Catherine 's Guestbook

Hi Catherine ,
The warfarin is just something I take now .
Pre surgery I didn't take any medication .
I eat as much green leafy veg as I like and eat plenty of salad . My I n r is in range and now gets checked two monthly .
The valve sounds like a small ticking clock to me . Sometimes I am more aware of it in very quiet places . Occasionally someone hears it , usually they don't .
It ‘s reassuring hearing it . It ‘s an amazing piece of kit that is keeping me alive .
You are doing great

Hi Catherine ,
Welcome
I have a mechanical mitral valve , a St.Jude ‘s mitral valve . I was in heart failure in the summer of 2000 during difficult covid times , I was very poorly .
 I had the surgery as an emergency and I left it to my very wonderful surgeon to decide which valve would be be best for me . 
My children were aged 22 and 17 years old and my main objective was to live and to be around for them both . My husband was amazing and a great support . 
I was out of hospital five weeks later for my son ‘s 18th Birthday . 
Ideally ,  it would be probably be “easier”without a mechanical heart valve but without this valve I would not be alive . I know I would prefer to not have surgery again but we never know what will happen in the future . To me , every day lived is a bonus because I was very close to dying .
All the different valves have pros and cons .
The one thing they all have in common is that they keep us alive . To me life is so important and I make the most of every day . 
Catherine , only you can know which valve is best for you . Sending you best wishes .