Going to Mayo -- 4/9/07

[anarad]

I'm scheduled to see Dr Nishimura at Mayo next Monday. They've scheduled all the "normal" stuff (i.e. bloodwork, chest xray, ekg, echo)...Perhaps they'll find out why I have such severe tricuspid regurge. One thought is that a pacer wire either perferated a leaflet, or is causing some obstruction.....Here's to hoping I don't need a valve job....

[Mary O'Shannon]

May your workup at Mayo bring you the best possible news. Blessings... Mary

[Linda]

Best wishes with your upcoming visit. Linda

[angall]

Know that you will have a very intense evaluation. The staff there is effecient and knows you as a person, not a number. Let us know the outcome.

God Bless

[anarad]

Well I went to Mayo on 4/9, had the tests done and had to come back on Tues for a heart catheterization(I live in St Paul, so it's only an hour drive). Anyway, the test showed that I definately need a tricuspid valve replaced. They wanted me to do it ASAP(within a couple weeks), but I was able to delay it until June. My biggest concern now is regarding the life span of a new valve. I'd hate to have it last only 10 years and have to do it all over again when I'm in my sixty's......Lots of research to do.....

Kent

[Cynaburst]

Kent - while doing your research check out this site:

www.valvereplacement.com

There is alot of info. there and a good message board. I visited it before and after my myectomy alot and still stop by from time to time.

[steffaroni]

Hi I am new here but wanted to chime in about tricuspid valve replacements. My husband is going on his 3rd. Jeff had his first tricuspid valve replacement in 1995. Then in 2000 he started having signs again of heart failure. His edema was just horrendous. He had his second valve replacement with the same kind of piggy valve in dec 2000. They were going to do an experimental in the states but done frequently in Japan bovine valve replacement. But be4 they could deliver it my husband was in such huge heart failure they decided to just do surgery 7 days from then. You will have to give yourself lovenox shots 2 weeks prior to your surgery. Its a blood thinner. Now see the reason most peoples valves last longer much much much longer than my husbands is because he has so many other numerous health issue with his lungs, liver. Now 6 months after his surgery in 2000 Jeff started getting very very edemic and we took him to see cardiomyopathy doc. His heart was perfect so they started to rule out other things. Thats when we found out my husband had hep c. Then he was sent to hepatologist who ordered a liver biopsy . When we went went back to find out the results the doc sat us down and said his liver was shot and to go for evaluation for liver transplant. Uggg whatta shock that was. So his liver was putting extra pressure on his heart and probably had been for years . A lot of liver problems can be mistaken for heart problems cause a lot of symptoms are the same.So his liver really put a number on his heart. His heart is going again and this time since he is on coumadin already for the past year due to new diagnosis of a- fib they r considering putting in a metal valve. This means you have to take coumadin the rest of your life and is a huge commitment as you must be extremely diligent. But his liver surgeons said they can do a liver transplant on someone on coumadin. Good thing too as his last valve replacement he had so much scar tissue stuck to his heart we know he cannot tolerate 2 more surgeries. 1 will be scary enough.

Now my husbands story is much different than yours as after his first valve job lol the liver diagnosis was made he had 6 pulmonary embolisms obliterated spleen removal , strangulated hernia repair. So he had many other issues that made his heart have to work that much harder.

Word of advice

do not let them release you from the hospital too soon. If you don't feel ready then don't go home. They sent my husband home after 5 days for me to bring him back 2 days later whereby he then had to spend 3 long weeks there. Insurance issues bug me out.Instead of keeping him there 4-5 more days to recouperate better at the hospital they sent him home and then the insurance had to pay for the long 3 weeks he spent afterwards.

My husband takes lasix, aldactone,coumadin , metolazone, coumadin, metopropanol??sp??? His diuretic dose is huge as his liver also makes him very very edemic in his belly(ascites) which puts further pressure on his heart.He's on 240 lasix a day, 200 aldactone, , potassium, metolazone, when needed. I have personally met 3 other patients who have had this procedure and never had to get it replaced. Take good care of your body take your meds and the odds of having another one are really pretty slim. My buds have had their replacements now for one 18 years and the other for 17 years. The surgeons and docs have to tell you these things and glad they did as Jeff my husband is that rare exception to the rule. His seem to last 5 years. AND the same doc who did his did one of my pals who's had theirs for 18 years. GOOD LUCK...(((HUGS))) steff

[anarad]

Stef,
Thanks for all the info. Your husband has been thru quite an ordeal. Best of luck to him!! You referred to taking some shots to thin out the blood. Wouldn't coumadin do the same thing? Also, it's been my experience in the past that they usually want you to stop taking coumadin a few days before any procedure. At least that's what they've done when I've been cardioverted and had cath's done...

Thanks Again
Kent

[Reenie]

It depends on what all they have to do to you. Lovenox is a shorter acting blood thinner and is usually used in the interim period when someone needs surgery or other procedure that can cause bleeding.

Reenie

[anarad]

If Lovenox, do I answer the door??? LOL......

[Pam Alexson]

That was a funny.... You do know of course I, missed it; what you said at first because of my clinical thinking . Lovenox is pronounced. lov en ox. Thanks for the laugh!

Pam

[steffaroni]

hee hee hee.... :p

[Mary O'Shannon]

Anarad.... made me laugh! Mary

[Reenie]

I'm glad we can find things to laugh at here! :)

Reenie