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Re: DECOMPOSED ----

By: kathy_s16 in POPE 5 | Recommend this post (0)
Mon, 11 Nov 19 2:07 AM | 20 view(s)
Boardmark this board | Pope 5 		Msg. 44259 of 62138
(This msg. is a reply to 44239 by Decomposed)
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YHM

U hv male

U r a girl

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The above is a reply to the following message:
Re: DECOMPOSED ----Next week's Arctic blast will be so cold, forecasters expect it to break 170 records across US
By: Decomposed in POPE 5
Sun, 10 Nov 19 6:16 PM 		Msg. 44239 of 62138

Angie:

Re: "HOW ARE YOU FEELING? GOT SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU."I'm feeling pretty good. I'm doing a lot of reading on the various options I have, trying to make the best move. Statistically, December's surgery has a 2% operative and 5% post-operative mortality rate. Fortunately, my chances are probably a little better than that for a variety of reasons - age, health, history, lack of complexity to my problem, etc., but it's clear that I've got to do a little thinking and make some decisions. Seven percent. Hm. Any of you want to swap places with me?

The biggest medical decision I've got is whether to go with a synthetic or a tissue valve.

The average tissue valve lasts 14 years, but some only last 5. The chief benefit to them is that there's generally no need for blood thinners, and blood thinners carry a risk of bleeding. But in a few years, whether they be 3 or 15, symptoms will return and I'll need to go through this again.

Synthetic valves are rated at 100 years, but they tend toward clots and therefore require the lifelong use of warfarin, heparin or (most likely) coumadin.

My surgeon says that he would go with the tissue valve FOR HIMSELF. I am leaning pretty heavily toward the synthetic. Not only does it never need replacing, but even tissue-valve recipients may need blood thinner - a third of them do. One reason for that is to combat A-Fib, and I've just had a bout of it. It would really tick me off if I went with a tissue valve in order to avoid coumadin and wound up being put on it anyway.

So I'm already disagreeing with my surgeon. I wish I weren't but I am. Of note: He is not "against" synthetic valves. He simply prefers tissue valves "for himself."

Among the synthetic choices, the surgeon suggested that I research the St. Jude's heart valve. I've done so and am very interested in an alternative, the On-X valve. It seems to have advantages over the St. Jude's valve, and I'm not seeing disadvantages beyond its relative newness. The biggest advantage to the On-X is a substantially lower requirement for blood thinner. It looks like it needs 60% less coumadin after 90 days. I need to find out if there are disadvantages. My surgeon must think there are since he didn't mention the On-X. It looks like the On-X has only been in use for five years or so while the St. Jude's valve has been in use for 40.

The head coach for the Chicago Bulls is a notable recipient of an On-X valve. Obviously it has its supporters...

Maybe my surgeon just isn't trained in the On-X. Maybe I should find a hospital and surgeon that is... I am but a simple black man, you see, and these questions are so complex... I need a good pair of dice.

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