Eddie's Guestbook

Eddie Patton  I take Metformin myself. I had my valve replaced via a mini sternotomy, a 4 inch cut through the sternum rather than the full sternum cut. I had standard wires used to hold the sternum together but there are a lot of new ways to do that but really I didn't have much problem with mine. The big choice is mechanical or tissue and as I said my doc said at 50 it's a toss up. There are lots of reasons to go one way or the other. If you go tissue you will likely have to have it replaced again but valve in valve replacement via TAVR through the groin is getting more popular so an open chest may not be needed, but that is a gamble. If you go mechanical you may not ever need to replace it again but the drawback is having to take warfarin for the rest of you life. That means blood tests, chances of having a bleeding issue and some potential lifestyle restrictions is possible.
The valve you mentioned is a pretty popular one, I got a bovine replacement valve through Edwards Life Sciences.
I thought I had no real symptoms before surgery and was about where you are with the valve. I worked out and stayed active almost right up to surgery. I had a couple of times right before surgery that may have been the valve or could have just been anxiety. Anyway, within 3 weeks of surgery I could really start telling a big difference and by the time all restrictions was lifted I was absolutely feeling better than before surgery so while you may not know it you likely are feeling the effects, I chalked it up to getting older. My restrictions was fully lifted about 6 weeks out and I never looked back. Was back in the gym, bowling and playing golf by 8 weeks out. At 4 months out I competed in a 4 mile mud run/obstacle course so if you don't have complications you should be able to bounce back fairly quickly.
Some advice though, if you want to recover as quickly as possible start walking now. After surgery that will be what the tell you constantly, walk, walk, walk. My goal was 3 miles twice a day and I reached that withing the first 3 weeks post surgery.

Hope I hit on everything, there is more you will likely want to question as you get up to speed on all of this , so anytime you need hit me or the rest of the group up. Likely not a question you can come up with that can't be addressed here.

Good luck and keep coming back and keep us updated. We are a support group and one of the great things about this group is that those of us on "the other side" stick around to help and cheer on people like you.

Eddie Patton  More than happy to help. My doc said at 50 it's a bit of a toss up between mechanical and tissue. I chose tissue. Fire away with questions and concerns. If I can't help someone here can. Good luck and take it a day at a time.