Living with a Mechanical Heart Valve: Click.Tick.Thump. Love It!

Artificial Heart Valve Surgery & Living with Warfarin: UK Info Support Group

Andrew Ellis Male Huddersfield United Kingdom: Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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To have surgery or not? that is the question...
13 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by John French Jan 30.

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Andrew Ellis and Winnie Mauch are now friends Monday

John French replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

The Coaguchek XS machine direct from Roche is £299 (£100 discount on list price) in the UK. Looks like they have extended the discount into 2012. This was pretty much the same machine they used in my clinic (they had the Pro version)…

Jan 30

Danielle Schweikert replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

It was hard! My sister watched my 3 kids for a month so I could recover and when they came home I had friends help watch the kids and take care of me while my husband was at work. I had a great support system! THAT REALLY HELPS!

Jan 29

phil pendleton replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Andrew - with regard to blood testing - these might be frequent once released from hospital as your doctor may try to wean you off medication you received in hospital and on to that to be taken for the future. My doc did this over a…

Jan 29

John French replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Andrew, I am in the UK - I didn't choose the ATS brand valve over the St Jude it was just the one my surgeon prefers to use. I haven't got experience of the other brands so difficult for me to compare noise levels. I can still hear it…

Jan 27

Elaine Howlin replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Hi Andrew I had a mechanical aortic valve replacement and aortic graft due to an aortic dissection in May 2011. I am taking warfarin and have my own finger prick monitor which enables me to adjust my warfarin a little when I fancy that extra glass…

Jan 26

Andrew Ellis replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Again thanks for the advice everyone. I think I have got my head round the thought that in the coming year I may have the op and that this is not going to stop me from doing the things that I do. When the time comes for the op I hope I get…

Jan 26

phil pendleton replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Hi Andrew - I had my aortic valve replaced following a heart attack 18 months ago 9aged 57) and since then things have been great. The operation was a total success and I suffered no pain from the wound, the same as 3 other men on my…

Jan 26

Andrew Ellis and Danielle Schweikert are now friends Jan 24

Danielle Schweikert replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Hi. My name is Danielle and I had my surgery 18mo ago when I was 27. I spent 6 days in the hospital( shorter stay compared to most). My recovery was about 6-8 weeks. Getting used to the ticking is weird but I'm alive! Don't wait till…

Jan 24

John French replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Andrew - it is a daunting thing to be faced with and there are lots of data points you need to take on board to help you make informed decisions. I was screened for 2 years between diagnosis and the operation - when the specialists determined I had…

Jan 17

Andrew Ellis replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Hi eveyone, thanks for your replies:-) Like I said in the original post my next echo and appointment are set for June and July this year so I will see what the consultant has to say. There is a part of me that agrees with you Tracey and that…

Jan 16

John French replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Allan - I presume that you don't have any corresponding aneurysm of the aorta root as well as the leaking valve ? In many cases (including mine where I had no symptoms at all) where the valve and aorta needed replacing - it can be the…

Jan 16

Graeme replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Andrew thats a tough question to ask the members! My immediate answer would be to get it done as soon as you are ready - and the younger you are at the operation - the better. The next question you must answer is what type of valve -…

Jan 16

Tracey Amey replied to Andrew Ellis's discussion 'To have surgery or not? that is the question...'

Hi Andrew ,i have had a new mitral valve but i had 2 heart attacks prior to this ,but my father was in the same situation as yourself ,he had no pain but new that he had leakage of the mitral valve ,this was not causing him any problems but he was…

Jan 15

To have surgery or not? that is the question...

Hello everyone. My name is Andrew, I am 33 and from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. The question I would like some help answering is when is the best time to have valve replacement surgery? I was diagnosed with leaking Aortic Valve at the end of January 2009. My family and I had been to stay with my wifes sister and her Husband over the Christmas Holidays and during our stay with them I felt some pains in my chest. I didn't think much of it, however they continued upon our return home. We were…See More

Discussion posted by Andrew Ellis Jan 11

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At 9:50am on January 11, 2012, Graeme said…: Hi Andrew and welcome to the Mechanical Heart Valve Group. You are very welcome to contact myself or any of us for information or help regarding your situation as we are all here to help you - as wel las one another! Please feel free to post on the forums or even start your own blog. I look forward to seeing you out and about on the site soon!

cheers

Graeme Archer

Founder

MHV Forum