QUOTE(Girlie @ May 12 2004, 11:18 PM)QUOTE(PyrateJim @ May 11 2004, 12:16 AM) QUOTE(Capt'n Mike @ May 11 2004, 01:08 AM) Jim, the surgery she was in on was also a mitral valve replacement. It sounds like an amazing process, but I certainly hope I never have to go through it or witness it!
I'm so glad that there are people who can stomach this stuff, and I'm
so proud of Girlie for doing what she's doing!
Fantastic. Sounds like a great conversation some day - What it looks like (feels like) from both sides. My only regret is that my surgeon would not take any pics of my heart as he placed the new valve in. I am hoping to be in Girlie's shoes one day where I can witness the same operation. I gues a couple years of pre-med classes and a keen interest into how "things" work can go a long ways.
Congratulations to her and way to go. If she ever ends up doing rounds at Henry Ford Hospital, make sure she looks me up. I'm on the Police Department there.
It was amazing. If I had it done/needed to have it done, I would not want to see the procedure. I think it would freak me out. I give you a lot of credit after seeing what happens, I know why you hurt so much!!! Thanks for sharing. I have a couple of questions for you:
Are you on Coumadin?
When will you have to have the valve replaced again? Did they give you an estimate of when you would most likely need to have it again?
As of now I am not rotating a Henry Ford. It could change though.
Hi Girlie,
To answer your questions, yes, I a on coumadin. Life long therapy. As I am sure you know, with the mechanical valve, the blood flow is not as smooth as what God gave us, or a porcein? (pig) valve or a homographic one. Without the coumadin, clotting would begin within 5-7 days with a matter of days after that before the valve is damage by the growth and needs replacement (again) or the patient suffers a stroke or m.i. At 38, I am still a bit young to be a statistic.
The valve is expected to out last me (natural death) but will most likely have to be replaced around the 20-25 year mark providing nothing creeps up till then. By that time, I am hoping they have a tissue valve that will be able to be used that has a similar life span and I can eliminate the coumadin in my "older" age. As of right now, porcein(sp?) valves have a life expectancy of 12-15 years before failing. Other obstacle is tht iti s very difficult to get a good tissue seal when going from a mechanical valve to a tissue one. The mechanical one stretches the valve area/surrounding heart tissue/muscle and you would need a larger valve to compensate, but "supersize it" to much and it is not that hemodynamically efficent.
Enough of cardiology 101 from the patient.
