Having aorta valve replacement: I’m scared

Posted by renee11 @renee11, Jan 14, 2022

im having ohs soon im scared to death help me

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

@renee11

On my heart caths, echos, and other test my dr revealed that my aorta only had 2 cusps and not three...i also have a heart murmur that was not revealed until a year ago .........i am wondering do you still have a murmur after aorta replacement

Jump to this post

I had my aortic valve replaced when I was 9. It made my murmur pretty much disappear for several years. Now my valves are leaking again (I'm 33 three, though, so we're doing well, really), and I have a very bad murmur. Haha. But they are going to replace the valves again. The murmur is the sound of the leaking blood so it will be more noticeable the more it leaks. Usually after surgery leaking is minimal and you won't have so much of a murmur unless/until the valve starts leaking again.

REPLY

Teresa,
Good luck with your appointment.
Ray

REPLY
@raydiesposti

Hi Teresa,

The company that manufactures it is Edwards Lifesciences. You can do a search on their website. It is an artificial valve composed of a cobalt-chromium frame and bovine tissue.

I hope your valve continues to function well for many more years. I think the Sapien 3 is designed to last 15 years. I think it is approved to replace a previously implanted artificial valve, but maybe you can ask your cardiologist about this. But it is also a new valve with recent approval by the FDA so does not have any long-term data.

Ray

Jump to this post

@raydiesposti
I do appreciate this information, Ray. I have an appointment with the cardiologist in September and this might be a good topic of conversation then.

REPLY

Hi Teresa,

The company that manufactures it is Edwards Lifesciences. You can do a search on their website. It is an artificial valve composed of a cobalt-chromium frame and bovine tissue.

I hope your valve continues to function well for many more years. I think the Sapien 3 is designed to last 15 years. I think it is approved to replace a previously implanted artificial valve, but maybe you can ask your cardiologist about this. But it is also a new valve with recent approval by the FDA so does not have any long-term data.

Ray

REPLY
@raydiesposti

Teresa,

Thank you, but I am not sure how my body will tolerate 9000 ft altitude after living at sea level for 4 years. I would be happy just to hike 1 mile slowly.

My cardiologist used a 26 mm Sapien 3 ultra resilia valve. This is a new valve. One of the reasons, was because of my age, this valve was designed to allow a future valve to be dropped inside of it.

Ray

Jump to this post

That is interesting, Ray. I had not heard of this type of valve before. So, this is a synthetic valve?

REPLY
@hopeful33250

@raydiesposti

Congratulations on that great and encouraging report. I hope you continue to post and let everyone know how your hike in the Sierra Mountains goes.

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures with a new valve! As I have a rather worn-out valve, I can certainly appreciate the new lifestyle you now have.

Jump to this post

Teresa,

Thank you, but I am not sure how my body will tolerate 9000 ft altitude after living at sea level for 4 years. I would be happy just to hike 1 mile slowly.

My cardiologist used a 26 mm Sapien 3 ultra resilia valve. This is a new valve. One of the reasons, was because of my age, this valve was designed to allow a future valve to be dropped inside of it.

Ray

REPLY
@raydiesposti

Just had the one-month follow-up with my cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai. She indicated that everything was fine and that I could resume normal activities. I am planning to return to the gym and do a short hike in the Sierra mountains at the end of June.

Jump to this post

@raydiesposti

Congratulations on that great and encouraging report. I hope you continue to post and let everyone know how your hike in the Sierra Mountains goes.

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures with a new valve! As I have a rather worn-out valve, I can certainly appreciate the new lifestyle you now have.

REPLY
@raydiesposti

I had TAVR done at Cedars-Sinai on May 10. It went very well, released the next day. Took about 2 weeks for the incision to feel better. Started having increased energy right away. So far everything is going well and have a follow-up appointment with my IM Cardiologist on June 12.

Jump to this post

Just had the one-month follow-up with my cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai. She indicated that everything was fine and that I could resume normal activities. I am planning to return to the gym and do a short hike in the Sierra mountains at the end of June.

REPLY
@raydiesposti

Teresa,
I am taking 10 mg Lisinopril, which I believe is an ACE inhibitor.
Ray

Jump to this post

@raydiesposti
Yes, it is an ACE inhibitor. I also take an ACE inhibitor, Enalapril (Vasotec) 5 mg 2 X a day.

REPLY

Teresa,
I am taking 10 mg Lisinopril, which I believe is an ACE inhibitor.
Ray

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.