Heart Valve Replacement

Dh had his done last year at 56 due to malformed at birth aortic valve. He didn’t want Warfarin so went for Bovine. I highly recommend contacting a charity called Heart Valve Voice, he spoke to someone there who was incredibly helpful and knowledgable.
The other factor for him is that he’s been assured that if it fails it would almost be certainly be able to be have a procedure called a tavi if it fails which goes in through the wrist or neck and sits inside the current valve so it wouldn’t be open heart surgery a second time.
There was a thread on here last year that I used to post on and find useful - he recovered remarkably but it was quite slow and the early days were difficult. He also developed atrial fibrillation which had to be treated but after that his recovery came on in leaps and bounds.
If he’s having new pyjamas for the occasion be sure to cut out labels - he had a very uncomfortable day where we couldn’t get to the label but it was irritating him - the least of his problems you’d think!

Thanks so much for the practical advice and good wishes @Sagealicious ( and others).

Try not to be anxious (easier said than done I know!) Wear pyjamas that are comfy, make sure you have a pillow or a rolled up towel to put against your chest. This will become obvious when you cough or sneeze which is an experience but the nurses should explain this to you.
I was in hospital for a long time so was given the best painkillers but again they'll talk to you about this. As for the scarring, I had open heart surgery so I have a scar going down my chest and at first I wasn't sure what to think of it but now I love it because it's a reminder to me that I survived after getting really sick. All the best and I'm sure you'll be fine. Surgeons can do amazing things these days.

Hi OP I recently had a valve replacement after getting infective endocarditis. I also have a congenital heart defect so the valves would have been needed to be replaced anyway. Because of the endocarditis I had blood clots in various parts of my body including my legs and spleen. As I was very high risk I could only have the cow valves as with the mechanical ones there is much higher risk of developing blood clots and you need to be on medication for life but the upside of that is the valves last for a lifetime (unless something happens to them)

whereas the bovine valves last for about 10-15 years and unless there are other issues, medication won't necessarily be for life. I came so close to death I didn't care what they gave me but I'm glad I got the bovine one as I've had enough issues as it is.

My dad had a mechanical one fitted in 1990. We were told it would last 10years. It lasted 33 years a he died 2 years ago today. Heart surgeons are magicians!
It used to tick like a clock. It was such a reassuring sound. I miss it now ♥️

My husband had a mechanical one around 9 years ago. At the same time a neighbour had a bovine one. Neighbour is now concerned that the bovine one has a limited life and he may soon have to go through surgery again.
Husbands is doing great, although I can hear it ticking when I’m close to him!
He has to have blood test every 6/8 weeks as he is on Warferin, but it’s an hour out of his day including the travel. Blood tests are more regular until they can regulate the required levels. DH has to watch what he eats in order not to affect blood levels and any illness can also upset the levels. However it’s a small price to pay to be healthy.

On a side note if your BIL does decide to go mechanical and take Warferin in is totally worth the effort to regulate eating and drinking in order to limit the number of visits for blood testing. I have a friend who is on Warfarin for another reason, she constantly diets, binge eats, binge drinks etc, so her levels are all over the place and she has to visit the clinic at least every 2 weeks as a result.

She’d heard that the mechanical one had a slightly audible sound and that put her off.

Not necessarily a week in Intensive Care. My partner was in ICU for less than 2 days but in hospital for a week. After being discharged he had home visits from a specialist nurse to monitor his progress. After 6 weeks he went on a weekly heart rehab exercise course which he found reassuring as everything was carefully monitored. You will be given advice on pain relief throughout. All the very best.

My mum had the bovine one about 5 years ago. Considering she’d had open heart surgery, she recovered very well and was released after about 5 days and came to stay with us to recuperate. She was walking half a mile a week after she came home and is now back to normal - before the surgery she was breathless and coughing - beginnings of heart failure and the surgery was a miracle

Following this thread with interest. My partner had a tissue valve 2 years ago.(not specified original of tissue) He is 70 in 2 weeks and still able to walk an average 10k steps a day and up to 8/10 mile walks/climb hills etc. My friend's partner had one about 7 years ago and is 70. He is going away on a cycling holiday next week and seems very fit overall.
My partner was never given the option of a mechanical valve. If/when the valve starts failing the next option is the TAVI, which is fitted over the current valve.
No idea how long the valve will last but it was a better option than not having the operation at all.

He was told that he shouldn't get any pain or discomfort from the scar after 6 months but 2 years on it still causes him discomfort but it's something he has just got to live with.

He saw a consultant 6 weeks ago for his 2 year review and the consultant was happy with his progress.
All the best to everyone who posted and thanks for the post OP.

MIL had a mechanical atrial heart valve fitted in her late 50's, she died recently aged 83. She really did not suffer any issues with her heart after the procedure and it was her other health issues which caused her more problems. If she was sitting in a quiet room we could hear her valve ticking which amused the grandchildren.

DBro had one last year, age 59. He had a bovine one, as his surgeon advised that a mechanical one could be fitted inside it when it wore out. He's been told his bovine valve should last about 15 years. The surgery to install a mechanical valve within the bovine valve is simpler than starting from scratch, and less risky for some who will be in their mid 70s. He paid privately, as the waiting list was longer than his prognosis.

Yes, it's major surgery. They'll manage the pain there for you. Physio and rehabilitation etc.

I was told a week in intensive care, then "we'll see"- is that normal?

My husband has had a bovine valve fitted mid 30’s. He was born with the defect and lives a normally healthy life.

His father and grandfather both had unrelated issues and both prescribed warfarin and both went on to have strokes that were deemed caused by the warfarin. This is the reason my husband avoided the mechanical valve. A tissue can be replaced by the tavi procedure so we’re hoping that’s next then technology is further ahead by the third time. He’s 8 years so far. But

There is a FB page uk based that’s helpful
www.facebook.com/share/g/16ynznQ4XP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

How long are you staying in hospital for ?

I'm having my mitral valve replaced this summer with a mechanical one as I'm relatively young. I'm extremely anxious about the recovery, scarring etc so if anyone has any tips from their experience I'd be grateful. Things like take x or y painkiller, use this style of pyjamas, bras, pillows etc. I don't have a partner and will just have occasional help from my daughter in her late teens.

DH had a mechanical heart valve maybe 15 years ago now. I don't recall there being a choice. He does take warfarin. It's all fine, apart from regular blood tests. The warfarin is a complete ballache if they need any other procedure, mind.

My husband is waiting for an aortic valve replacement, as he is 36 he has been advised to have a mechanical valve because it lasts longer, but is also worried about taking warfarin. We only found out at Christmas that he had a severely leaky valve due to a birth defect and he's been on the waiting list ever since, they say the op will be end of this month...its strangely comforting to see others in the same position. When is your DH due for surgery OP?

My mum had a mechanical valve aged 59. She’s 80 now and doing great!

I know two people who’ve had mechanical valves and both are fine and live totally normally. The mechanical ones do make an audible ticking noise though. People have to be very close to you (and in a quiet room) to be able to hear it though. My friend said it took her a while at nighttime to get used to it but she’s tuned it out now and it doesn’t bother her.