Roni 's Guestbook

Sounds like you have had a rough time! Hopefully people that have had valve redos will see your post and chime in. Keep us posted on your consultation results!

Hi Roni, I have had 3 OHS. I was born with ASD and it was repaired when I was 7. Doctor discovered that my mitral valve had a very small leak but good chance it would never be a problem. Never had any problems until I was in my early 30s. Had to have,a pacemaker put in and they discovered after an echo that the mitral valve was leaking substantially. In 2003 thf surgeon wanted to replace with mechanical but I chose a pig valve thinking it would last at least 15 to 20 years. I made it 10 and July 2015 I bacame so ill I was on oxygen just to be able to live until I could be scheduled for 3rd surgery. I had significant damage to my tricuspid valve on top of the faulty mitral valve, I was in serious afib and had been on Coumadin for several months already.,and forgot to mention that I had a single bypass during the 2nd pig valve surgery and it was now failing as well. So I was scheduled for double valve replacement, maze procedure, and new vein taken from my leg to replace the old one. The scheduled 5 hour surgery ended up taking 10 hours but the first thing I remember the doctor saying the next day when they finally took me out of sedation was that he got everything done that he needed to. I ended up staying 10 days after surgery because of Coumadin issues but immediately I felt like a new person. It has now been over a year and I am in better shape than both my younger siblings. It was rough the first few days but I astonished all the medical staff when I was up and walking pretty much unassisted by day 3. I did have some pain from scar tissue since it was surgery #3. My only regret was that I didn't get the mechanical valve before. It's very normal to feel very overwhelmed but I knew it had to be done and like I said I feel fantastic and can walk 5 miles on my treadmill now. I don't have any regrets this time and know that these valves will last for the rest of my life. I hope all goes well for you and will be thinking of you as your surgery day approaches. I hope this helps and just know your not alone. Sorry, didn't mean to write so much but it helps me to talk about it.