Miguel's Journal

Good evening, friends,
Last Monday, November 17th, I underwent the aortic valve replacement surgery that had been scheduled for several months. In the end, for different reasons, I opted for the mechanical valve (Corcym Bicarbon Slimline), taking into account my age (46) and the fact that the Ross procedure is not performed at my hospital. Everything went well. After two days in intensive care, I was moved to a regular ward, and three days later (Saturday, November 22nd) I was discharged and returned home. Everything was perfect; I felt very well and was able to take short walks without any problems. However, on Sunday night, I had a very strong coughing fit that was extremely painful for my sternum and left me semi-conscious. During that time, I kept asking the same questions over and over. I didn’t know whether I had been operated on or not, what valve had been implanted, etc. I decided to see a doctor, and they told me it could be due to a vasovagal nerve activation triggered by the pain. They ran some tests and confirmed that everything was in order: the valve was still working properly and my heart in general as well. Over the next few hours I began to recover my memories, although some are still vague and I feel quite dazed. Cognitively, I don’t feel 100%. It’s also true that I haven’t been able to sleep well at night. And sometimes I feel dizzy. Despite everything, I make an effort to go for my daily walk. Has anyone experienced something similar? I’d appreciate any comments or any piece of advice. Thank you very much in advance.

Hello everybody!Hope you’re doing well!My name is Miguel, and I suffer from congenital aortic insufficiency. A few months ago, my cardiologist advised me to have surgery to replace the damaged valve. This operation may take place in a couple of months. I am currently 46 years old, and my main question is which type of valve to choose. My cardiologist recommended a mechanical valve, and I understand the underlying reasoning: mainly that I wouldn’t need hopefully another surgery down the line. The downside is the need for lifelong anticoagulation. I’m a healthy and athletic person, and I’m not sure how much being on blood thinners would limit me. Of course, I know I wouldn’t be able to play contact sports, but I worry that something like a fall while cycling or hiking could become much more complicated. Of course, I’ve also read about the risks that come with anticoagulants and the strict monitoring involved (weekly or monthly blood tests, depending on the case) to stay within the right therapeutic range. At first, I was leaning toward a biological valve, but after reading that these don’t last very long in younger patients and that I’d likely need another surgery in just a few years, I started having doubts. Especially since I’ve read that open-heart reoperations are more complex and riskier. I also don’t know whether a second surgery could be done via transcatheter (given my age and the duration of the disease chronic aortic insufficiency). I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this, especially if you had surgery before age 50. What kind of valve did you choose, and why? I’d like to know which kind of blood thinners exist. I read somewhere that there are “intelligent” blood thinners, so to speak, which don’t need a such strict monitoring. Do you have any news about it?Thank you so much in advance. Miguel