Valve replacement

[hurtallthetime]

How long do you live after a valve replacement?

[blueyankee441]

Well,its a shame and I am personally would suggest a Aortic Tissue Valve.Why!!
   In February of 2008,I had a second episode of Congestive Heart Failure,in Arizona.
   A famous surgeon who is undoubtly and well known,happened to be visiting his patient
s in the patient departing sign out room,as I awaited for a nurse to take my vitals and to
relaease.The surgeons partner also showed on the scene,and asked me if I was aware I
less than a year and a half to live.(I said I knew that)
    The surgeon then asked me,what would make me happy ! I mentioned to him,to have
an operation and have a new heart valve within two weeks,have a short recovery,and be
on the plane back to my wife in China,on March 28th.(This was the middle of January)
The surgeon asked me to wait a minute,and he went to the doctors phone,a few steps
away.He returned after three or four minuts,smiling.He asked me,how about two weeks
from yesterday,and I said fine.He is a modest surgeon and no fanfare of his accomplish
ments or bravos welcomed.We seen each other for a total of maybe less than ten min
utes.On my birthday the first of February,I was rolled into my cardiac room for a brief
stay,as it was tried to do.
       After surgery,and my short three days in the heart hospital,I was released and sent
home,and had one of his doctors as my check-ups for the last three weeks I was in Ariz
ona.At my home I was left alone all day and no one watched me all day,for three weeks
and no one was able to watch over me ,until the evenings.
     On March,sitting in a wheel chair I was wheeled onto the plane,as I also have a sev
ere back problem and at this time was giving me a problem.After a twenty hour flight I
was disembarking the plane in the city in China where my wife was waiting.(no wheel
chair now,)as I walked into the waiting area.
    I have had no doctors care,since I have been in China.I had a Quad By-Pass in 1997.
I have nothing seriously wrong,and my Pig Valve has been working great.I get some sma
ll pains sometimes,and the medicines have never been changed,but most have been dro
pped.I now have two medications,and at the times the heart meds will make me dizzy s
o I stop at times,and always feel better.There is no doctors care here in China,so I have
a Cardiac Test once a year,to see what my valve and heart are doing.So far I am doing
great.The doctors when I left the hospital had me on 18 medicines.within five days I had
them reduced to five when I left the states.As Its against the law to fly with drugs and ha
ving no prescription as I dont have a doctor,I left them home and could only duplicate the
three here and dropped another within six months as I made me sick.
     Even with the cold and hot seasons I have been exceeding any bad health.I am at le
ast fifty pounds over weight and have been more.I have been walking alot again.I had a
problem with one leg,and for one period of three months couldnt walk at all.The second
time was four months of not walking.Both times,it took the Chinese IVs to make it poss
ible to walk,which also helped my heart to endure the pains,and kept it  strong as the
doctore added a Iv with the ones taken to help the hearts rhythmn to stay stable,so whe
n in doubt you do as the doctor suggest in China.
    Its now three and almost a half year,since my Vale Replacement and my surgeons
choice of a tissue valve and perhaps a very healthy hog,to live essentially pain free.
My health is much better,and here in China we have to walk alot so it helps.
   I would gladly give you the surgeons name,but he is such a generous and low profiled
person,and very modest.
    To me this man is Gods Savior for me.Sometimes we dont always need a doctors
vision to keep us healthy after major surgery.I feel I have done much better without some
advice which may have been wrong.I eat many types of vegetables and healthy foods
which is a different diet than in the states,though the same foods can be bought here.
     There are more great things which happened during before and after my surgery,
but associated with it.
   I wish you would have the same type of luck and belief.
  God Bless you,and of course my Chinese wife takes care of me,and I am number one
in her life,and her family whom works in the pharmacy factories with their own brand
of medicine.
   God Bless
    Jim

[laujac]

I had valve surgery 25 years ago when I was 37. I have the St. Jude mechanical valve which is going to be replaced Feb. 7 @ Duke..I also have an aortic aneurysm which is going to be repaired..Coumadin has not worked well for me. After all this time it is not regulated....I have protimes at least three times a month. I have been on Lovenox injections several times when I needed outpatient surgery, colonosopies, and other situations. I am seriously thinking about having the tissue valve instead of mechanical valve. I know there is a possibility of having to have the tissue valve replaced in the future. But there is a less invasive surgery that hopefully can be done at that time. My surgeon thinks the tissue valve will be better for me because of my history with coumadin. The valve is being replaced because of calcification. I was told when I had the surgery that it should last a lifetime but guess no one can predict what will happen.  Good luck.

[Mrs_Spock]

I pray that it is a very long time. I plan to have an aortic valve replacement in March,  I am very optimistic about it and plan to live a long life.  I hope to be better than ever in my physical acitivities....so tired of being short of breath when walking uphill or climbing stairs.  We play the cards we're dealt and stay positive.  Good luck to you.