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RBC Levels and Mechanical Heart Valve

Posted by twachter @twachter, Jul 21 1:28pm

Hi. Back in Oct. 2024 I had a SAVR with. mechanical valve. I understand that the healing process can take awhile and I was actually doing very well until about 6 weeks ago. I started feeling very fatigued and have other symptoms as well.

My PCP ordered blood work and my Reticulocyte count came back high at 130900, my Haptoglobin was low at < 10, my Hemoglobin has gone from 13 to 11.9 and my Lactate Dehydrogenase is 237.

Because I have a mechanical Valve, my PCP talked to a cardiologist who thought it may be due to my valve and that I am anemic. So she’s got me on iron and B12 supplements.

Hearing that, I contacted my cardiologist to see if maybe he should be monitoring me instead of my PCP. He doesn’t feel like it’s valve or heart related and suggests I stay under the PCP for now.

I’m not quite sure what to do. When I plug in the numbers for my levels, I come up with possible hemolytic anemia. If that’s the case, are B12 and iron supplements going to fix it? Should I see a hematologist or wait a couple of months to see what the B12 and iron do?

I would appreciate any advice or insight.

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partyon | @partyon | 3 days ago
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hi @twatcher, getting used to the noise of the mechanical valve is a common adjustment for..." + (show)
Profile picture for Justin McClanahan, Moderator @JustinMcClanahan

Hi @twatcher, getting used to the noise of the mechanical valve is a common adjustment for many members on Connect.

@purpleturtle, @partyon and @martinkennot all shared the same experiences with a valve they could hear after surgery in the following discussion:

"Mechanical heart valve noise: Do you and others hear it?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mechanical-valve-1

@twatcher, did your surgeon say the thumping sound and feeling would go away over time or is it a 'new normal' you need to adjust to? Have you had a chance to discuss the heat intolerance change as well?

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Two years post opp the noise is still an issue for myself consent clicking and feeling ever PVC with caffeine and any stress anti depression medication and medication for anxiety helps for myself. INR management can be difficult if you work full time and local clinic schedule does not allow for appointments outside

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twachter | @twachter | 3 days ago
In reply to @partyon "Two years post opp the noise is still an issue for myself consent clicking and feeling..." + (show)
Profile picture for partyon @partyon

Two years post opp the noise is still an issue for myself consent clicking and feeling ever PVC with caffeine and any stress anti depression medication and medication for anxiety helps for myself. INR management can be difficult if you work full time and local clinic schedule does not allow for appointments outside

Jump to this post

@partyon Thank you for the reply. It will be a year this month that I had my valve replaced. I am just now just starting to feel somewhat normal again and back to most of my routines. The clicking of the valve has not gotten any better but I’m really trying to deal with it. It can be exhausting at times.

One new development that I experienced a couple of months ago was that I became very anemic. From what I was told, this can be part of having a mechanical valve because the valve does not process the red blood cells the way a tissue valve does. My father got a mechanical bath back in 2016 and has been anemic several times over the years. Just another new “norm” to be aware of.

As for monitoring my INR, after about 4 months I ended up getting an at home INR testing machine, which was covered by my insurance. It’s been a godsend because it is a hassle to have to go to a clinic to get INR testing done…

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