I am a 53 year old lady with severe aortic valve regurgitation. I had decided to have the resilia tissue valve as I did not want to be on long term medication/blood thinners and I bruise very easily and am rather accident prone. When I saw the surgeon he said I would need to take aspirin for 6-12 months. This I thought I could cope with.
However, I was today admitted, but then sent home from hospital, as I've started with a cold, so they will not operate until I am better.
In the course of doing the consent forms the member of the cardiac team has told me that if I choose the resilia tissue valve I will be on aspirin for life as well as Lansoprazole!! Plus other meds after the operation that will hopefully be only in the short term.
This seems to go against everything I've read and already been told. Please can anyone advise if they have to take additional meds with their tissue valve? or would I be better to go with a mechanical valve.
It's been an extremely emotional/tearful day.
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DancingSalsaIsFun
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Thanks Sooty. Yes it was a shame, but at least it gives me time to assimilate this new information, as I don't do well when what I have been previously told changes.
May I ask you some questions?
When did you have your op and what make/type of valve were you given?
May I ask what you have to take - if you are willing to share? Not a problem if you'd rather not.
Sorry to hear that you've got yourself all set for surgery and then been sent home.
I have a mechanical valve and I'm on Warfarin, Aspirin and Lansoprazole. I do bruise more now, but apart from that I have no problems.
If you aren't a member of UK Aortic and Heart Defects Pre and Post surgery Facebook group then definitely worth joining. Everyone is on the same journey or has been on it.
I second the recommendation for the f/b group - invaluable support & advice.
Hi, In my experience it's not a one cap fits all situation with medication. Using myself as an example, although whether or not I'm typical is subjective.
First point to consider is heart health along with general health which as I've found out has a bearing on the meds I take.
Anyway, my first Aortic Replacement valve was Tissue, in the nineteen years I had it, other than the initial short term post-op drugs I was only on Aspirin, albeit daily. Lanzoprazole or similar was not once required.
I currently have Mechanical Aortic and Mitral valves since 2013. As they're mech, I'm on Warfarin for life. Similarly as with tissue, other than short term post-op drugs, it was a further six years before I was placed on any other heart meds. In my case it was due to Heart Failure and Hypertension. Fair enough I've been on Lanzoprazole since last summer, but, thats down in part to the meds I now find myself on.
Everyone's different, and its not until you've come through recovery at the other end that it'll become clear what you'll have to take irrespective of the valve type.
I'm sorry you have had to endure so many operations. It's very reassuring to hear someone else's story. Unfortunately, I tend to be a bit pessimistic with health concerns, so was pleased to read your first tissue valve lasted 19 years - that seems a good length of time and only having to take aspirin (albeit daily).
It's all so confusing/distressing. I've sent an email to my surgeons secretary to ask for clarification after he originally told me aspirin for 6-12 months only and no mention of Lansoprazole, in the hope that the team member I saw today was wrong. If they can hold off putting me on this I would feel happier, but as you say, I suppose it depends on both my health and the state of my heart.
I have everything crossed that they have not left me too long, and that this delay does not have any implications for me.
I've had to take aspirin since a heart attack and will have to stay on it for life. It absolutely crucifies my stomach so I've been given a coated aspirin which works in the intestine rather than in the stomach. I can't tolerate PPIs so instead I take famotidine which works well and , I'm told, doesn't have the long term side effects of PPIs.
I used to take Ranitidine but it was taken off the market. Famotidine is the only one of that type now available. I've forgotten just how it works differently to PPIs.
Aww I'm so sorry to hear 💔😥. Hope your cold gets better soon and you don't have to wait too long for operation. I probably would make same decision as you I'm seriously accident prone! So I would be terrified to be on blood thinners x
Thanks very much. Me too, although I think its sinusitis. All bloods and swabs that they took yesterday have all come back normal. I'm currently waiting to hear back from my doctor as to what to do.
I had the Resilia valve in Oct 2022 & was on various meds subject to review after 3 months. At that point, as there was no arrhythmia, I was told I could stop all meds & that remains the case. My cardiologist initially said that I should go onto (precautionary) aspirin, but I checked with my consultant surgeon who said that the evidence base for continuing with an anti platelets med is very thin, so he was happy for me to stop. I even contacted Edwards who confirmed that it’s normally not necessary to continue with anti platelets unless there are other specific medical factors.
My cardiologist was happy to follow this & agreed about the lack of evidence, but commented that the UK cardiology (precautionary) practice is normally to continue with Aspirin. I even asked a question re this on this forum, which seemed to confirm that a majority of patients (but not all) had been advised to continue with aspirin.
However, I’m happy to follow the specific advice I’ve had in my case, as taking aspirin in itself does pose some other risks
I can understand why you are anxious and surprised they haven't persuaded you to opt for a mechanical valve as it will last many years longer than a tissue. I am in the 21st year with a mechanical mitral valve and the only medication I have cardiac wise is warfarin and simvastatin 40mg. Warfarin use is NOT a problem and I can't understand the reluctance of people to it's use. Once you are stable INR wise it's relatively simple to control, apart from the occasional blip due to illnesses mainly. The only other difference is the need for an oral antibiotic prior to my annual dentist check up. Don't let the fear of warfarin sway you. Best of luck.
