Hey folks! I'm new to the site and have been diving down the rabbit hole on valve research lately.
Short version of my story; I had sepsis back in 2018 that ...Read more
Hey folks! I'm new to the site and have been diving down the rabbit hole on valve research lately.
Short version of my story; I had sepsis back in 2018 that led to damaged Mitral and Aortic valves. Both of these were repaired, but now the Aortic is in a state of severe regurgitation and my cardiologist & surgeon are telling me the Mitral "looks like a wind sock" as well. So, I'm signed up for another Mitral Repair and, this time around, an Aortic Replacement. My heart is stable, at least for the time being, so I have some time to figure out what I want to do with the Aortic replacement.
Being so young (early 30's), I'm getting recommendations pointing towards a Mechanical Aortic (On-X Valve). My concern is that I'm not a terribly consistent person; my consumption of vitamin K heavy foods and alcohol, in particular, tend to vary a lot so being on Warfarin is a pretty strong concern for me.
I'm curious if anyone has any resources to help decide between a Mechanical or Bioprosthetic valve?
Does anyone else have a similarly inconsistent diet or lifestyle with a Mechanical Valve & Warfarin therapy?
I'd be curious to hear more about how real people manage being on Warfarin therapy and whether there were considerable changes or sacrifices made in doing so. My doctors keep noting that Warfarin isn't that big of a deal, but the research materials I have available to me make me feel otherwise so I'd be curious to hear from someone with direct experience (actually has to deal with Warfarin & it's effects).
Blessings, All!
Susan Lynn Bryan - You've certainly been through a lot at your young age and making a valve choice is a very ind ... Read more
Susan Lynn Bryan - You've certainly been through a lot at your young age and making a valve choice is a very individual one. I was on blood thinners for three months as a precaution after my mitral valve repair and I was amazed that my INR was thrown off by small changes in my diet. I eventually stuck to a nearly identical diet to avoid the fluctuations. It was doable because I knew that there would be an end to the restrictions, but it would have been an adjustment if it had been a life-long commitment. There are many pros and cons to consider with bio and mechanical valves. You'll make the choice that's right for you. Good luck!
Lisa Coombe I got my mechanical valve 6 months ago and have had no problems, I still eat the same amount of foods ... Read more
Lisa Coombe I got my mechanical valve 6 months ago and have had no problems, I still eat the same amount of foods high in vk, I’m not a big drinker so no problem there. You get told that 2 standard drinks a day is fine. If you do go mechanical you easily adjust to everyday life. Mine is a st judes and I love the ticking sound that I hear every day. Another thing I was only 42 when I got my valve and that’s why I chose it
Brody Sheffer Hi Bryan, welcome to the site! You will find a lot of great resources as well as other people's exper ... Read more
Brody Sheffer Hi Bryan, welcome to the site! You will find a lot of great resources as well as other people's experiences. I am set to have surgery next week and will be getting a mechanical mitral valve. I have been on warfarin due to afib for almost six months and I have not had any complications even when my diet has not been the most consistent. My experience is that when they get you on the "right" dose it is pretty easy to manage. As I'm sure others will say, everyone is different and will respond in their own way to medications and procedures. You know you better than anyone and if the idea of consistency doesn't jive then a biological valve would be a good choice. For me, the idea of being on warfarin was worse than the actual experience thus far.
Mike Tirrell Hi Bryan. I am 44 and got an On-x valve about 4 months ago. My diet is not terribly consistent and ... Read more
Mike Tirrell Hi Bryan. I am 44 and got an On-x valve about 4 months ago. My diet is not terribly consistent and I too enjoy having a few drinks. I have had no issues with Warfarin to date. I just received my home INR monitor and am now managing it without having to go in for testing. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me at michaeldtirrell@yahoo.com. Good Luck and best wishes
Bryan Drilling Thanks folks! I appreciate the input. It's certainly good to hear from folks on Warfarin that share i ... Read more
Bryan Drilling Thanks folks! I appreciate the input. It's certainly good to hear from folks on Warfarin that share in my somewhat "whimsical" lifestyle :) And, good to hear, too, that it may be more manageable than it sounds/feels to me, right now.
I do remember being on warfarin for a short time after the surgery in 2018; my Doctors cut the 'normal' 3 months short when I had a brain bleed about a few weeks or a month after the surgery so I didn't get a terribly good baseline. It seemed like, by the time they were able to get close to the right dose, my INR spiked up a bit, normalized, then I was back off the medication.
Is managing vitamin K, for those of you that have to, a little more simplistic like "I have one salad on Fridays" or do you find it's more intense and requires a close measurement and level amount of the vitamin K you consume from day to day?
Rita Savelis I have 2 mechanical valves and eat everything (in moderation). I don't follow any kind of specific di ... Read more
Rita Savelis I have 2 mechanical valves and eat everything (in moderation). I don't follow any kind of specific diet. If you are a heavy drinker, it's not ideal, but drinking alcohol is okay. INR will automatically go up and down, no matter what you do, that's what it does - so meds get adjusted (by tiny increments) regularly. My doctors said to just eat everything in moderation and stick to the way you like to eat. Getting used to being on anticoagulants can take some time and involve worrying and then you move on. I get a blood test once a month, I adjust my own meds, I've stopped worrying. It's been 7 years. I am very sorry that you have to go through all this especially at such a young age. I was 53.
I do remember being on warfarin for a short time after the surgery in 2018; my Doctors cut the 'normal' 3 months short when I had a brain bleed about a few weeks or a month after the surgery so I didn't get a terribly good baseline. It seemed like, by the time they were able to get close to the right dose, my INR spiked up a bit, normalized, then I was back off the medication.
Is managing vitamin K, for those of you that have to, a little more simplistic like "I have one salad on Fridays" or do you find it's more intense and requires a close measurement and level amount of the vitamin K you consume from day to day?