Open-Heart Surgery -- 4th time!

[njean]

Hello everyone -- I am a 56 yr. old female & I have undergone Open-Heart Surgery three times in my life.  The first two Open-Heart's took place in 1975 when I was 24 years old.  The surgeries were performed in Houston TX by the world renowned Dr. Denton Cooley.  I had the aortic & the mitral valve replaced with mechanical valves.  I had done wonderfully for 31 years up until last year, March/06 I had to go back to Houston & have the aortic valve replaced with another mechanical (St. Jude valve) because the old valve was failing & I was having CHF.  When they went in there last year, my artificial mitral valve appeared to be working okay so they decided to leave well enough alone & did not replace it.  Well, low & behold, a year later the mitral valve is showing failure & I have been told that I now need to have a 4th Open-Heart Surgery to replace it!  Needless to say, I am mortified because the doctors told me that it would be a very high-risk surgery due to the fact that I have a significant amount of scar tissue which could create a surgeon's nightmare!  I have declined the surgery for now & they increased my lasix (water pills) to 80 mg per day plus blood pressure meds (Altace) & of course the coumadin (warfarin) that I have been on all my life practically.  I have been advised that I cannot stay on the lasix therapy for too long because that could cause problems in the long-run too & that if I wait too long to have the surgery, I could be facing a worse scenario, heart/lung transplant!   I am not working;  I have worked for 20 years with my company & was told by the doctors that I have to try to live as "stress free of a life" as possible.  Can someone out there offer me some comforting advise or do you know of anyone that has faced anything as similar as my situation?  I would appreciate whatever anyone has to offer.  Thank you & God bless!
njp

[angelique4136]

Hi,

My mum has just found out that she has to have a 4th heart operation on her valves as they are tightening and that she will only have about 2-3yrs left unlesst hey operate. They said that having a4th heart operation is very high rist 50-65% survival.

I am so worried that they have not looked at everything and missed something.

Any advise?

[kalani97]

Hello there... I am happy for you... keep up the good work and stay healthy!

I wish I didn't need to have a fourth OHS like you, but I don't think it's going to happen... Wish me luck...

[kalani97]

Wow... already had 4 OHS huh... how long did each surgery last before you needed another one?  Also, how was the 4th OHS? were there any complication(s)? how was the recovery? ... I'm sorry... too many questions... I've had 3 OHS so far and soon to have my 4th one... I'm starting to get really scared and worried... I was only 19 when I had my first one, I am now only 29 and needing a 4th one :( ...

[xrainbow]

I have had 4 open heart surgeries to replace my aortic valve, the last in 1990, st jude aorta mechanical,  had a good run on this one but the dr. tells me scar tissue is thickening around the valve and will eventually interfere, So, I am probably looking at number 5 ohs in the near future, I had my first ohs at 27 caused from rhumatic fever as a child, my last was 1990 , I am 63 years old now , barely passed the prime of life I might add,  :)   but my future does not look good,  wish you the best of luck and god bless you

[jack091956]

check my profile, your not alone.. Jerry

[DavesMom]

Yay, you! Congratulations! Great news and best of luck.