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Mike Mo  UPDATE. I am now 51, moved to Arizona with my family on 7/3/24. Found out first week after move that I need a Re Do aortic valve and also aneurysms repaired. Surgery on 11/12 with Dr. Sell-Dottin from Mayo Phoenix. 


I have not decided on tissue or mechanical valve yet! Any suggestions would be helpful. I hate the idea of being on blood thinners. I currently have a porcine tissue valve.  I have zero symptoms and go 15,000 steps a day

Robert Miller  I have gone through that (mitral valve). At 50 years it's a difficult decision. I didn't really want another open heart surgery in my 70s as it's harder to recover. I was heavily leaning towards a mechanical valve. I wasn't too concerned about Warfarin despite me probably more at risk of hurting myself than many others just because of the things I do. But at the end I decided to get a tissue valve if I needed a replacement (I did not). It should last you probably 15 years. Then they can put another valve over that without open heart surgery. Give that another 10 years. So 25 years. Don't take my word on the years... And in 25 years medicine probably made a lot of advances that you might still be able to avoid another open heart surgery. Also check out the learning center (scroll to the bottom).
https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php

Mike Mo  Thank you Robert!  That is very helpful advice.  Much appreciated.



I am very worried about being on Warfarin.  If anyone has advice on how Warfarin makes you feel I would really appreciate it!

Richard Munson  I cannot comment on whether you should get a tissue or mechanical because my valve was repaired and i was 79 at the time. I could however see that warfarin over an extended period of time would get old, especially at 51. However, with the advancements in heart surgery and valves in particular since my surgery, it would appear that in 10 years or whatever the tissue valve life is , that things in the heart surgery world will be radically different than they are today. I wish you the best of luck choosing. Whatever you choose, it sounds like its required to improve your quality of life in the future. I also had no symptoms, but wanted to have surgery before i did. 

Barry Brasseaux  Mike.  I had my Aortic Valve replaced with a St. Jude valve at JHH in Jan 1988 and have been on Warfarin since that time.  I am now 62 and have not had any major issues.  I am active in order to keep up with my High School sophomore who runs cross country.  I am happy to answer any questions you have regarding the mechanical valve and warfarin since I have been on it for close to 40 years.  I know it is a difficult decision.  

Richard Munson  Barry, what an inspiration you are. Plus you are still a young man ( in my eyes).  You have a great attitude and that is a big deal. At 82, my running days are behind me but walking the dog 4 miles a day is vital for my heart health. 

Rose Madura  Mike, you have a beautiful family!  I got a tissue valve at age 59 because I didn't want to be on warfarin. It's definitely a tough decision. But once you make up your mind, go with it and don't second guess the decision. It will be the right one for you. 👍

Rita Savelis  I've been on warfarin for 9 years after double valve replacement when I was 53. I've had no problems with anticoagulants. One has to get used to being on a new drug but I haven't changed anything I eat or my lifestyle. I'm sorry that you have to go through this in your 50's because that is young (in the cardiac world). My heart valves were calcified because of childhood radiation for cancer, so it wasn't advised for me to have more surgery. Whatever choice you make will be the right one for you. Trust your instincts and your surgeon. There are positives and negatives for any choice but you and your heart are singular and not like anyone else. Take care.

Pamela Gregory  What a beautiful family! It is a really tough and personal choice. I chose tissue valve at 55 because of the blood thinner and ticking but there are many on this site that have had a lot of success with mechanical. I pray that they will have major advances in how long TAVR will last in the near future 

Mike Mo  Thank you Pamela.  I am leaning towards tissue.  Pre op is in 10 days.  My current tissue valve lasted 8 years.

Mike Mo  Thank you Rita and Rose.



These are helping my decision.

Mike Mo  thank you max.  Leaning towards tissue.  pre op is today and will make final decision then.  Thank you