Selah's Journal

For younger women getting the mechanical valve: we were taken by surprise to learn that warfarin, the blood thinner you have to be on for life with the mechanical valve, causes birth defects to the point where you can never have children once you go on that drug. This was not mentioned anywhere in my research, because most of the recipients of the mechanical valve are men, or women past menopause. This is a critical piece of info!! My daughter (27) is having The Ross Procedure, but even with that you have to choose a backup plan in case they get in there and can't complete The Ross for some reason. We are considering the bio-valve to give a ten-year window for the choice to have a child, which would mean another surgery. Tough choices.

Thank you for this group and your wisdom. I’m inquiring for my daughter Molly, who is 26. Her stenosis is moderate to severe via cardiac MRI. We are learning like crazy. It looks like the On-X valve is being recommended due to her youth. Which means open heart. In between my moments of panic, I am co-piloting all the admin of this. Does anyone have experience with younger patients and the choices they have made? Thank you in advance, I am greatly calmed and encouraged by all of you who have been through this!