Replacement heart valve, titanium

[Trevor555]

Anyone on here had one?

I'm a few weeks away from Op, so keen to hear from anyone who's been through it, especially recently.

Docs so far have all be great.

Looking forward to getting back in the gym, and out on pushbike.

[OIC]

Are you too young for a pig valve?

Have they fully discussed taking warfarin / warfarin like drugs for the rest of your life?

This is a difficult decision, but don't underestimate the risk of embolism from prosthetic valves.

Or the risk of bleeding from warfarin.

Every patient is different so this is not simple.

[Trevor555]

OIC said:

Are you too young for a pig valve?

Have they fully discussed taking warfarin / warfarin like drugs for the rest of your life?

This is a difficult decision, but don't underestimate the risk of embolism from prosthetic valves.

Or the risk of bleeding from warfarin.

Every patient is different so this is not simple.

Thanku for your reply.

The titanium valve was discussed at my last appointment, but the warfarin wasn't.

I have pre Op breathing test Fri, then I guess another appointment to confirm the go ahead.

I will raise those questions thanku.

Im 55

[biggbn]

Following with interest. Mrs Biggbn will need valve replacement at some point but condition being 'managed' by meds for now, but gets tired very easily so affecting quality of life quite badly.

[Trevor555]

biggbn said:

Following with interest. Mrs Biggbn will need valve replacement at some point but condition being 'managed' by meds for now, but gets tired very easily so affecting quality of life quite badly.

I will keep the thread updated with my progress.

I thought there was something wrong with me 20 years ago when I could no longer run past the end of my street. (years beforehand could catch most criminals on foot)

Diagnosed Aortic Stenosis in 2018 and put on Beta blockers that lessened the progressing symptoms.

Tiredness, yes, I know how she feels, and I'm looking forward to feeling the difference post Op.

Happy to talk to you/her post my OP.

[biggbn]

Trevor555 said:

biggbn said:

Following with interest. Mrs Biggbn will need valve replacement at some point but condition being 'managed' by meds for now, but gets tired very easily so affecting quality of life quite badly.

I will keep the thread updated with my progress.

I thought there was something wrong with me 20 years ago when I could no longer run past the end of my street. (years beforehand could catch most criminals on foot)

Diagnosed Aortic Stenosis in 2018 and put on Beta blockers that lessened the progressing symptoms.

Tiredness, yes, I know how she feels, and I'm looking forward to feeling the difference post Op.

Happy to talk to you/her post my OP.

Thanks man. She had been getting tired over a long period and when she was finally given an ecg they discovered she had had a heart attack, and were able to pin point it to a time she had felt so tired she'd had to sit down after climbing our stairs...typical of my Mrs to have a heart attack, take a seat then get on with things...but a bloody wake up call. She has never smoked, fit and healthy, no medical conditions up till now!!

All the best and thanks for your kind sentiments. Peace and love, gbn x

[Trevor555]

2172cc said:

I have a mechanical valve done at Bart's in London 2021. It was a bit confusing what actually was going on at the time but the operation was pushed through during the lockdown period as I had fainted a couple of times previously in the bath. I had the choice of mechanical or natural valve and chose the former but it meant I would have to be on Warfarin to control the INR level indefinitely. This means regular blood tests usually once a month but can change if the level becomes unstable. The natural valve has a time limit depending on how old you are and could mean you have to go through the whole thing again at some point in the future.
Things I notice, are that previously I could not sleep on my left side as I would feel my heart racing but now I don't get that but you can hear your heartbeat a lot louder especially if trying to sleep. I don't get out of breath so quickly either but I'm getting older now so that may change.
Happy to give you anymore feedback on my experience if you have questions.

Thank you for that, I'll discuss the warfarin at my next appointment.

I'm 55 so keen to get back to some fitness, and activities like cycling, scuba, snowbaording, light running.

I'll ask docs if the blood thinners will impede any of this.

[Trevor555]

biggbn said:

Thanks man. She had been getting tired over a long period and when she was finally given an ecg they discovered she had had a heart attack, and were able to pin point it to a time she had felt so tired she'd had to sit down after climbing our stairs...typical of my Mrs to have a heart attack, take a seat then get on with things...but a bloody wake up call. She has never smoked, fit and healthy, no medical conditions up till now!!

All the best and thanks for your kind sentiments. Peace and love, gbn x

Thank you so much.

