[fellowniusmonk]

I have a bicuspid aortic valve (on top of other stuff that was repaired when I was younger), I could hear my heartbeat until I was 28 when I went on a beta-blocker that decreased the sound levels and is supposed to reduce wear on the valve.

I know I'll need my valve replaced at some point, I hope they gave you a good long term postop prognosis, I know the tech keeps getting better every year.

[sricks3]

Yeah, I'm 34, and they gave me an On-X valve which seems to be the most current tech in use on the mechanical valve market. The most urgent need was actually to remodel my ascending aorta (complications caused by the BAV), and their hope was actually to re-implant my own valve after rebuilding the aortic root. However, when they got me opened up and saw the valve, the decision was made that it was too far gone and would have needed replacing soon anyway. I knew going into the surgery that it was about a 50/50 chance.

The ticking sound really isn't that bad. After a couple of days I was able to ignore it. Other people can hear it in quiet environments, but it seems like most people don't notice it. I do occasionally move to turn off my turn signal while driving only to realize I'm hearing my valve, not the car.