Wondering how long valves lasted for people. My first was a cow valve and lasted 12 years. I now have a combo ( forgot the name of it) and it's now 9 years. ...Read more
Wondering how long valves lasted for people. My first was a cow valve and lasted 12 years. I now have a combo ( forgot the name of it) and it's now 9 years. I was told this would last 10-15 years.
Marie Myers I asked that same question myself many years ago. I believe I have read a few stories of valves lasti ... Read more
Marie Myers I asked that same question myself many years ago. I believe I have read a few stories of valves lasting as long as 15-20 years, but I fear this is in the minority.. it seems like 12 ish seems common. I myself would love to see more people telling us they have had their cow valve for 18 + years!! Just wondering, when did you know your first bovine valve needed replacing? Did you have symptoms, or was it based on echocardiogram results?
Roselyn Kubek I have a porcine valve but similar question
Rita Savelis Once a year (surgery was 8 years ago)
susan sperry Interesting. Mine said 5 years and that felt like it's too long, so I insisted. It's been 3.5 years ... Read more
susan sperry Interesting. Mine said 5 years and that felt like it's too long, so I insisted. It's been 3.5 years and I'm anxious since it's been so long.
I'm looking to connect with others who are facing a third open heart valve replacement.
Rose Madura Hi Susan. I have only had one but my aunt has had three aortic valve replacements. One through trad ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi Susan. I have only had one but my aunt has had three aortic valve replacements. One through traditional open heart in 2002, a TAVR in 2014 and a 2nd TAVR through the left rib this year. Maybe I can help with questions. Or hopefully someone else on this site may respond. Let me know if I can help in any way.
susan sperry I didn't think you could have TAVR after open heart.
Rose Madura Yes you can. In fact, many who have gotten a tissue valve sort of expect that it will be needed and t ... Read more
Rose Madura Yes you can. In fact, many who have gotten a tissue valve sort of expect that it will be needed and the valves today are made to accommodate a TAVR in the future.
Hi, I was a member here years ago and I'm back. I've had two aortic valve replacements and two pacemakers . Two weeks ago at my pacemaker check they found ...Read more
Hi, I was a member here years ago and I'm back. I've had two aortic valve replacements and two pacemakers . Two weeks ago at my pacemaker check they found I had had
a " flutter" back in May. It was the only one. They now want to put me on medication to reduce the risk of stroke. My insurance won't cover Eliquis but they will cover warfarin which I don't want to take. Has anyone had a similar experience and what did you do?
Rose Madura If you only have to be on Eliquis temporarily, see about getting it for free. They put me on it for ... Read more
Rose Madura If you only have to be on Eliquis temporarily, see about getting it for free. They put me on it for a few weeks during one of my complications and the nurse practitioner got on line and got me some sort of card that allowed me to get it for free up to a year. Short term solution but may also work for you.
Debbie Chatzky My insurance would not cover Elioquis because I have a bovine mitral valve and they said the drug of ... Read more
Debbie Chatzky My insurance would not cover Elioquis because I have a bovine mitral valve and they said the drug of choice is warfarin.
Rita Savelis I'm sorry about your valve replacements and pacemakers. 4 years ago I had 2 valves replaced (same sur ... Read more
Rita Savelis I'm sorry about your valve replacements and pacemakers. 4 years ago I had 2 valves replaced (same surgery) and got a pacemaker a few weeks later. Nobody wants to be on anticoagulants, I hear you. I certainly didn't, but I have to be on them, and life goes on. I've been on warfarin for 4 years. After a period of adjustment, it's now just a part of my life. Take care. Wishing you the best.
Barbara Wood I took eliquis for a year before my repair, then was switched to warfarin, which I took for 6 months. ... Read more
Barbara Wood I took eliquis for a year before my repair, then was switched to warfarin, which I took for 6 months. I don't think eliquis is prescribed for mechanical valves, is it for tissue? It is so much easier to take than warfarin, more effective too. The drug companies have assistance programs, you could do a search. It's really expensive, I was lucky in having it covered...I think my copy was $48. Best wishes Susan!
Rose Madura Another thing I've heard is that Warfarin is better to be on if you should need another surgery. Th ... Read more
Rose Madura Another thing I've heard is that Warfarin is better to be on if you should need another surgery. They had to wait there full days to do my 2nd surgery because of Eloquis. I don't think that would have been the case with Warfarin.....
susan sperry Thank you. I've decided to take the Eliquis rather than Warfarin. I don't qualify for any assistan ... Read more
susan sperry Thank you. I've decided to take the Eliquis rather than Warfarin. I don't qualify for any assistance programs and it's not in my retirement budget but will sell some stuff to pay for $415 deductible then the $40-50 a month co-pay. And I just found out the deducible will start again in Jan so I'm paying almost $700 for this medication for 6 months. My doctor says that Eliquis is the best drug for me . I have a tissue valve. She also said that considering my life style etc, I will find it easier to take. With any blood thinner there is a wait for any surgery. I've been on baby aspirin for 14 years and had to stop that several days before various surgeries.
I was part of this group several years ago when I have my second valve replacement in 2014. My first was in 2002 in Syracuse, NY. The second aortic valve ...Read more
I was part of this group several years ago when I have my second valve replacement in 2014. My first was in 2002 in Syracuse, NY. The second aortic valve replacement was done at the Cleveland Clinic. We felt I needed a high volume hospital for the re-do and we were correct. Outcome was great with a bump, I needed a pacemaker. A small price to pay and no regrets on our decision as it was a much longer and complex surgery. Anyway, there are now issues with the pacemaker that I was not aware could happens, but only happens 10% of the time. The RV outpaces the LV and now the LV had deteriorated enough that I now need a biventricular pacemaker. Anyone else have a similar situation?
Andrea Smith My first valve lasted for 12 years too. I have just had a redo and also ended up with a pacemaker. I ... Read more
Andrea Smith My first valve lasted for 12 years too. I have just had a redo and also ended up with a pacemaker. It's early days for me so I can't comment really on its function but I hope everything goes well for you with the new pacemaker.
Rita Savelis Getting a pacemaker after OHS 2 years ago was a letdown for me (complicated surgery with 3 valves to ... Read more
Rita Savelis Getting a pacemaker after OHS 2 years ago was a letdown for me (complicated surgery with 3 valves to work on)... Sorry about your troubles with your pacemaker. It's no fun to be in the 10%....
Hope the biventricular solves the problems.
I am from: Michigan
My surgery date is: December 1, 2014
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