This is the second time I've faced illness in my time, Hodgkins Lymphoma at age 22

It gives one a certain view of life.

I'm gratefull for everything, even the sun rising every day. I take nothing for granted.

I hope she get's the treatment soon.

[Road2Ruin]

Trevor555 said:

Anyone on here had one?

I'm a few weeks away from Op, so keen to hear from anyone who's been through it, especially recently.

Docs so far have all be great.

Looking forward to getting back in the gym, and out on pushbike.

I had a prosthetic aortic valve 7 years ago. Been on warfarin with no problems since.
At my age, I was 49, I didn't fancy another op.
I test my INR at home using the INRange machine, so only go to the GPs once every couple of months.
I have cut myself a few times and the bleeding wasn't an issue.

Any specific questions, let me know, happy to help.
Peter

[Inlineonline]

Generally the pivot point is at around 60, below this, especially if you are very active there s a realistic chance you will need a redo operation to replace your tissue valve in15 20 years which is of course more complex.

It is possible now sometimes to replace a failing tissue valve with a valve in valve TAVI (trans catheter valve) which is a stent procedure avoiding redo surgery.

There s also a procedure called a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure) where the surgeon takes out your pulmonary valve and uses it to replace your aortic valve and then puts in a human donated pulmonary valve (homograft) to replace the one they just removed. Sounds mad and a lot of surgery but it is sometimes offered to younger patients (and especially children). Not widely offered though but sometimes appropriate in younger patients

The key to warfarin is good monitoring and you can do this at home.

There are also valves that only require quite low levels of anticoagulation.

At the end of the day it s a personal choice after discussion with your doctor.

Overall it s a very worthwhile operation though

(Full disclosure I m a heart surgeon and can only offer general advice as I m not your doc of course)

Edited by Inlineonline on Sunday 19th April 09:59

[Trevor555]

Road2Ruin said:

I had a prosthetic aortic valve 7 years ago. Been on warfarin with no problems since.
At my age, I was 49, I didn't fancy another op.
I test my INR at home using the INRange machine, so only go to the GPs once every couple of months.
I have cut myself a few times and the bleeding wasn't an issue.

Any specific questions, let me know, happy to help.
Peter

Thank you Peter, good to hear the warfarin has been ok for you, I'll research the dosage.

How soon were you comfortable post OP? And how soon was it you got back on your feet for work?

I won't rush back to work, but will miss it badly.

[Trevor555]

Inlineonline said:

Generally the pivot point is at around 60, below this, especially if you are very active there s a realistic chance you will need a redo operation to replace your tissue valve in15 20 years which is of course more complex.

It is possible now sometimes to replace a failing tissue valve with a valve in valve TAVI (trans catheter valve) which is a stent procedure avoiding redo surgery.

There s also a procedure called a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure) where the surgeon takes out your pulmonary valve and uses it to replace your aortic valve and then puts in a human donated pulmonary valve (homograft) to replace the one they just removed. Sounds mad and a lot of surgery but it is sometimes offered to younger patients (and especially children). Not widely offered though but sometimes appropriate in younger patients

The key to warfarin is good monitoring and you can do this at home.

There are also valves that only require quite low levels of anticoagulation.

At the end of the day it s a personal choice after discussion with your doctor.

Overall it s a very worthwhile operation though

(Full disclosure I m a heart surgeon and can only offer genetic advice as I m not your doc of course)

Thank you so much for posting, Pistonheads never fails to find experts in their fields happy to share their knowlege.

I plan to be quite active, I've had to give up some things I love, and very excited to get back on my snowboard (20 years experience)

Good to hear the warfarin can be managed at home.

I will complie a list of questions for my next visit to my consultant.

It'll be a last hurrah for me, plan to get proper fit again if I can, and do some hill walks with my partner & kids.

For a second time now I'm so grateful for our NHS, treated my Hodgkins back in 1993..

[Road2Ruin]

Trevor555 said:

Road2Ruin said:

I had a prosthetic aortic valve 7 years ago. Been on warfarin with no problems since.
At my age, I was 49, I didn't fancy another op.
I test my INR at home using the INRange machine, so only go to the GPs once every couple of months.
I have cut myself a few times and the bleeding wasn't an issue.

Any specific questions, let me know, happy to help.
Peter

Thank you Peter, good to hear the warfarin has been ok for you, I'll research the dosage.

