Ask HN: Anyone who have an artificial heart valve?

[cordis]

I'm a 35 year old male born with a bicuspid aortic valve, and even though I have known my entire life that it would have to be replaced one day, it's still a very stressful and anxiety provoking situation when the time finally comes.

Besides the aortic valve, my ascending aorta is also going to be replaced because of an aneurysm. As I'm only 35 years old, the valve will be mechanical and I'm having open heart surgery. While the doctors are extremely knowing, only heart valve patients can tell how it's to live daily life with an artificial valve.

My main question is "how does the heart valve affect your daily life?", but I'll be happy to hear anything about the subject you want to tell.

Something I'm very concerned about is the valve ticking, as I'm very sensetive to noise. Is this a problem for you?

What about taking anticoagulants? Is this dreadful and do you have to plan everything you eat?

Have you ever had any complications?

If you did any research prior to your operation, did you find out what type or brand of mechanical hear valve is the better one?

Are you allowed to lift weights?

What is the most important advice you would give to anyone that's going to have heart valve surgery?

Also, I have never been under general anesthesia and I don't know how to handle the moment I'm being put to sleep, as I know this procedure is very complicated, and all the things that could go wrong both under and after surgery makes my head spin.

[GianFabien]

Your concerns are valid. Statistically you are in greater danger every time you cross a busy city street. People do run red lights, lose control, etc.

Talking about heart ops. I have a friend who had a complete heart transplant around your age. After 28 years, that heart started stiffening up, etc so he's had a second heart transplant and doing Ok. With COVID there were some concerns about his immune system, etc. But all under control and he is going well.

Another friend has had two heart valve "repairs" (I'm not sure exactly that entailed). He is back to running, playing squash, taking the dog for long walks.

The best option is to ask to talk to some of your surgeon's former patients. From what I have observed, there are such groups based around hospitals. I think their experiences are more likely to be relevant to your questions.

As for any ticking noise. I would be far more concerned if it should stop.

[cordis]

Thank you for putting the situation into perspective. I'm told by the surgeons that the probability of a successful 30-day outcome in my specific case is 98%, so the car ride to and from the hospital is more dangerous statistically.

[guiambros]

I don't have anything to share, other than wishing you smooth and painless procedure, and hoping you can resume a normal life pretty soon.

I have a relative who had a long and complex open heart surgery in her early teens (for something unrelated, no need for an artificial valve). Thankfully the procedure was very successful, and she was able to recover in a matter of weeks. And this was almost 20 years ago, when technology was a lot less advanced.

[cordis]

Thank your very much for the well wishes!

[aszantu]

Anestesia is nice. They ask you to count backwards from 100 or so. I never got past 95. The solution gets in over your hand and you can feel where its going because the hand and then the arm gets cool, it's a nice feeling.

Apart from that, I'm sorry, I don't have anything heart related to share as well. Hope you'll do well when it's over.

[cordis]

Calming to hear that going under anesthesia have been a positive experience for you, then it maybe will for me too. Also, thank you very much for the well wishes!

[dhunter_mn]

I can't give you direct knowledge, but my brother had two artificial heart valves. He needed them due to a virus he contracted while in the army, either in Korea or Viet Nam in the mid-60s. He became ill suddenly in his 20s, had the first valve replaced when he was 27 or 28. The second one was replaced when he was in his 40s. All done by the VA.

His first valve ticked noticeably, but I could not hear it. There were multiple occasions when I was out and about with him, and somebody would comment on the watch-ticking noise. Didn't seem to bother him.

He was on blood thinners and anticoagulants. This made wounds extra concerning, but it didn't seem to affect his quality of life too much.

He passed away in 2021 at the age of 74, due to a series of strokes, quite possibly brought about by the COVID vaccine.

[cordis]

I'm sorry to hear about your brothers passing. That he lived so many years with a mechanical heart valve is very comforting and these were done when the technology was in it's infancy. The first valve he had was probably a caged ball valve, and they are indeed known for being very noisy, mine should be much quieter thankfully.