Andrea Doherty - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Update posted on...

April 16, 2021

Grr. We just found out that my husband's surgery has been cancelled due to covid numbers. In Ontario ICU occupancy is really high and increasing rapidly. His BAV replacement has been deemed elective. He was to have it on April 20. His surgeon is able to operate but there's no place to put him after the surgery, no space in ICU. Now it's wait and see and we'll let you know when we'll have space. He's stressing, I'm stressing. Just needed to rant.

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Rose Madura I know it's frustrating to wait but try to be thankful that your husband's not suffering from COVID-19. Everything happens for a reason. They will fit him ... Read more

Rose Madura I know it's frustrating to wait but try to be thankful that your husband's not suffering from COVID-19. Everything happens for a reason. They will fit him in as soon as possible. I'd want to be sure they could adequately care for me and not be overwhelmed with Covid patients.

Update posted on...

April 5, 2021

Hubby has his surgery set for April 20. He's got BAV and will get mechanical put in. We're in southern Ontario and his surgery will be in Hamilton.

I'm concerned about his life on blood thinners. Is there an app that people use to track their INR, food , etc. He's not good about tracking things/researching things in general so I'm a little concerned about how to help him manage without being a complete nag. I can't even get him to join this community, hence these questions coming from me. We were gifted a home INR tester machine that he's now trying to see how to use. I figure the more he can be familiar with before the surgery the better.

Thanks everyone.

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Lynn Loudermilk How old is he?
I will be 60 in a couple weeks and I chose a tissue valve for the main reason I dont' want to be on blood thinners. Do you have a choice in Canada?

Andrea Doherty He just turned 50. We really went back and forth with the decision. We had a choice of Ross, tissue or mechanical. Bottom line he doesn't want to have several ... Read more

Andrea Doherty He just turned 50. We really went back and forth with the decision. We had a choice of Ross, tissue or mechanical. Bottom line he doesn't want to have several years of slowly losing his ability to do stuff while a tissue valve degrades like his own did and REALLY doesn't want another surgery in 10 years even if it could be TAVR.

Rita Savelis At the beginning he may have to test his INR more often, but then only once a week and eventually once a month. One has to get used to anticoagulants and it ... Read more

Rita Savelis At the beginning he may have to test his INR more often, but then only once a week and eventually once a month. One has to get used to anticoagulants and it can be worrisome at first as INR will go up and down. That's what it does. It's normal. One might need to consult with doctors/nurses at the beginning but eventually one learns to manage ones own anticoagulants and doses. I never changed my diet. I eat everything in moderation and adapt my meds around my basic diet. I have had 2 mechanical valves for 6 years so I have a high target INR. I used to be so worried about it and then I just accepted it. I have had no problems. I've never used a home machine since there are several labs within walking distance from me, but home machines are very popular. Right after OHS all the things you have to do can be overwhelming. You need time to get over the surgery. I never researched INR. It's explained to you in hospital and then you get on with it. Just another med to take. I wish someone had told me that it might take awhile after surgery to get my INR more stable, so that I didn't worry so mch. Wishing you the best.

Andrea Doherty Thanks Rita. There is a lot to try and understand and which things to worry about and which to just see what happens and deal with. I'm a planner and he is ... Read more

Andrea Doherty Thanks Rita. There is a lot to try and understand and which things to worry about and which to just see what happens and deal with. I'm a planner and he is not so I'm trying to get control over the things I can before his surgery. Perhaps the INR is something we'll just wait and see.

Update posted on...

March 26, 2021

Hello again. Hubby's surgery will be scheduled for the next couple of weeks once he agrees to the procedure. He's leaning towards mechanical but is a little freaked out about the noise mechanical makes. We have a clock in the guest room that ticks. It drives him nuts! Can't sleep at all with the clock. He takes the battery out every time he has to sleep there. Is there any way to predict based on size of the mechanical valve or body size or chest size to know if he's at higher likelihood of being able to hear the click? His aorta is 27, he's 6ft, 200lbs and fairly broad chested. Or is it that you can always hear the click and it bothers some people and not others?

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Rita Savelis Many people who have OHS find that they can hear their hearts more (no matter what kind of valves they get). Having said that, I can only hear my mechanical ... Read more

Rita Savelis Many people who have OHS find that they can hear their hearts more (no matter what kind of valves they get). Having said that, I can only hear my mechanical heart valves (I have 2) if it is very very very quiet. For example if I were reading in a very quiet room. I used to put a pillow over my chest so that I wouldn't feel so vulnerable and I wouldn't hear the noise. But now, I very rarely hear it. It is absolutely NOTHING like a clock and I understand your husband - clock noises drive me crazy as does my own husband's snoring. Those are way worse than mechanical valves. I think there is a place on this site where you can hear an example of a mechanical valve or if you type it into google maybe you can also find an example. The noise of a mechanical valve is the least of one's problems after OHS. But it is common to be be hyper aware of all changes in one's body.... Wishing you the best.

Rita Savelis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cAa_WeOEFU

Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement: Can You Hear It Tick?

https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - Can you hear the On-X mechanical heart valve replacement tick inside the heart of Linda Kincaid from Indianapolis, Indi...

