Larry's Journal

Tim Tschumper   I received an OnX Mechanical valve 6 months ago, great results so far. I’m expecting no issues long term, but time will tell. All the best Larry.

Larry Beck  Returned from a lovely 4 day stay at Providence Saint Vincent Hospital. Tests confirmed both my atrial and mitral valves are failing, after only six years. They are both cow valves. Has anyone experienced a premature failure of either bovine or porcine valves? My cardiologist if focusing on inflammation issues, ESD is 46. I appreciate any thoughts.

Terrie Syvertsen  Beckie:(Larry's wife) Great job posting us an update. We all appreciate hearing about Larry, so thank you. Good news and please let him know we are thinking of him. Take care!

Bob M  Great news on the successful surgery. I pray that recovery will be uneventful. God bless and rise up!

Terrie Syvertsen  Larry- This is the most extraordinary "short film" to see today and I had my husband sit at the computer as I watched it over and over again watching your little "Andelyn" grand daughter use up all of that energy in her video to you! What a treasure, both She and the video. Just remember when you are wheeled into your surgery and you are wearing one of those goofy clown hats and snake like socks, that all of that energy that this child possesses also comes from your blood too and imagine that while you are heading in....that cute little rascal climbing upward on those stairs at the play place and then sliding down....no hesitation....no doubt she could do it.Same goes for you Grandpa! YOU CAN DO THIS TOO! What a kindness to share this video on such a special day! I can say that there are many reasons to submit to this surgery and of course She is only one so please enter into your surgery with confidence and the knowledge that you are up to anything it will take to get you back on your feet and back home again to those you love and who love you! I will pray for your big day tomorrow-that all runs smoothly and your heart remains strong and welcomes the help it is offered to continue on with your life!

Tammy Pilcher  What a nice Father's Day gift, Larry! She's precious! Prayers and best wishes for tomorrow! God bless!

Sharon Madden  I had to wear mine dor 10 days. I just looked at it as a fashion statement. It goes with everything!

Bob M  I pray that your surgery will be textbook and your recovery will be uneventful. Monday will be a new day for you with a fixed heart. God bless and rise up!

Tammy Pilcher  Prayers and best wishes, Larry! Enjoy your weekend and Monday will be a great day of healing for you! God bless!

Tammy Pilcher  Yes, Larry, I didn't have alot of pain, but the pain I had was in my shoulder blades. The good news is, it was manageable with Tylenol. I know everyone's experience is the same in some ways and different in others though. I also had the never ending finger sticks while in the hospital. It wasn't the most pleasant thing I've been through, but it is all doable. The best part is it will save your life.:-)

Larry Beck  Thank you for putting things in perspective! You are right, the end result is to live long and prosper so look past the temporary issues and see the bigger picture.

Lynn understock  I had aortic aneurysm repsir and I was told during surgery your body reacts in a protective mode and produces blood sugars equal to diabetic. They pricked my finger for I think four days until blood sugars returned to normal. Don't understand it but that is what I was told. My shoulder hurt until about post op eight weeks. Hope this helps.

Lynn understock  Forgot to mention I was also told this was quite normal in many patients but it is monitored closely.

Jim Kelly-Evans  Yes, I agree with everyone ...they do sugar tests often after surgery...I had right shoulder discomfort for about two months post-op then it slowly went away.

Linda Whitney  Thank you for sharing this wonderful spiritual! Started my day day just perfect! You are in my prayers.

Ray Lockhart  Larry, At 76 I thought the decision of a valve was cut and dried. Here is a blog post that has me revisiting my decision:
http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com/2014/01/heart-valve-information-for-choices.html

And here is a presentation by a surgeon at Mayo Clinic which is referenced in the blog.

http://mayo.img.entriq.net/htm/MayoPlayer1.html?articleID=4071

There are good arguments for and against each kind of valve. It's a very personal decision.

Larry Beck  I prayed and received confirmation regarding my decision, and that it's all about options. I've been a computer guy for 25 years and am an eye witness of the explosion of technological changes over the years and so I will choose a bovine valve as the replacement for both valves. I am 100% convinced that when they need to be replaced the technology will be mature enough to deliver both valves minimally invasive rather than OHS. And now I can focus on improving my heath without having to take warfarin the rest of my life and monitor my PT/INR. Your mileage may vary, but for me and my heart, I choose biological.

