r/valvereplacement

(M33) I realize having a choice is lucky but it’s also really difficult. I can basically pick between the Ross procedure and a traditional mechanical valve via robotic assisted methods to avoid a full sternotomy.

Feels like I’m missing something, Ross seems to give you the best outcomes with the understanding that in the future there’s probably another surgery down the line. I feel like the blood thinner for life is fine and reading from a few here that it’s not a big deal to their daily life so it’s not a major concern or decision point, although not having that or the maintenance of checking my levels is more appealing. I also saw some of you say you still ended up on blood thinners even with Ross so not really guaranteed benefit.

I’m curious if any of you would like to share what motivated you to pick one over the other. Was it the less restrictions post-Ross? One and “typically” done with mechanical? Less complexity of mechanical because you’re not messing with a perfectly working valve?

Going into a bit of analysis paralysis on the options and think hearing some anecdotes from those that have picked might help me.

So, three weeks ago, I received a bovine aortic valve. Turned out I had a pretty serious allergy to nickel, so a mechanical valve was too dangerous to try.

They ended up having to crack
my sternum and go in that way. When I awoke the next day, the pain was minimal. It’s been minimal throughout this entire time. I’d been in heart failure for a couple years previously, and simply the ability to breathe again, and not get dizzy far outweighed anything else.

I was in the icu for a week, and immediately (within a couple days anyway), was walking relatively easy, and by day three, was able to walk multiple laps around the icu with zero assistance.

I was in a room for three days. My kidneys had to be functioning correctly for them to let me go, and I had to be approved for a life vest.

Once home, getting to know my limitations has been challenging. I live alone, and own 44 acres, have pets, etc. I’ve had a couple setbacks, but overall, I’m doing great.

I go back for my 1 month checkup next week, and I’m hoping I can ditch the life vest, as it’s annoying as heck. I’m also hoping some of the restrictions they’ve put me on can be lessened. I want to pouch myself, but not to the point where I set myself back.

Anyway, just a little update. Hang in there guys, it can be good again.

Jason- 52 male.

Does anyone knows anything any new valves can come in future wherr we dont need to take blood thinners as well durabilty like 30-40 years so you g persons can live their fullish life.??
Does anyone cardiologist mention?????

i’ve been having health issues for months and nobody had been able to figure out what was going on. finally, doc ordered an echo which came back with severe aortic insufficiency. got sent to the ER and admitted and now i’m gonna have valve replacement in a couple days. they still don’t know if it’s echocarditis but saying i have signs of it. i turn 25 in 12 hours man. obviously im sad about being in the hospital on my birthday but also scared. i really didn’t see any of this coming. i’m hoping to hear from any other young adults who have been through this. how did you cope? what made you smile? what was recovery like?

EDIT: thank you all SO much. i did not expect to hear from so many people. i’ve managed to calm down a little over the course of the day. yalls words of encouragement have been a huge help and im so glad i posted this. ❤️❤️

One of my goals is to climb a mountain in my lifetime. But I was diagnosed with mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation back in 2023 and haven't seen a cardiologist since. My doctor told me back then that my condition was normal, nothing to worry about, and that most people have it too. Lately, though, even just cleaning the bathroom or lifting something heavy leaves me super out of breath.

Just wondering if anyone here has tried hiking or any outdoor activities with mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation or another heart condition? How was your experience? Is it manageable, or is it a bad idea altogether?

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

Hi I had a mitral valve repair, aortic valve replacement and a tricuspid repair. 3 months later I start getting pains at the bottom of the sternum and discovers a little lump. Went to the surgeon who sent me for a CT scan which ended up showing 2 loose wires rubbing the area. Anyone else have this issue? They plan to go in with a small incision and pull them so he said.

51M, and just had my third OHS on Sept. 28th. Congenital BAV, had a surgical repair at age 3, then the Ross Procedure in 2006. After monitoring a 5.4cm aneurysm of my aorta and gradual decline of my RV-PA conduit homograft, I underwent the Yakoub Procedure about 2 weeks ago and have been recovering at home since last Sunday.

Pain is well managed, things are healing well, and I am moving more and more each day. The only nagging side effect has been some visual floaters/spots that are really frustrating me.