Thank you for your reply. They have left the decision to me, which I am finding very hard trying to balance what is for the best. Where is my crystal ball and medical qualification that enables me to understand all the implications of my decision
I think I need to call the BHF cardiac nurses again to re discuss
Since my surgery I have been very pro-active healthwise and insist on knowing as much as possible regarding my conditions. I have my own INR machine and basically control it by experience. Medical staff can appear a little blase due to the fact that they see scores of people with our problems every week but to us our problem is unique. Don't be upset if, after the surgery you are "emotional" as this is a normal reaction and can last periodically for a long time!
What is a huge event for you is just a day's work for the medical staff. If you need any answers post op you only need to come on here and I, or someone else will try and help but, the decision to choose a valve is yours alone. Whatever you choose it will still enhance your life! Good luck.
Hi DSF,Sorry to hear about your cancellation. From personal experience I know how stressful that is having geared yourself up and then being left in a vacuum. My tissue valve was 4 years ago. As I have other heart issues I was already on various medications, but in my experience aspirin for 6 months/a year is normal. I bought the enteric ones as my stomach didn't like the soluble tablets prescribed, later returning to clopidogrel, which does the same thing as Aspirin. Lansoprazole is usually to protect the stomach lining and I don't think everyone is prescribed that. I was already on it, have been for over 20 years with no problems. It does take a while to get use to the idea of taking daily medication, I use imagine that if I was shaken I'd rattle :), but you soon adjust to the routine and it is much preferable to having a post op blood clot. Good luck with your op whatever you decide to do.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will certainly investigate the possibility of the enteric ones, as maybe then I won't need Lansoprazole as well.
As you say, no doubt I would get used to taking it and I definitely don't want a blood clot.
When I had my heart attack a registrar told me I would now be on heart meds for life. In fact, my cardiologist said it was more wait and see. I came off aspirin after a month and had my apixaban dose halved at Christmas, and hope to be off Clopedogrel in March (at which point, what am I taking the Lansoprazole for...??).
Getting the huge bag of meds when being discharged was awful and I cried a lot. It felt very overwhelming. But it became my Normal quickly, I adjusted to them all OK after a couple of weeks, and my bloods show my body is tolerating them well. And just aspirin and Lansoprozole sounds fairly innocuous - you'll be fine on those
See you on the group! I didn't have a valve replacement but I'm still fairly active on there, 7 months after my OHS
It sounds as though it is progressing well for you and that you will soon be off all the meds.
I think it all just got too much for me yesterday. I just need to focus on being well and more positive, so that I can recover well and lead a happy life.
No worries. It's a heck of a lot to get your head around but it will become more normal. It's OK to have days where you feel overwhelmed, sad, angry or down. But not every day will be like that, and there are so many good days ahead where you'll barely think of your heart.
Hello DancingSalsalsFun,I received an Inspiris Resilia valve in 2022 at 70 yo. I take 1 baby aspirin per day plus 40 mg Atorvastatin. No Lansoprazole or class equivalent. For general GI health, I also take 1 Culturelle probiotic capsule per day.
I think the baby aspirin provides a cheap assurance against blood clots with minimal side effects (for me). The Lansoprazole they suggested to you is probably to offset the anticipated side effects of the aspirin. That may not be necessary and if your objective is to minimize prescriptions, then you may want to ask about that and perhaps experiment with and without using it.
Hope this response helps.
Good luck with your operation and may you live long and prosper. 🖖
Yes the lansoprazole is to offset the possible effects of the aspirin. Yes, maybe they will let me experiment. Was your Culturelle probiotic recommend by your cardiac team?
Thank you for your well wishes. I wish the same for you
The Culturelle was recommended by my gastroenterologist. I had a bad experience with antibiotics disrupting my GI and this definitely helped. One other life-long requirement after AVR is to premedicate with antibiotics 1 hour before every dental visit. I got into a jam needing root canals and the dentist loaded me up with Clindamycin. It did a number on my GI system. By the way, its a good idea to get dental work done before you have the AVR.
Thanks Gladiator1951, that's good to know they were professional recommended. I take something similar from Holland and Barrett to help my gut health, and have also started trying the non dairy actimel drinks as well, to see what they are like.
I knew about taking antibiotics for the dental hygiene appointment, as my hygienist was not prepared to touch me without it. My check up was okay, although I do have a gap, but have no intention of having an implant, as to be truthful I'm petrified of the possible trouble it could cause my heart valve and the cost is prohibitive. I must say I'm getting a right wuss with anything medical nowadays.
Good Morning, I had a quad Bypass and a replacement heart valve (tissue) Nov'21. I take Asprin 75mg, 2 Atorvastatin 40 mg, Bisoprolol 2.5Pantoprazole 20 mg. Taken one hour before breakfast. It took me a while to get over my operation. I'm keeping well. Take care.
Thanks Catmum23. It's frustrating when they don't give full information. Particularly when you base your decision on what they say. Thanks very much for taking the time to respond.
Hi
I had a bovine tissue AVR 8wks ago, Edwards Perimount Magnaease, I was already on clopidogrel after a retinal TIA in July, and I'm on lots of other meds for blood pressure diabetes and palpitations, I've got used to taking all these over the years it doesn't bother me, I'm alive that's all that counts, without my op the future would have been bleak
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it's much appreciated.
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