MECHNICAL HEART VALVES

Thank you for reaching out! Those types of questions are best directed towards your medical team. Have you been able to talk to them about long term stuff? I will say that personally, I am on a few of those meds and will be for life and I am not alone in that statement. But again, everyone is different and medical questions are best directed towards your care team. Morgan (heart-failure.net Moderator)

Hi CARRIERE2.
I had a balloon procedure 2 years ago to widen my aortic valve. With a life expectancy of 6-9 months after nearly 5 months in hospital, I refused to go to intensive care to be put on a respirator. I was determined not to give in no matter what. I take a plethora of medication including blood thinners and the dreaded diuretics which keep me darting to the ladies' room all morning but I suppose it's good exercise 😂. It was supposed to be a temporary measure, just to 'buy me some time'. Now, two years on, my cardiologist says he is astounded every time he sees me and he is now going to fit me with a TAVI (a mechanical aortic valve).
Medication is just 1 part of treating HF. It goes hand in hand with the care of the medical team and your own determination. They are all equally reliant on each other, so if you need to take the meds for life, it's not such a bad thing. But talk to your doctor or support nurse, they can reassure you and explain the possible short/long term plan for your meds.
Good luck with your continued treatment 😊🌺

Thank you, Clair. I haven't got a date yet but it should be in the next 2-3 months.
❤️🤞🏻

Hi Morgan. I'm doing ok thanks. I'm lucky to have two incredible daughters who can read me like a book...They're always there through good days and bad. Yes, there are some bad days, days when I feel frustrated and upset that I can't do the things I used to love doing. Days when I'm exhausted and just want to sleep or sit quietly. But they are far outnumbered by the good days. Days when I feel grateful for having the past 2 years to enjoy with my children and grandchildren. Days filled with laughter and fun, taking my grandsons to see Wales play rugby in the national stadium was something I thought I would never do. But I told my story to the National rugby union. I told them about my 3 young grandsons who live in England and play for their local junior sides, but they always wear their Welsh kits for practice and support the Welsh team. I would love to take them to their first big game in Wales but as I'm disabled and need medical oxygen it would not be possible. Much to my surprise they arranged everything for us so I had assistance to get into the ground and to our seats, we sat pitch-side on the halfway line and we got to meet the team after the game.
The good days haven't got to be elaborate though, they can be as simple as having coffee and a natter with a friend, going for an ice-cream on my mobility scooter or just managing to do some dusting. The important thing is to allow yourself to have whatever kind of day you want, not the kind of day other people think you should have. If you want to stay in bed all day and eat ice-cream once in a while, do it! Don't worry what people think. Those who mind, don't matter and those who matter, don't mind.
Sorry about the mega long message...I got carried away!! 😊🌻