They began in the ICU immediately after surgery. The best way I can describe them, as a lifelong migraine sufferer, is like the visual aura I get preceding a headache, only less severe. Small blurry spots interfering with the very center of my vision, and they move where I look. I can watch TV at a distance but reading or looking at my phone is difficult and frustrating.

I raised this with the nurses and doctors in hospital but the consensus was “it should pass” with no real explanation.

I’m assuming this is likely one of those random side effects of bypass, and that’s how the medical staff seem to be treating it, but I’ve booked an optometrist appointment for an evaluation anyway. It’s a very frustrating side effect as I had hoped to be able to catch up on some reading and some other projects that will require functional vision while I am recovering.

Looking for anyone who may have experienced this as well and any suggestions or experience on how I might help it go away, or how long I might expect it to last. Or if I should escalate this with my family doctor when I see her for follow up on Tuesday. I don’t want to overreact as all of the surgical/cardiac staff seemed unphased by what I was describing but honestly were I to be cleared for driving in a few weeks, and this issue persisted, I would not feel safe behind the wheel.

Thanks.

59(m) with severe aortic stenosis.

Saw my cardiologist on August 13, and was told I needed to have the aortic valve replaced. Did some research and saw that NYU Langone in NYC has a good team for this.  September 10 went in for some imaging and saw the team. Seemed solid so I decided to move forward. Confirmed for a Ross procedure on October 14. A week before the surgery, they changed the date to October 12, okay, I adjusted. All set for Monday, October 12.

On Friday, October 9, received calls from the hospital confirming all details, arrival time, discontinuing meds, etc.; all set.  At 7:30 pm on Friday night, I get a voice message from an NP in the surgeon's office saying that the doc had a family emergency, the surgery was canceled, and that they would reach out to me on Monday to reschedule. 

This has been an emotional roller-coaster and not sure what I should do.  Should I be looking for another hospital at which to get this done?   

Do all mechanical valve(ONX) have mild leak i saw it right after my surgery which was 5 year back and then it was not there for mid years in recent echo agin i saw it state mild leak.

So in April 2025 I had some dental work done, however a few weeks later I had tooth pain and I was prescribed amoxicilion and the pain went away. So from May thru September my appetite was almost zero, I lost 40 lbs. I also had trouble sleeping, lack of energy, sweating during sleep, restless leg syndrome, at one point walking outside with sunlight would practically blind me as everything was bleached out. Eventually I could hardly walk. So the day before my 40th birthday, my mother took me to the ER after 6 previous visits a month earlier, most of which dismissed my concerns. So I Eventually get taken seriously and sent to ICU. The next day I am told I have to be life flighted to a different hospital 115 miles away. I am than told after more testing that my heart valves have vegetation and will need to get replaced. I went with the mechanical valves, so I never have to do this again. However a couple days before the surgery I mentioned the dental stuff and they had to pull all but 3 of my upper teeth to be safe. Afterwords I spend a week after surgery in the hospital till I go home. Once home I needed help walking to and from my bed and chair. My sternum was painful for at least 2 months, I had to use the pillow getting up and down. I did physical therapy and by December I was back at work detailing cars. Now a year later I feel like my old self,I had to get upper dentures, I can lift heavy stuff once again, no pain at all. I do have to get my warfarin checked a couple times a month. I hope this helps all of you!!!

I got a mechanical aortic valve and replacement tissue tricuspid valve on Tuesday and I’m feeling pretty good. Mostly positive got all my chest tubes out and my wound vac off today, my rhythms are still a little finicky but haven’t to use the temporary pacemaker for a bit, there was whispers they wanted to do a permanent pacemaker but sounds like they gonna steer clear of that *fingers crossed*

Most of my worries weren’t big deals, the clicking in the valve I can barely hear unless it’s super quiet, and I usually have a show on or music. The chest tubes hurt way less coming out then my first open heart ten years ago, I’m guessing it’s cause they weren’t in for that long but the PAs that pulled them out were pros and made it very easy!

Hoping to get the pacer wires out tomorrow and go home Tuesday send good vibes☺️

3 months post op and doing great! However, I'm starting to get what I call ingrown hairs in my incision. Is this common and is there a prevention?