I am 78 years old and was in good physical health prior to surgery. I had OHS May 3, 2017 for Aortic Valve Stenosis and A-fib. My aortic valve was replaced ...Read more
I am 78 years old and was in good physical health prior to surgery. I had OHS May 3, 2017 for Aortic Valve Stenosis and A-fib. My aortic valve was replaced with an Edwards Bovine cow valve size 19, Mini Maze to correct A-fib and Left Atrial Appendage ligation. I have had several bumps in the road including low heart rate, shortness of breath, fluid retention and stabilizing Warfarin INR. I am much better but not where I would like to be. I would like to stop taking Warfarin and take one of the newer blood thinners. My heart is in sinus rhythm. Looking for comments from others that may have experience similar problems.
Barbara Wood Hi Shelby, I had a mitral valve repair, maze & appendage ligation last May also. I'm also still on wa ... Read more
Barbara Wood Hi Shelby, I had a mitral valve repair, maze & appendage ligation last May also. I'm also still on warfarin - have not had afib ( I did have it 2 weeks after surgery which is common, I had a cardioversion & have been in nsr since. I have an appointment with my cardiologist in May, hoping like you to either be taken off warfarin or switched to eliquis ( which I've taken before). My understanding is that if I have not had afib for a year, I can be taken off warfarin. I don't think that eliquis & the new blood thinners are approved for artificial valves ( but Don't hold me to that, I'm not a doc:)).
Wonderful that you are doing well...best wishes!
Jim Harvey you are right Barbara, my understanding is that only Warfarin is approved for artificial valves
Rose Madura I was on Eliquis (sp) for a while after my first readmission. Not only is it expensive, I had to wa ... Read more
Rose Madura I was on Eliquis (sp) for a while after my first readmission. Not only is it expensive, I had to wait 3 days before having my second surgery because of it. I've been told that wouldn't be the case with warfarin. But trust the doctors. They know what they are doing.
Shelby Weathers Thanks for the comments. I am off of Warfarin. I had gastric internal bleeding and received two uni ... Read more
Shelby Weathers Thanks for the comments. I am off of Warfarin. I had gastric internal bleeding and received two units of blood. Now I am only on a baby aspirin. I hope I never have to take Warfarin again. Go back to my family doctor tomorrow and my heart doctor Monday.
Wonderful that you are doing well...best wishes!