So I'm having Mitral Valve surgery...

[TempleOfSyrinx]

Hello there,

So I have recently found out that I have (in surgeons own words) "a rather unusual posterior systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve together with mid-LV cavity obliteration causing outflow tract acceleration".

I have been taking beta-blockers but they haven't been very successful, so will be having surgery to replace my mitral valve. I had a consultation with my surgeon a few weeks ago and have my pre-assessment this week. I am pretty nervous, though I have had a few surgeries in the past.

Anyone else had mitral valve replacements, and what's it been like? I understand with the mechanical valve, that you hear a "clicking". Does it affect you at all?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Fredders]

Hi, I had my aortic valve replaced with a mechanical one a couple of years ago. I can hear it clicking when it is quiet, such as at night, but most of the time I don’t notice it. I think it’s one of those things that you get used to and after a while you don’t notice it. My husband still hasn’t heard it!

The surgery itself was uneventful, apart from developing complete heart block which resulted in me getting a pacemaker. I was in hospital for a week and back at work after 12 weeks. There are some very good posts on here that go into detail about their recovery.

My main advice would be to take the painkillers and don’t be afraid to ask for more if you need them, you won’t move about if your in pain and you can reduce your intake as you feel better. Always have a cushion or rolled up towel to hand, you need to hug it to your chest if you cough or sneeze, it’s very painful otherwise. Don’t overdo things once you get home. It can be frustrating being restricted in what you can do and can be very easy to do more than you should, you probably won’t do it twice though!!!

All the best with your op.

Wendy

[TempleOfSyrinx in reply to Fredders]

Hi, thank you for your reply. It's been quite difficult lately after being diagnosed with this heart condition wherein I feel very alone and having no one to talk to that has had heart surgery, someone that can understand and relate to my situation.

I found what you said very helpful, so thank you.

Do you take any blood thinners? And how do you manage with monitoring your INR?

Thanks

Chris

[Fredders in reply to TempleOfSyrinx]

I can relate, although in my case I knew I had a heart murmur at 15 and that at some point I would need an op. Thankfully that didn’t happen until I was 52, but it was still very daunting as I didn’t know anyone who had been through an AVR. I joined the original BHF forum and found everyone so helpful and reassuring, both before and after my op. Sometimes it’s helpful just to share how you are feeling, either on here or by private message, with others who have been through the same thing.

Yes I am on warfarin. I haven’t had any problems with it and have stayed within target since I left hospital and am now in 10 week checks. My anticoagulation clinic supports home testing so I bought a machine, testing strips and lancets. Check with your clinic and your GP surgery, some surgeries will prescribe the testing strips and others won’t - mine is the latter. There are some food and drink restrictions, such as leafy green vegetables, cranberry juice etc which are high in Vitamin K, which is the antidote to warfarin. You can still have them but you need to be eating some every day so that your warfarin level is set to cover it. I’ve found that if I have a small amount occasionally it doesn’t make much difference, eg a tablespoon full of kale. Alcohol should be avoided or reduced to the occasional one too. Altogether I haven’t had any problems and if I think I may have eaten anything that could have affected it I do a test, and can ring the nurse if it’s out of range, although haven’t had to do that so far.

Let me know if I can be of any further help.

Wendy

[ILowe]

I had a mitral valve replaced 26 years ago, and I have heard of these valves lasting over 40 years! Surgery methods have improved since then. I view it as a marvelous operation. I went in to hospital, in a wheelchair, breathless, and came out walking quickly.

Noisy valve? That calms down after a few months. Nowadays, if I cannot hear it, I begin to get worried. The noise is incredibly useful -- I do not need to feel my pulse to take my heart rate.

Warfarin is the easy bit. There is loads of advice on this forum and on the sister forum: Atrial Fibrillation.

[Mickymoo in reply to ILowe]

Hi ILowe. Can I ask what your symptoms were prior to needing a valve replacement? I have been now initially diagnosed with heart failure (at age 42) , and am awaiting my results on 1st November from an echocardiogram I had done yesterday. Currently on furusomide to help with the water retention but can't get into my head the thought I may have heart failure. I keep thinking the doctors are making a mistake. Wishful thinking maybe! X

[ILowe in reply to Mickymoo]

a few seconds ago

My case was unusual I think. For months I was steadily getting weaker and weaker. I left it a bit late before seeing the GP. He immediately said I was a weak man and fixed for a hospital check in a months time, with permission to go on holiday. While on holiday I suddenly had a very very difficult night, breathless. My uncle, rising early, called the night doctor who immediately called an ambulance. Wow, the relief of oxygen. A few days later I was diagnosed with ruptured strings and sent home (no driving). Then things went swiftly and I was admitted as "urgent" to await in hospital for a gap in the operating schedule.

We now think it was a delayed tooth repair that sealed in a pocket of infection that led to endocarditis which broke the strings.

Endocarditis is often missed. Spotted earlier I could have had IV antibiotics for six weeks and avoided the operation.

[Mickymoo in reply to ILowe]

Thanks for replying ILowe. Funny you say that I need 2 teeth removed from back of my mouth which I've put off for over a year. Is there a connection between heart failure and teeth? X

[ILowe in reply to Mickymoo]

"Heart Failure"... not sure of a link with teeth.

"heart problems" ... there are links.

mayoclinic.org/healthy-life...

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I know someone who had one valve replaced and two others replaced in their late sixties. They choose animal because of concern about noise. A few years on and feeling far better there is now the thought of further surgery at 80!

[ILowe in reply to MichaelJH]

I agree. Metal valves that last, less likely to have another operation.

My surgeon also tried to repair the mitral valve first, and he failed. Now I am glad he did, since I think (not sure) repairs are more likely to fail than a metallic valve

[Peterpiper1 in reply to ILowe]

Good afternoon.. I have recently had an echogram after being told I had a heart murmer.. The result was a snapped mitral valve string/chord and enlargement of heart left side.. I am awaiting further tests in November so I'm a bit nervy now.. I'm taking small dose of bisoprolol and perindopril which are making me a tad fatigued.. Just keeping my fingers crossed but its hard not to think about it..

[ILowe]

That is frightening. I had to be ready for death. I saw patients with other heart conditions die. It was hard on my wife and mother. I hope you have someone with you at all times. You probably should stop driving. But you need to keep basic fitness. Slow calm walks on the flat, stopping at the first sign of breathlessness. I hope all goes well and quickly. But I now regard the operation as a marvellous one.

[Jollylolly]

Hi Temple, I've not had a replacement, but I have had a repair 4 years ago now. I was diagnosed with a heart murmur when I went to see the doctor over a persistent cough. Within 3 months I'd had surgery. I also felt isolated and panicky particularly in the middle of the night. Looking back 3 months was no time at all to wait, but at the time it felt like a lifetime. The surgeon also told me to make sure that I'd got my teeth checked. I think he said that a dental infection can easily spread to the heart. Hope all goes well!

[Alexyyy]

Hi sorry to hear ur story.

I recently got to know that I have mitral valve collapse. I feel that pains mostly when I am stressed out in depression. And severe headaches lasting for hours.

And I can feel inflammations most of the time in the left part of my chest.

Sometimes it happens rarely all of a sudden that I couldnt breathe normally, something in the ledt side just pulls up that I cannot be upright with my back i have to bend down either i am sitting or standing. i have to bend and breathe very slowly and have someone rub my back until it becomes normal. it takes 5-10 mins. otherwise i cant breathe normally and if i try to breathe or have my back straight, it hurts very badly.

I want to know what is this situation? and is it because of my miral valve?

I am really confused