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[mewg]

hi every1 its been a while since my kast post my recovery is going well but i just cant get 2 grips with the ticking of my st judes valve also im still very snappy at peopke and dont like being around alot of people its changed me the way i look at life and from being a doorman 4 20 years ive just lost my bottle now and dont like confrontation with any1 even the misis when i used 2be a good talker now i just go all quiet.warfrin is getting me down bruises everywhere when just pkaying with my kids.

[Boblell]

Hang in there my friend. Not sure what sort of mechanical valve I've got but at times the ticking drives me bonkers as well, mainly in the morning if you wake up early and its almost impossible to get back to sleep with that thumping in my ears!! I had mine in March 2017 and I am told it gets better over time. On the bright side, I remember someone on here saying that have had their mechanical valve for 45 years and it's still going strong and they hardly hear it, how reassuring in that!! Warfarin is a pain with the bruises, I guess that's not likely to get better any time soon, but at least I am alive.

[mewg in reply to Boblell]

cheers boblell at 1st i could handle it was soothing 2 know its working ok but its really getting me down now but good 2 hear that the last so long as im only 41 i just have 2 find a way 2 ignore it the constant movement in the neck dosent help aswell.thanks 4 ur reply take care

[Fredders]

Sorry to hear you’re having such a bad time with the valve. I’ve also got a St Jude’s valve but guess I’m lucky in that I only really hear it at night and even then it’s fairly quiet. I find it quite soothing too. I have always bruised easily so am used to finding bruises in places I didn’t know I’d banged, but can understand how frustrating it can be. Are your INR levels stable?

I had erratic mood swings for a good year after my op, sometimes I could be quite sociable and next thing I didn’t want to see or talk to anyone. Thankfully that’s improved a lot now (18 months since op) although I do still have the occasional bad day.

I hope things get better for you.

Wendy

[mewg in reply to Fredders]

hi wendy inr is pritty good but now and again goes off on 1 but haveing 2 small kids makes getting knocked about alot.the moods are awfull like u said but good 2 hear theres light at the end of the tunnel.wot i find hard is people and family members say ur fixed now but they dont understand wot we have been threw and it takes years 2 get used 2 wot has happened and the thought u could just stop ticking scares me 2 death as my kids need their rock around.

[Gundoglady]

I have a St Jude valve, and my daughter used to complain that she could hear me ticking from the other side of the room!

Yes they do tick, yes it does seem fairly loud, but, you do get used to it, I've had mine 7 years now and don't really notice it, I think it's like lots of things if you focus on it, it will become an issue X

I lead a relatively active lifestyle, take warfarin and even though my levels are pretty well maintained I still have bruises all over my legs, generally only my legs, because I tend to think I can fit through gaps, when I can't!! My dogs jump up at me, bash my legs, that's another bruise, I don't tend to worry, life is for living 🙂 And the odd bruise or 5 is proof that I'm living and enjoying my life X

As for confrontation, I've never liked it, had an abusive father, so avoid confrontation at all costs, but, I have learned to talk about things. I used to write everything down, as that was the only way I could make any sense of how I was feeling. Or I would have a whole conversation with my dogs, I think that if you can say out loud or write down how you feel, you are one step closer to understanding why you feel like you do X

You also have to remember the drugs you had in hospital also have an impact on our bodies for quite a long time, being on the bypass machine etc can mess with everything, I found I couldn't concentrate at all, couldn't keep my mind focussed on anything, it took me nearly 3 years before I could read a book!

All I can say is keep on moving forward, one day at a time and best wishes on your recovery X

[mewg in reply to Gundoglady]

thanks for your reply very good advice and the bruises tend 3 be on my legs aswell im of and on with my fitness as scared on how much 2do.the concerntration thing i totally get the simple things which i could do b4 with my eyes shut take me hours now then i get sucked off and leave it.i know this aint nice but how long did ur bowels take 2 get solid again as mine are always loose since surgery