Patricia's Journal

One year ago today I had my third heart valve surgery for mitral valve replacement. It is amazing how fast the months passed by. Feel blessed to be alive and feeling better then before surgery.

I have being reading many questions and comments on here about people being unsure about getting a tissue valve or mechanical valve. I had a repair, porcine valve and now a mechanical valve. I thought the same way about being on blood thinner and that is why I made the decision to get a porcine valve. I knew I was going to need another surgery when I chose that valve, but I never realized it would be sooner then later. My experience with warfarin has not been a bad one. You have to maintain testing to ensure that it does not become to thin or thick and stays in range. Many people who are diabetic have to take insulin shots all of their lives to stay alive. When you know your life depends on it you will do it and it becomes like second nature. A part of your daily routine. Once your levels stay consistent you will need to go less often. I go every other week, but my levels have been a little high so I will go in a week now, until everything is good. My results are given within 24 hours by my cardiologist's nurse, who calls me the next day to let me know if I need to adjust. I still eat greens in moderations and I am a very busy mom with 3 small children. Any medicine can cause complications and sometimes even deadly. A person's overall health history are dominant causes to those effects too. I am by no means trying to convince people to get a mechanical valve. I chose a porcine on my second surgery and don't regret it since I had a surprise unplanned pregnancy 6 years later. Although some women have been pregnant with a mechanical valve they need to take shots of lovenox in their bellies since warfarin crosses the placenta. The blood volume doubles on the heart during pregnancy and my heart took a beating. I had arrhythmia issues throughout my whole pregnancy, but we both got through it. After the third time my heart has been scarred from these surgeries so now I am left with permanent Aflutter. I can not get an ablation because of all the scar tissue, amiodarone left me with non cancerous nodules on my thyroid gland and thyroiditis, so I only take a beta blocker to keep my heart rate low. I am no longer bothered by the aflutter and have learned to live with it. Thank- God it works, but I would have needed blood thinner anyway. Yes advancements in medicine can change and we may one day be able to grow our own heart valves. These shelf life predictors are not always a reality as a persons overall health and lifestyle are precursors to that. Just know that a tissue valve will inevitably need to be replaced and keep that into consideration when making this decision. A mechanical valve can fail too, but they are just more durable and tend to last a lifetime (again there are always exceptions). I know there is no guarantee stamped on it, but God is great and he has gotten me this far. Talk with your families and most of all just don't use the duration of the predicted longevity of the valve to guide you into what choice to make. Also my second surgery was in the Cleveland Clinic and was done by one of the best. They were great, but no one can really predict this. My last surgery was done in my hometown of Philadelphia in the University of Pennsylvania by Chief of Cardiology Dr. Michael Acker who saved my life. I had an angel right in my backyard and did not have to go far. All of my surgeons saved my life and I am thankful for their unbelievable skill and compassion. May God protect everyone on here and guide them through this journey.

I saw my surgeon last week and was cleared to drive. Such a great feeling to have my independence back. Surgeon told me I was a very sick woman and was suffering from that closed up (stenosed) porcine mitral valve. Still can't believe it failed so fast after only 8 years. He told me when they fail, they fail faster than our native valves. I am getting use to my mechanical heart valve. The ticking is not as loud as it was right after surgery. It has been a little challenging to stabilize my blood thinner levels, but it is a small price to pay to keep this heart beating. Only problems I have had post-op has been the 3 bouts of Afib. I was admitted for two days about 3 weeks ago for that. Not to bad though. I was going from Afib to Aflutter and I converted on my own. Medication adjustment was needed and so far so good, even reduced it last week. I just bought a treadmill since this weather has been a real drag and really getting tired of the malls. Amazing how the body heals after such a dramatic surgery, which is physical as well as an emotional journey. After being on bypass 3 times in my life my mind is still sharp. Going back to school in the summer and finshing what I started. Five more classes to get my Bachelors Degree. I wish everyone a succesfull surgery for those who are about to embark. Those who have I wish you continued health.

