Steve's Guestbook

hi steve had the surgery done in 2006 october i8.i think the hardest part about the surgery is when your in recovery and they give you a pillow to hold against your chest when you cough or sneeze hurts like hell for about two weeks; they messed up my encission on my chest so i have a massive scar that either burns or itches all the time.i think they might have used glue instead of staples and i threw a reaction to it.so if you can make sure they use either stitches or staples.and the other thing you will be put onwarfin or comudin the rest of your life if you go with the mechanical valve which i reccomend if you don't want to go threw that again at about 68yrs old or you can go with the pig valve which last about 20yrs and you have to get it replaced again.only with the warfarin you have to have your protine level checked every 2-4 wks which has too be between 2.5- 3.5 consistantly .good luck if you have any question please feel free to e-mail me at danthemeatcutter@aol.com thanki you and take care.

Hi Steve, I had my aortic valve replaced in 1990. I had been born with a faulty valve and was followed all of my life. In 1989 I suddenly started getting out of breath. In spring of 1990 they did a cath. and the valve was so narrow they had to keep giving me valium so they could get the tool through. By this time - I was tired, short of breath and had chest pain that I ignored. So it can go downhill quickly. I would encourage you to go to ?Ann Arbor for the second opinion. Surgery might be easier now from the age standpoint. I am a former Michigander. Went to CMU but just retired from a 39 year teaching career in northern VA. I have a mechanical valve and just this year had surgery for an aneurysm. The doctor thought he would need to repair the valve but when he got in there said it looked new....Good luck with your decision! Mary