Ted's Guestbook

Ron Broadhead  Haha! Medically I can, but I definitely restrict the higher cholesterol and fatty stuff - mostly I eat chicken breast, fish, and buffalo and then only in smaller amounts than before. We can get buffalo around here and its a very lean red meat. I only rarely eat any kind of meat or fish for lunch and try to go completely veggie 1 or 2 days a week with salads for lunch 3 or 4 days a week (balsamic vinegar for dressing to keep the sodium down). But steak? That might be one of my cousins on the plate!

Ted Miko  I haven't made my mind up on valve yet. I'm 50 so mecanical with mean no more surgery. But my lifestyle and job are always seem to involve cuts & bangs. With tissue I would need surgery agian . I would hope in 10-15 yrs they'd have a little less advasive way to do this. Its tough call. Probably the biggest stress.

Gregg Nissly  I'm 55 and went with a tissue valve a little less than a year ago. I have zero side effects other than more endurance than I had five years ago.

Sure, I may have surgery again in ten to fifteen years but the procedures are already getting less invasive and I wanted to be as normal as possible while I'm still in the prime of my life.

Finally, my surgery and recovery were much easier than I thought they would be.

Still, it's your decision so don't stress over it. I just set myself an artificial deadline about three weeks before my surgery. I had decided a week before that deadline, but waited until the to tell my surgeon.

Ted Miko  Thank you Priscila. Seeing how well you did is a real encouragement . Plus the prayer team can always use another member.

James Waller  I had an ON-X mechanical valve put in on June 7th. My cardiologist suggested a tissue valve because of my age (65), but my surgeon suggested the mechanical valve. I weighed the effect on my quality of life taking blood thinners or facing a procedure when I was in my late 70's. So far, my INR levels are stable and I'm pleased with the decision I made.

Ted Miko  Hi Art. I'm only two days until surgery and still haven't made any decision. It's a real tough one , that's for sure. I've read a lot about both options. Checked on many blogs on opinions. I think all I've done is made it tougher! Maybe I'll flip a coin. Haha! My Dr suggests a mechanical ,the surgeon said the last 3 fifty year old patients had tissues valves. There are a couple body builders that have mechanical, Ct Fletcher is one, big man . Arnold has a tissue. Being a heavy duty mechanic , I do have a concern on the bleeding/bruising issues associated with blood thinners. But I'm pretty darn sure I don't want to go though this again. I believe that a mechanical valve shouldn't change my activities to much. Plus the the better odds on no more surgeries is a huge welcome thought. I guess I'm leaning that way. Being a "fix it" guy , I have a crazy idea that with enough effort anything can be fixed. But tonight I realised that there is really nothing I can "fix" or do to make this any easier. It is hard thing to swallow. But I know that I'm in the Lords care so there is peace in that. Hang in there Art. I believe that when the times right 'the right choice will be made.

Ted Miko  Hi Mark, its 23 days until I go for my new valve. I still really don't need to know too much about what's going to happen. I'll just play it like it comes. But on that note , I am quite stressed over what kinda valve to have put in. Mechanical or tissue. That my biggest concern. I have a heavy duty service truck which I go to remote locations and work on very large engines. use my hands alot. banging them up is a almost daily event. plus I was weight heavy weight training 5 days a week up to a month ago . Now my dr has made me "granny it down". HaHa. I am leaning heavily on a tissue valve , but REALLY never want to go through this again. Twice a life time is 2 times too many. So maybe a mechanical is the way? But blood thinners and "ticking " doesn't sound like a great thing also.... so I too have my issues with all this. Plus I've notice I'm a little more "short" with things as the day draws closer. I guess this is going to be a little bit of a roller coaster for a few months. Luckily, there is tons of info on this form and a lot of caring people to help. i always have been the tough guy , go hard, play hard. I'm thinking that this one is going to be a hard one. God Bless you Brother and may your journey be a smooth one.

Mark Jones  Ted - if you've done it once you can do it go!. You seem like you have a lot of resilience. Like you I am not sure what valve i will ultimately go for - I suspect a tissue valve. While they don't necessarily last as long as the mechanical valve I suspect with all the new technology happening in this area, any additional valve surgery in the future will be done in a non invasive manner through the groin - like they are doing with the TAVR. Appreciate you letting me know how you go. Good luck and thoughts and prayers are with you. Mark