James Peake performed the procedure? If this is the case, was Dr. Schukman involved as well? Also, what type of mech valve did you receive?

My brief synopsis (this is the shortened version):

1972 Diagnosed Aortic Stenosis
1973 Open Heart Valvotomy @ Santa Rosa Medical Center (Age 2)
1979 Open Heart Aortic Valve replacement (Bjork Shiley Mech Valave) @ Brooke Army Medical Center with Dr. Peake and Shuckman (Age
1983 Consult @ BAMC with Dr. Shuckman, Air Vac’d to University of Alabama, Birmingham. Open Heart Aortic Valve Replacement St. Jude Mech Valve by Kono technique with Dr Albert Pacifico. (age 12)
2006 Installed St. Jude Pacemaker (age 35)
2009 (Pending birth of my 3rd child/November?) Open Heart Mitral Valve replacement @ Baylor (Age 38)

I’ve been taking coumadin since I was 8 years old which…well honestly sucked being 8yrs old. I had to grow up real quick and give up all the things that an 8 yr old kid wants to do, ie, baseball, football, soccer and well for that matter anything considered actively competitive due to the bruising and bleeding factors from the coumadin. Eh, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right?

Going through school (mainly high school) when it would get real quiet in class (during tests usually) other students would ask “does anyone hear that clicking noise?” I’d smile to myself. The St Jude I have is a dual flap valve and is much louder than the previous single flap valve I had and when it’s real quiet anyone near me can hear it. My wife tells me it helps put her to sleep when she lays her head on my chest

I’ve seen where you and others in this thread mentioned your valves needing replacement due to wear. I’ve never gotten confirmation from any of my Dr.’s but have never had any concern about it wearing out. I’ve been told the St. Jude (in wear lab tests) is good for about 300 years, hopefully I’ll get to put that to the test personally.

I recently found out that I need another open heart but to replace the mitral valve this time. I remember, I thought it was funny when Dr. Matter said to my wife “Right now Matt goes click, click, click. Do you have a problem if he goes click, clock, click, clock?” Her response was “I don’t care what sound he makes as long as he’s around”.

Anyway, I’d be interested to find out if we had the same Dr. Peake. I spoke to him about a month ago and he’s doing well and living in the DC area.

By: Stephen Waxman

Stephen Waxman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:41:39 +0000

I have lived with a mechanical aortic valve since November 1988.This was my second valve replacement. The first valve (a tissue valve) was implanted in August 1981 but only lasted seven years. Prior to both operations I contacted bacterial endocarditis from dental work. I have been on coumadin now since 1988 and aside from one episode of a bleeding ulcer from a gastro infection I have had no issues and have led a normal and very active life. I golf, teach skiing as a hobby,teach law part-time at two Universities and work full time as a lawyer for the Department of Justice. The issue of a clicking noise is relevant to all of us with mechanical heart valves. Most of us simply get used to the clicking sound although my wife sometimes complaines about it.I agree completely that we must know our bodies and our health better that the Doctors.I have sometimes found that the mediacal profession can take very conservative stands on many issues for vlave patients,For example, I have had some Doctors suggest that I should not be skiing because I take coumadin. My answer to that is that perhaps I should not drive a car because I might be in an accident. It is far more important to keep active. I know that I will need another replacement in a few years but I am very confident that I will recover and continue to lead an active life. Being positive and living life to the fullest with our families is the best medicine for a long and healthy life. I am so fortunate to have had the University of Ottawa Heart Institute in Ottawa Canada to take care of me over the years. This is truly a remarkable insitution.

By: Dale

Dale — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:35:05 +0000

I will have had my Kay Suzuki discoid valve for nearly 38 years now. I had my first surgery in 1971 when I was 21. Tomorrow, yes tomorrow I will have it replaced at Johns Hopkins along with my aortic root. The anniversary of my first surgery would have been on Sunday, June, 21st.

I guess these mechanical valves don’t last forever, but 38 years is a heck of a long time. I am a very lucky guy

By: Stephen Waxman

Stephen Waxman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:21:12 +0000

I received a mechanical valve in November 1988 and this fall my St Jude valve will be 21 years old.I have been told that I will definitely need a replacement (which will be my third operation !!) sometime in the next few years. I have been very healthy and very active and have had very little problem with coumadin therapy. There is of course a constant clicking of the valve which both my wife and I have become accustomed to. The inconveience of the clicking has been far outwayed by the longevity of this valve. My first valve, a calf tissue vlave only lasted 7 years,

By: Dan Halpin

Dan Halpin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:24:47 +0000

Adrian, I had a mechanical St’ Judes Mtral vlave replaced when i was 46 do too a heart attack i did not know i had until i had a breathing problem i thought, as it turned out i was regurgitating 68% of my blood back into my lungs. i have the click–lol. At first you could here it across the room and my kids made fun of me in a nice way. i told my 7 yoer old i had swallowed a clock. But as time gwent on, i no longer hear it and sometimes i miss it actually. i have to concentrate to hear it. for the people who are afraid of the clicking niose , they will forget about it after time goes on. i had my velve replaced 10 years ago and as far as the valve goes, it is still doing great.