1 Month and I feel almost like before I had gotten sick from my valve. The Amiodarone is working out great and has kept me out of the ER. Tomorrow I will go to once a day and after 3 months I will go off of it. Hopefuily the Afib and Aflutter will not return. Back to being the busy mom and wife I was before. I really feel blessed that God has given me a chance to live again. Also my surgeon at HUP, Dr. Michael Acker and the nursing staff that took great care of me. So happy that I did not try and go anywhere else. My last surgery was at CC in Ohio and they are great, but this time around I was critical and Dr. Acker at HUP in Philadelpha saved my life. I was on borrowed time. I knew my valve was stenosed, but when they got in there it was only open the size of a pinhole and I had a giant blood clot on my left atrium that they cut away. Please if I can offer any advice for those out there. Take your symptoms seriously and don't blow it off as working to much, weight gain or anything else. My porcine valve was only in 8 years, done at Cleveland Clinic and it was predicted to last 16 yrs. I had it put in at the age of 37 and was a very active busy mom with no known health problems. I did not want to be on blood thinners or hear the click click of a mechanical valve, so I went with the porcine valve. Well now I am on the blood thinner and hear the click click always, but I am alive. Each and every time they go in our hearts it puts us at greater risk. I am happy with my mechanical valve and pray to God that this is the last time. Always make good choices and when surgeons tell you how long these valves last they can't always predict the number of years, as I learned (even from the best). I would not have changed my decision for the porcine valve at that time, but I did going through this a 3rd time.

Has anyone been on Amiodarone for Afib post-op? I know there are a ton of side effects. Just want to know if it helped and how you were feeling while on it.

Was in the ER for the 2nd time in a week for Afib. I was off bood thinner for 2 days because my antibiotic lowered my iNR levels. Now I have to give myself Lovenox injections to get my levels right again. This is the bump in the road and most of us how them. I pray that it will pass after my heart and valve get acquainted with each other. Other than that I am doing really good.

Chest cold almost gone, but medicine raised my inr. It is being adjusted and that is the drag with a mechanical valve. I am OK with that after 3 OHS. I want no more and pray that I don't have to. This valve ticks and ticks and I hear it always. I asked my family if the can hear it. Only when they are close to me. I lived with a porcine valve for 8 yrs and needed nothing. I called this my high maintenance valve. No complaints as I live to tell about it. Thank God for that and I do always.

16 days since my surgery. One trip to the ER for some Afib and a change in meds. Now I have a chest cold and coughing. Nothing like coughing afer opening heart surgery. I can't complain I made it through the worst part and now there will be bumps in the road. This mechanical valve is impressive and I was walking pretty good in the mall today...at a turtles pace, but pretty long. Have PT coming to my house tomorrow.

Day 8 and went the whole day without pain meds. Everyday is a different day. My heart valve sounds like a little cricket chirping and I hear it constantly. I am OK with that and just pray that I need not walk down this path again. I must say it was very challenging for me.. I came home to a house full of sick kids too. I have such a great husband that has been caring for me every step of the way. We all walk this journey and have similiar as well as different experiences. I pray for those that are ready for surgery or getting ready for surgery. Also those who fought the battle. I see people travel all over the US for surgery and on my second journey I went to the Cleveland Clinic. This time I was in crictical condition as my mitral valve was only open the size of a pin. They did not know that I was as critical until they got in there. My surgery was moved for another patient that came in the trauma unit. Before my surgeon did my surgery he saved the person before me. He also cut an enormous blood clot out of my LA. I am so bleesed to have had Dr. Michael Acker, nursing staff and University of Pennyslvania for giving me another chance at life. Biggest blessing granted by God. We need not always go far for the best. There was ten OHS the day of mine and many heart transplants. Thank- God for these brilliant doctors <3

Going home on Monday. Trying to get blood levels right. Can't believe I was critical. This surgery does not get easier after the first. Pray that it will be the last. University of Penna. Is great and the nursing care is unbelievably excellent as well. Dr. Michael Acker saved my life. Did not have to go far this time around.

Going home on Monday. Trying to get blood levels right. Can't believe I was critical. This surgery does not get easier after the first. Pray that it will be the last. University of Penna. Is great and the nursing care is unbelievably excellent as well. Dr. Michael Acker saved my life. Did not have to go far this time around.