"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East." (Minnie Haskins)

Tammy Pilcher  Larry, I love that poem! This is the scripture I took with me to the hospital the morning of my surgery: "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.". Isaiah 41:13. I felt at peace, because I knew He was with me. I wrote a post in my journal "surgery experience" that gives more details if you would like to read it. I've done really well and you will too! God bless you!

Larry Beck  Tammy, yes, I'd love to read your surgery experience journal. Haven't figured out how yet to post something private here but you can do that or email me.

Tammy Pilcher  Larry, it's just in my journal here on this site. Just click on my name and scroll through my posts to find it. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Best wishes!

Nancy D  Larry, it is a decision that is uniquely yours. I had to turn it over and pray on it as well, and soon, I became comfortable with one over the other. I don't regret my choice at all, and I can't change the future, but for me and for then, I made the right decision for me! Praying for clarity from above for you!!

Adam Pick  Hi Larry, Great question... TAVR is only for aortic valves. There are many teams working on transcatheter mitral valve replacement approaches but nothing is commercially available right now in the US. Fyi, you can learn lots about TAVR at https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/tavr-procedure.php

Larry Beck  Adam, thanks for the link and a big thank you for providing this forum for all the heart brothers and sisters. From what I read it looks like they are working on TMVR and if I choose to go biological at age 60 by the time I need a replacement both technologies will be mature enough and approved so I won't have to go through OHS again.

Adam Pick  Larry, No need to thank me for this website. It is a gift for me to be part of this wonderful community. If there is anything else I can do to help you, please let me know. Keep on tickin! Adam

Larry Beck  I emailed my surgeon about this and his response is that he has hope that both AVR and MVR will be performed with minimally invasive surgery rather than OHS by the time I will need to have my valves replaced again, assuming I decide on biological. That helps me make a decision.

Lynn understock  I take warfarin. Have had no problem. About 10 weeks out. If you are consistent with diet, like no green stuff, has not been a problem. The warfarin is adjusted to your diet. If you eat salad one day per week....then eat it again the next week. I have been waiting for 60 years for someone to tell me not to eat Brussel sprouts and cabbage. Lol. It has not been a problem for me at all. If i am within my levels this next check I don't have to get blood tested for a month. It is a bit scary re: accidents etc.....but I wear medic alert bracelet. I chose mechanical valve because I am 63 and never want my chest opened again. The warfarin for me is a small inconvenience. ..but each person must make that choice. I workout hard and the mechanical valve made more sense in my situation. Hope this helps.

  Hi Larry... Talk with your doctor about the Coumadin. There might be another medication they could use.
I have been on Coumadin for five weeks, today. I'm sensitive to a lot of medications, but no problems with the Coumadin. I have a pig tissue valve, and will be on it a total of three months or less.
I am a salad lover, so I have a small salad with every dinner, because the lettuce eaten must be the same amount every day.
Your health care provider should give you a list of "what to avoid".

Suzanne Hunter  I am on warfarin for life with my mechanical valve and am now nearly a year July 23. The levels do go up and down initially but eat pretty much as before just keep it regular eg if you like broccoli then eat it but don't have a binge and then stop just the same stuff same amounts regular seems to work. I have a glass of red wine daily with my meal and it is fine. Blood tests monthly now but it has been a wee struggle some I the earlier days to get INR correct so it was weekly to start. Some months does go a little haywire for no. Reason but does right itself by the next test. I am reasonably active no kick boxing!! Just walking and some gym work and gardening teaching 3 days a week with 5-6 yr olds so it's positive as long as you are. Don't be afraid just say great this is life embrace what yo have to do and get on with it. Take care you will be fine.

Larry Beck  That sounded selfish, it's not all about me. What an amazing story and I'm glad to hear Mom and baby are doing well.

Susan Bach  For some, your iron will drop after surgery. I wish I had taken Iron before surgery, low hemo made me feel so weak. Have your blood hemoglobin and Iron checked a five weeks after surgery. If ok, stop the Iron.

