Heath's Guestbook

Tissue. 100%

my mom was on warfarin and it it a real pain. 

I fought for about a year to get my Aortic Valve and had  tissue.  I could not have TAVR because of severe obstructions and calcification. Rush University finally came around and then after telling me i was 3-4 years from Valve Replacement said i needed an emergency Open Heart.  

I did my homework and found Miniman Evasive Aortic Valve Replacement @ the University of Chicago & Dr. Balkhy who is pioneering putting the operation on the Devinci Robot.  

I am saddened to see so many people get open heart when it is no longe needed except for Lung & Heart Transplants.  It is not new, was started in 1996 and Dr Balkhy had been doing it since 2002. But it has not been well reported. 

Now, if i need the valve replaced, they can do TAVR. So people comment not want another operation it is through the arm or groin and is a procedure not cutting. Even so minimal evasive or robotic they are doing one person regardless the age.  A Dr doing this a Miami University had a youtube video of a 90-year-old practicing physician having a valve replaced. So even if TAVR gets ruled out there are other options other than open heart surgery.


I am not sure what operation you are getting.  I was standing by the end of the day with my operation. 

I cringe when I see all those Heart Pillows, as that is torture, and these options stop the pain and trauma from surgery and quicken the recovery. 



Best wishes .. 

I chose a mechanical mitral valve at age 70 because I didn't want to have another surgery. In hindsight, I might have thought more about a tissue valve. Every time I need to have anything done that could cause bleeding (a colonoscopy, tooth extraction, etc.) I need to go off warfarin (5 days for the tooth extraction and multiple days in which I need to give myself injections of lovenox (spelling?) 2/day for multiple days), I wish I didn't have to go through that. Otherwise, I am very happy I chose a mechanical St. Jude valve and have no trouble with the diet restrictions nor testing my INR at home, typically every 2 weeks . Just do a lot or research. Good luck!

Hi Heath, I am pretty much the same as you, Hodgkins Lymphoma (1994) treated by mantle radiation and the fall out is all happening now within the last 4 years; you are the closest scenario I have read to mine. I have aortic valve stenosis and after CT, echo, trans oesophageal echo the repair or replacement of the mitral valve is undetermined as to which, so open heart surgery. 

As an aside I have also had two parathyroid glands removed in 2018 ('fried' from mantle radiation ) and the remaining 2 will have to be removed in a separate surgery to the heart surgery. Just wanted to say to you someone in the same boat as you and hope you are doing ok! Best wishes, Anne.

Hi Heath. You may want to check out the Facebook group "Hodgkin's lymphoma/disease survival and late effects 1960 - early 2000's" where you will find many who had Hodgkin's and have dealt with/are dealing with late effects such as valve stenosis and double valve surgery. Take care.

Hi Heath ,
We are going really well .
You are allowed to get worried and lots of things will go through your mind , especially in the middle of the night .
I have a " mechanical " mitral valve , had emergency surgery just over two years ago .
Life goes on after open heart surgery , the big difference is that we appreciate it a lot more and realise just how precious life is . You are going to be okay . 

Just a note from a Local Pittsburgh Patient, I had onx Aortic valve replaced May this year, doing well, thanks to UPMC, Dr. West

Any input needed, please reach out.
I'm 59.