Carlos Banuelos I have the on-x. The ticking doesn’t bother me at all, but I can hear it at all times. My kids can also hear it if the room or car is quiet. Sounds like ... Read more

Carlos Banuelos I have the on-x. The ticking doesn’t bother me at all, but I can hear it at all times. My kids can also hear it if the room or car is quiet. Sounds like a loud watch. I have heard that the ticking is less prominent in others but that hasn’t been my experience.

Patsy Stewart I do not have a mechanical valve. I have the Evolut Pro Plus implanted from a TAVR procedure. I live in the country with neighbors being about a quarter mile ... Read more

Patsy Stewart I do not have a mechanical valve. I have the Evolut Pro Plus implanted from a TAVR procedure. I live in the country with neighbors being about a quarter mile away. When I first came home, I honestly thought that they had their music turned up as loud as it would go. I could hear the drum just beating away. I went to the door to listen and I couldn’t hear music of any kind! Much to my surprise, it was the beating of my own heart that I could hear! I had the implant in December 2020. I still hear the beating, but I try not to let it drive me nuts. I just think of it as a sign that I am alive....of which I am very thankful. Sending prayers your way. I know it’s very hard for the caregiver as well as the patient. I wish your husband great success on his journey.

Update posted on...

March 15, 2021

My husband (50, bicuspid aortic valve) is having cardiac catheterization on Friday so they can get a good picture of his heart and figure out the most appropriate surgery for him. We've known this day would come but now it's getting real. Today he comes home and says that a friend has asked him to dog sit for 10 days, starting the day before the procedure. Am I being unreasonable to say this is not a good idea and that he won't be able to do anything with the dog and that the added chaos of a dog after his procedure is silly? How long did it take people to start moving around after the catheterization? Did you just want quiet and lying around?

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Lynn Loudermilk He has to sit there after for a while but the next day he should be ok. I had mine done through the wrist, I was fine the next day, after surgery no.

Rose Madura Depends. Mine was via groin so I would not have wanted to take care of a dog afterwards. Just saying.

Andrea Doherty Thanks for those quick responses. We don't know if they're going in through the groin or wrist and won't know before the procedure. He thinks I'm overreacting ... Read more

Andrea Doherty Thanks for those quick responses. We don't know if they're going in through the groin or wrist and won't know before the procedure. He thinks I'm overreacting but I'm thinking the timing is poor and that we should get someone else to dog sit at least until Monday after his procedure and we'll know if he's doing well. But if people who have had the procedure think it's no big deal and he should be fine then I'll likely give in to his request.

Ana Brusso Hello Andrea, I agree with Rose. For one thing you don’t know how he is going to feel after the catherization. We are all different. Your idea to wait until ... Read more

Ana Brusso Hello Andrea, I agree with Rose. For one thing you don’t know how he is going to feel after the catherization. We are all different. Your idea to wait until after the procedure and find someone else to care for the dog is a good idea. I was fine afterwards but still took it easy just to make sure. But in the end it’s your both decision. Good luck. Wishing you and your husband to be well. God bless you and keep us posted.

Susan Lynn I agree with the others. There is recovery time and whether the procedure is through the wrist or groin, it's necessary to take it easy for a day or two to ... Read more

Susan Lynn I agree with the others. There is recovery time and whether the procedure is through the wrist or groin, it's necessary to take it easy for a day or two to avoid the risk of bleeding. Also, while we don't like to think about the purpose for this procedure, the cardiologist is checking for blockages - the results could potentially create another reason he shouldn't be dog sitting right now. While most patients are released after a couple of hours, some individuals are kept overnight after undergoing a catheterization - who is going to care for the dog if that's the case?

The person who asked for this favor really needs to consider that your husband is going through something pretty significant and find someone else for the job.

Deena Elani I agree with Lynn and Ana , et al above. I had mine 10 days ago and it did not go as expected. Not awful, but it took three tries at my radial artery in ... Read more

Deena Elani I agree with Lynn and Ana , et al above. I had mine 10 days ago and it did not go as expected. Not awful, but it took three tries at my radial artery in wrist so really swollen, and was there for 13 hours, due to other emergencies. And Fairfax Inova in VA is a very good hospital. So you just don’t know. Besides, the discharge paperwork says to take it easy for 24 hours. Your artery was just punctured!

Andrea Doherty Thanks everyone. We're not dog sitting, at least not on Friday. We'll see about it later in the week

Marshall Rader Tell friend to kennel his dog !!!! How Inconsiderate in asking someone who's about to go for OHS !!! Oh My God !!

Ana Brusso Marshall, you cracked me up. Great post and I agree

Andrea Doherty Update - he had the procedure - through the wrist - no complications. He was home in a few hours. We got the dog but we got him 6 days before the procedure ... Read more

Andrea Doherty Update - he had the procedure - through the wrist - no complications. He was home in a few hours. We got the dog but we got him 6 days before the procedure since the procedure was delayed and had the opportunity to send him to another dog sitter if we needed to. Hubby and the dog are now asleep on the couch together.