Eleanor R  I wasn't prescribed anything other than the special soap to shower twice before surgery, and a mild antibiotic to insert in both nostrils the night before and morning of surgery. But, your doctor will know what has worked best for patients, so follow their advice, I'm glad I did. Best of luck to you. Eleanor

Mary K  Is there someone at the surgeon's office that you can ask these questions? Maybe a nurse practitioner? Or maybe your GP? The surgeon must have prescribed them for a reason.

Larry Beck  He did, and we talked and I'm OK now. Just a lot of info to process and I'm not one to stuff unneeded medications down my throat. Thanks to everyone for their comments.

Meredith Bray  I have an On-X aortic valve. It ticks. I take warfarin. My INR range is 1.5-2.0. I talked to people at On-X before my surgery. I don't have any complaints! (I also don't have anything to compare it with.) I'm 43 (42 at surgery), no other medical issues, CDL driver.

Clare Auten  I have an On-X valve as of 1/9/14. So far so good. Just got FDA approval for reduced anticoagulation. Most valves require an INR of 2.5-3.5. On-X just got approval for 1.5-2.0. Should mean less warfarin.

Robert Osmachenko  That is a good question heart brother. Firstly, ask your medical team at the hospital including the anesthetist (MD). Consider your health and any reactions to medications including warfarin. What is your lifestyle? Any extreme sports or activities?
What is the info about valve choice on this website? I think it would be easier and more straightforward to manage one valve type not two?
Many times its 6-1 and 1/2 dozen of the other about making the right decision. There are many, many other factors and unknowns in the surgery and in the healing that one can't even begin to imagine so why not make this as straight-forward as possible.
Good luck.

Suzanne Hunter  Hi Larry this time last year aged 58 had ohs to have aortic bicuspid valve replaced. Very unexpected. Had no idea this condition existed so quite a shock. I was advised to go with mechanical as classified as too young to get tissue so that was what I went with. Also The thought of being in another op in the not too distant future was another reason I made the choice. I take warfarin and to date it has been ok. No real major issues because I know many people put that down as a reason to go with tissue. However the choice must be yours that you are happy to continue to live with and always consult with your medical team because they will also be able to guide you. Hope this helps as it is a very hard decision and part of this journey we all take as we have waited, are waiting, already post op for these operations. Take care.

Gerald Schaffer  I'm having surgery to replace my bav in August. I'm 61 and chose to go with a tissue valve. My surgeon said it should last ten to fifteen years and that a replacement would be done by TVAR and that they are already doing valve in valve replacements and that Medicare approves that. I don't believe a valve in valve can be done with a mechanical valve so if for some reason a mechanical valve needed replacement you would need another ohs. I also was not fond of the idea of lifetime blood thinners and the related bleeding problems. If you're doing a mechanical valve talk to your doctor about the on-x mechanical valve as it requires less blood thinners. Best of luck to you.

Nancy D  at 57 at time of surgery I was given a choice, but both my cardiologist and surgeon recommended mechanical for me, as they knew I could and would be compliant on the warfarin, and small dietary changes for that. I however, chose tissue valve - left the choice of what animal part I would get and I now have a bovine/cow valve happily working very very well. I did not like the idea of being on the warfarin until the end of time, and as someone who has insomnia, I was afraid the ticking of the mechanical would keep me from what little sleep I get. I know you get used to the clicking, and labs can be done at home if you get a machine, but in the end- the one that sat right with me was a tissue valve. I don't regret that decision almost 10 months later.
There is no right or wrong, it boils down to what is the lesser of two evils for you. Good luck in your research and reaching a decision right for you!

  Hi, Larry.... I, too, am 60. I am 4 1/2 weeks post-op mitral valve replacement with a pig valve.
My cardiologist & surgeon both recommended the tissue valve. I trust their judgement. I am on Coumadin for 8 more weeks or less.
I was told tissue valves last between 10 & 15 years.
By that time, the non-invasive surgeries will be mostly what is done.
God Bless You in making the decision that is best for you.

Larry Beck  My biggest concern is I had surgery at age 7 to repair my aorta (for those medical types, coarctation of the aorta), and now this. I realize that my first surgery didn't touch my heart but I'm sure my heart had to work overtime for the first seven years of my life to compensate for a constricted aorta. And now this. I'm not a cat! It's why I'm leaning towards mechanical regardless of the inconvenience of taking warfarin the rest of my life and the testing. Still weighing the options. Thanks for all the feedback, I realize it's my decision but talking about it helps.