How soon were you comfortable post OP? And how soon was it you got back on your feet for work?

I won't rush back to work, but will miss it badly.

To be honest, Trevor, physically it was probably a month before I felt reasonable, two months before I would say 90%ish. Directly after the op, I was okay. They give you whatever pain relief you feel you need. I had some morphine for the first day or two, but after that it was paracetamol or codeine. Beware too much pain relief of certain types, they bung you right up. I was in for seven day and really happy to go home after that. My scar has faded a lot and is barely visible.
For me though, the mental health was the worst. The BHF have and excellent website and forum of post and pre op patients, definitely worth looking into.
I was back to work just under two month from the op, but I work for myself, otherwise I would have taken another couple of weeks.

[Trevor555]

Road2Ruin said:

To be honest, Trevor, physically it was probably a month before I felt reasonable, two months before I would say 90%ish. Directly after the op, I was okay. They give you whatever pain relief you feel you need. I had some morphine for the first day or two, but after that it was paracetamol or codeine. Beware too much pain relief of certain types, they bung you right up. I was in for seven day and really happy to go home after that. My scar has faded a lot and is barely visible.
For me though, the mental health was the worst. The BHF have and excellent website and forum of post and pre op patients, definitely worth looking into.
I was back to work just under two month from the op, but I work for myself, otherwise I would have taken another couple of weeks.

Thanks again, I'll have a look at the BHF website.

My mental health has suffered a little over the past ten years as I haven't been the chap I used to be, so hoping the thought of getting the old me back a little will help me through.

Cycling used to be a big part of my life. But I will listen carefully to the docs about how hard I can push my body once recovered.

Luckily my part time work is easy, sat on a train, and driving, with the only physical bit getting underneath a car. I'll take my time getting back.

[55palfers]

I was on Warrfarin for a few years post by-pass wìth no ill effects.

Now on Apixaban. Less toxic alternative.

[Inlineonline]

55palfers said:

I was on Warrfarin for a few years post by-pass wìth no ill effects.

Now on Apixaban. Less toxic alternative.

Unfortunately non warfarin anticoagulants are not licensed for prosthetic heart valves yet. It's the pipe dream but the trials have been disappointing and so they are contraindicated. (They are for AF however).

[Road2Ruin]

Trevor555 said:

Road2Ruin said:

To be honest, Trevor, physically it was probably a month before I felt reasonable, two months before I would say 90%ish. Directly after the op, I was okay. They give you whatever pain relief you feel you need. I had some morphine for the first day or two, but after that it was paracetamol or codeine. Beware too much pain relief of certain types, they bung you right up. I was in for seven day and really happy to go home after that. My scar has faded a lot and is barely visible.
For me though, the mental health was the worst. The BHF have and excellent website and forum of post and pre op patients, definitely worth looking into.
I was back to work just under two month from the op, but I work for myself, otherwise I would have taken another couple of weeks.

Thanks again, I'll have a look at the BHF website.

My mental health has suffered a little over the past ten years as I haven't been the chap I used to be, so hoping the thought of getting the old me back a little will help me through.

Cycling used to be a big part of my life. But I will listen carefully to the docs about how hard I can push my body once recovered.

Luckily my part time work is easy, sat on a train, and driving, with the only physical bit getting underneath a car. I'll take my time getting back.

I did a lot of cycling after, it was good. DM me if you want, any time. Good luck, mate

[Trevor555]

Road2Ruin said:

I did a lot of cycling after, it was good. DM me if you want, any time. Good luck, mate

That's great to hear, the thought of getting back cycling will help me through.

Thank you for the offer, I'll DM you to keep in touch.

[Kev880]

I was diagnosed with Bicuspid, mild Aortic Stenosis and mild Aortic regurgitation 3 years ago, it can be a scary place at times especially knowing that one day you will need OHS.
I had my 3 yearly Echocardiogram 3 weeks ago and I’m waiting anxiously for the results to see if my symptoms are still mild or if they have progressed to moderate!
I am worried about needing OHS but I’m more worried about what happens between now and needing OHS.
GOOD LUCK with your op and remember if it all goes well (which it should ) you will be able to live a normal healthy life!
GOOD LUCK

[InitialDave]

Another one here with a less than factory fresh aortic valve, at some point in the (hopefully far) future I may need a fresh one.

I hope it all goes well for you.