Tammy's Journal

Hi Kim, I was 49 when I choose my mechanical valve, just had my six year anniversary with it this week. There are pros and cons whatever you choose, like others I would say go with your gut. I do hear my mechanical valve everyday, however it’s probably not like you imagine. It’s not an all day sound it’s a few seconds in the day when every thing is quite. Maybe first thing in the morning, or may be when you take the dog out but never all day long. They have some pretty good examples of the sounds of the mechanical valve on YouTube. However I will say right after surgery when you have a restless night you will hear it a lot and it will drive you crazy. I yelled at mine one night to just shut up and then realized that’s not what I wanted at all. It was doing its job and that’s what I wanted!! So if you go with a mechanical give yourself some time, eventually one day your notice that you haven’t heard it all day and will sit as still as you can to make sure it’s working. The only time it bothers me at all is when I have a nightmare and wake up startled. It does feel and sound like it’s beating out of my chest. It doesn’t last long and isn’t hard to calm afterwards. On the anticoagulant I had problems regulating right after surgery in the hospital. After that I’ve had no problem. I went to therapy about 4 months after my heart surgery and it really helped me get my confidence back on track being on Coumadin. I have had to have kidney stone surgery since being on it and my doctors worked with me very well to allow me to pick the right surgery to have while being on Coumadin. For me the worse part is the antibiotics you have to take while being on it. Just make sure you eat when you take the antibiotic before your dental cleaning. It may upset your stomach a little. When I had my surgery my doctors had me on antibiotic for a week before, and extra dose during, and then another week after surgery. It was a long haul of antibiotics and my stomach was upset by the end. Was better than doing damage to the heart valve though. I hoped I helped, it’s such a confusing and hard time before you make your decision. Just resolve once you’ve made your decision that this is the right decision for me and I’m willing to do the work to make it work for me. You will do great!! Good Luck! My prayers and thoughts are with you! Tammy

Has anyone had kidney stones after having a mechanical AVR? After 5 years with a mechanical valve I’m facing kidney stone surgery. The doctor has really expressed his concern for the valve while I’m in surgery?

So I am kind of sure that I'm going with a mechanical valve next Monday. Took one look at my 3 dogs and wondered will they be driven crazy by the clicking? Has anyone noticed their dogs going crazy with the sound?

Hi everyone, haven't had a chance to be here for a while. Been busy getting my mom to all her doctors appointments. Trying to make sure I have as much prepared for her as possible before my surgery. Then there have been all my appointments before surgery. My heart cath turned out great!! I thank God for that!!! I have a strong and healthy heart if it weren't for this pesky aortic valve problem. I have decided to go with a mechanical replacement. However I told Dr Crestenello if he gets inside and thinks tissue would be better for whatever reason. By all means go with that. Tonight I'm not feeling well though. I have felt like I could pass out, really weak, my chest is tight, and I feel exhausted. These are just normal symptoms from what I've read. But this is a first for me, do they get more frequent as the regurgitation progresses? Did anyone experience change in their weight? Is this also a symptom? I'm a stress eater, I can admit that!! But my weight is all over the place. Prayers and well wishes to all!!! Tammy

Hello, Hope everyone is a having a great day! Seen the surgeon yesterday and if all goes well I should have my aortic valve replaced in June. Still trying to figure out if I want mechanical or tissue. So hear is a question! If you have had a mechanical valve would you choose it again? And if not why? Thanks everyone

I am going to the surgeon next Tuesday for the first time. I have prepared the best I can and have my questions written down. I am starting to notices symptoms more and it makes me a little more nervous. How long after you see the surgeon for the first time do they schedule your surgery? In general, I'm sure everyone is different. The only big test I need to have done before surgery is a heart Cath. I've had the echo, tee, and stress test done.

Mechanical vs Tissue valve? How do you know you made the right decision for yourself. When I first started the research I thought mechanical. Why on earth would I want to do another surgery, not to mention I'd be 70. Then I bumped my head one night and knew I'd have to get checked out if I was on Coumadin. Which lead me to think: your a barber does Coumadin and being a barber go together? Then there is the clicking sound, will that bother me? How do you know? Help

I am new to this site. Since it looks like surgery is in my near future for my aortic valve regurgitation. I was wondering how people felt after surgery. I am the sole caregiver for my 80 year old mom and am worried how to take care of her after my surgery?