Valve problem

[Csivvy]

hello,

my brother is 55 years old and until last year was in good health.

Early this year he had 2 TIAs and last month a stroke.

He recently found out his tricuspid valve only has 2 flaps.

Could this valve be why he has started developing clots?

Any info or advice appreciated

[Yumz199725]

Ah I'm so sorry to hear what your brother has been through. It could be to do with his tricuspid valve have you asked his doctor or his cardiologist?? x

[Noodlesalad]

You could try the stroke association for advice and help and if they can't help you I hope they can point you in the right direction.

[Barnacle4bill]

I was at a similar age when it was discovered that I had two flaps to my main aorta valve. Over the years the valve had gradually become less flexible and was not opening properly so that the volume of blood leaving the heart was very much reduced but what did come out was under very high pressure. At that time, back in 2011, it was open heart surgery to replace the valve and a length of the aorta. I believe that this is now carried out as keyhole surgery.

I suspect that your brother has similar problems which may require a heart valve replacement. I know it seems scary but from my perspective I had no real health issues prior to the op and have certainly had non since it was carried out.

Best of luck

[Drummer20 in reply to Barnacle4bill]

They still do mostly open heart surgery for valve replacement.I’ve just had my valve replaced and I’m making a very good recovery.They said the open heart surgery was more successful for younger patients.

[Hidden in reply to Barnacle4bill]

I'm having my bicuspid aortic valve replaced next Tues by full open heart surgery

I had a TIA in my eye last July

[Barnacle4bill in reply to Hidden]

Best of luck I am sure it will be fine. My surgeon took all the worry and stress out of me before the op, when he told me not to worry about the procedure as it was just another normal day for him and his team, they did it nearly every day. So what's the point or worrying, it will not affect the outcome in the slightest. You have a professional team to do the worrying for you! His words made me very calm the days before the op!

[Hidden in reply to Barnacle4bill]

Thanks Bill just itching to get on with it now lol

[Ageingfast]

Dear Csivvy

I have been through the same sequence of events that your brother is dealing with.

TIAs are a warning shot that a stroke may well follow. But TIAs do not leave any lasting problem. Hence the name transient ischemic attack. Transient being the key word.

The full stroke will leave a trail of problems. If he can attend a stroke group it will help him a lot.

When I had various scans etc after stroke, that’s when the doctor picked up some stenosis on my heart. And the fact that I only have two flaps (propellers) on my aortic heart valve. This means I have a bicuspid valve and not a tricuspid valve. I lived an active life for 70 years, very active, but that valve eventually needed replacing and I have had that replacement. Stenosis is medic speak for narrowing.

Replacing the valve is a big op but it does totally repair the problem.

Strokes can not be repaired, although our body does do some repair work itself. The repair work is called neuroplasticity.

regret to tell you that the heart repair did not improve the stroke damage although it did take my mind off the stroke stuff.

Being bicuspid is not a problem. You are born bicuspid and should be fine.

I am a leader on the stroke association web site, but I can’t follow the current site ! If you can find your way round the stroke website it will contain masses of info.

Sooty

[Csivvy in reply to Ageingfast]

Thank you fir your reply.

I will pass on the info.