Heart Surgery Valve repair/replacement- anyone had it

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Gurezaemon

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#2246618 27-May-2019 17:46

Morgenmuffel:

4) I have a will and all that sorted from years ago, but if it doesn't work and I die, once they have taken out all usable parts they want, can i just get them to throw the body in the incinerator or out for recycling, yeah OK I realise that they probably aren't allowed to do that, but whats the cheapest form of disposal (Top tip: don't look up disposal of body on the internet), i kind of like the idea of Alkaline Hydrolysis as it seems more energy efficient and generally cooler, but is that even allowed here?

If you're interested in saving your family cash for your remains, you could look into donating your body to science - from what I hear, these days the body is treated with the utmost respect, and it helps doctors get better at what they do. I'm not sure, but the hospital, etc. may handle the final burial/creamation, etc. as well.

afe66

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#2246692 27-May-2019 21:30

old3eyes:
Morgenmuffel:

Yeah i saw that trans aortic doohickey one, but from what i understand my valve is repairable (they hope) so you've got to go in through the chest

Too be honest I would rather have a repair over replacement even if the surgery is more involved as if it works I won't need to be on medication for the rest of my life.

The M in Law is not on any rejection medication.

Mechanical heart valves require you to take Warfarin to make your blood less coagulable to reduce the chance of blood clots forming and breaking off causing an stroke or an arterial embolism somewhere else downstream.

Tissue valves dont require long term anticoagulation but dont last as long.

Geektastic

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#2246694 27-May-2019 21:46

afe66:

old3eyes:
Morgenmuffel:

Yeah i saw that trans aortic doohickey one, but from what i understand my valve is repairable (they hope) so you've got to go in through the chest

Too be honest I would rather have a repair over replacement even if the surgery is more involved as if it works I won't need to be on medication for the rest of my life.

The M in Law is not on any rejection medication.

Mechanical heart valves require you to take Warfarin to make your blood less coagulable to reduce the chance of blood clots forming and breaking off causing an stroke or an arterial embolism somewhere else downstream.

Tissue valves dont require long term anticoagulation but dont last as long.

A.

This is true.

I take warfarin and it can be a PITA sometimes. Generally, it is simply a case of establishing and maintaining the correct dose for you. Sometimes it can go a bit pear-shaped. Usually due to change of diet or environment caused by things like travelling, significant weight gain or loss and that sort of thing.

You also bruise more easily and they advise that you give up contact sports like rugby due to the increased risks.

On the plus side, my valve is made of titanium and pyrolytic carbon - the surgeon said they could theoretically remove it when I die and put it in someone else...! (They don't do that, btw)

Once you get used to warfarin the issues become just a part of life and you get on with getting on. I made some safety adjustments - for example, I now keep Celox in the kitchen and in the car. Celox is a coagulant invented for treating bullet wounds for the US military. It is a powder that you pour on open bleeding wounds and it clots them in seconds. Since kitchens contain sharps, I keep it there and the car in case of accident.

The saddest side effect for me personally was being told by my wife that I would not be permitted by her to take my motorcycle licence on pain of death! She feels - with some justification if I am honest - that the risk of having an accident is higher and the risk of any accident causing physical injury or bleeding trauma is higher. It's a fair point. We compromised - she said I could have a Spyder when I can find the spare $40k I need to pay for it...!!

afe66

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#2246925 28-May-2019 12:01

At least warfarin is reversible as it's a Vit K antagonist.

Dabigatran which many people were changed to with the "benefit" of not needing blood test, wasn't reversible when launched.

Queue fun and games when the patient then fell over/ injured them selves..

Batman

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#2246970 28-May-2019 12:11

fyi pradaxa afaik is unsuitable for prosthetic heart valves

afe66

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#2247089 28-May-2019 14:29

I know, the biggest use warfarin historically is a fib prophylaxis which has moved to dabigatran. (And some PEs)

It was more in reply about trauma and anticoagulated patients

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Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

Geektastic

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#2264681 25-Jun-2019 22:19

Batman:

fyi pradaxa afaik is unsuitable for prosthetic heart valves

Correct. It is specifically contra-indicated if you have one.

Tinkerisk

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#2264717 26-Jun-2019 06:12

1) If my chest is wired together and i am not supposed to move for the first little while, how do i take a dump etc

Normally you can walk around after 2-3 days - so don't worry.

2) 3 to 4 months of doing nothing might kill me, I am not a person who can sit around for a long period, yes i can read books, play games watch movies etc but i need to get up and move around every few hours, give the garden a quick dig etc, some sort of physical thing in between the sedentary stuff or i go stir crazy.

No worry - this will be slowly possible after a few days. You just can't do heavy load things with your thorax.

3) Streaming TV Box, I have Netflix and prime (the NZ versions) plus i watch the TVNZ and TV3 ondemand thingies is appleTV 4 still the best to watch these all, as i can't seem to find another device that does them all 4, I will be purchasing one soon, tossing up between 2nd hand and new and if i am going to be laying around doing nothing, i will need something to watch.

See answer 2)

4) I have a will and all that sorted from years ago, but if it doesn't work and I die, once they have taken out all usable parts they want, can i just get them to throw the body in the incinerator or out for recycling, yeah OK I realise that they probably aren't allowed to do that, but whats the cheapest form of disposal (Top tip: don't look up disposal of body on the internet), i kind of like the idea of Alkaline Hydrolysis as it seems more energy efficient and generally cooler, but is that even allowed here?

No comment on that since we have different rules here.

And ... no I haven't been in your situation. It's just an educated information to your questions from a heart surgeon next to me - Dr. Miss Tinkerisk and therefore, it doesn't mean it's a diagnosis taylored to you at all (for legal reasons). For confirmation you need to ask your doctor to get proof of the answers above.

;-)

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wally22

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#2264936 26-Jun-2019 11:59

In answer to 4,

Someone can make their/your own coffin out of sheet material (i.e. customwood, I used a couple of 2nd's). It has to be waterproof so as not to leak any fluids out (I lined it with dampcourse plastic) and flat on the bottom else it jams the rollers in the incinerator. There will be a maximum dimension particular to the crematorium. Then roll up to the crematorium with it. If you are a pauper, WINZ will pay the crematorium fee and for coffin materials.

Have to do your homework and ignore all the "go to a funeral director" suggestions/instructions you will get.

I did this for a friend in the Waikato some years ago. She asked to be thrown down a Tomo with no ceremony and this was the closest I could legally get.

I have a pictorial record of coffin manufacture if anyone is into that sort of thing.

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