anne's Journal

Brady Busch  For me,I was 66 when surgery was done.So,not being real young and with the ability to have two possible valves fit inside the first one,by way of TAVR,a tissue valve was decided upon.The noise factor with a mechanical,was also considered.
The mitral needed repair too,so a sternotomy was performed.

Rita Savelis  The decision is never easy and there is no right decision. Neither one is perfect. But whatever you choose will be right for you. Your age is an important factor. Tissue valves last longer in older patients (over 70). So a young patient must be willing to be reoperated in 5 to 15 years if he/she chooses tissue. Many are getting TAVR valves these days but those also do not last long.  With mechanical valves one has to take anticoagulants and have ones blood tested about once a month to verify the dose.  I think everyone struggles over this decision so I am sorry that you have to make it. My heart was damaged by childhood radiation and I had 2 valves to replace so mechanical valves were recommended for me because reoperation would be very difficult on a heart with stenosis. That was 8 years ago and I have had no problems with my valves or anticoagulants since then.

Robert Young  Hi Anne c 
I thought a lot about which way to go and in the end chose what the doctor recommended. I was 62(still am)  The insight from the HVS crew was extremely valuable and helpful. I will give you the advice that I got on here.  There is no wrong choice it’s yours. 

Rose Madura  Hi Anne, it's one of the toughest decisions ever.  I was 59 and did a tissue valve. That was 5-1/2 years ago. I talked it over with my surgeon and my brother who is a doctor.  My husband and I did a lot of research and once we made the decision, I didn't look back or second guess myself.  That's what I recommend.  As Rita said, there is no right or wrong decision. Let us know if you have any questions. Godspeed.

Greg Lewis  I went with my Surgeon's advice. He has been putting them in for over 30 years. I would get a few explanations from surgeons, as to why they favor one type of valve over the other. They are the ones that deal with them every day. On this very forum, there was recently somebody that has a problem with a mechanical. There are people with tissue valve problems. One person just told of his tissue one lasting 28 years! So in the end, nothing is for certain. No guarantees. But the surgeons, are the experts to get you steered in the best direction for YOU. 
Rose said something extremely important.. " don't look back or second guess yourself " 

Your not putting on a hat, here. Once you have it, you can't change it. Never think if it was the best one. It just is.
I also knew I did not want to have bleeding risks with thin blood. Or take Warfarin. I was on it for awhile, and didn't like it. On the flipside, I MAY need another valve sooner than the mechanical option. 
None will ever be as good as your human valve. Gotta go with your heart on this one. 😉

anne c  Thanks so much for all the replies, it is so very helpful when you feel a bit lost and I take the point of there being no wrong choice and once the decision is made then that is the new situation. That helps a lot - in terms of managing thoughts and what ifs. I am leaning towards a tissue valve because I don't want to be on an anti-coagulant drug with levels being checked every month forever more. I suppose it is to weigh up the re-operation likelihood being that it is radiation damage like you mentioned Rita, although the consultant has told me the heart itself looks healthy (thus far) bar the 2 valves. I'll probably have more questions and thanks for taking the time to allay my fears, much appreciated to each of you. They are leaving me alone until after Christmas they said, so I'll put the thoughts away until then.