Thanks! And a question

First post, but have been getting quite an education here since my emergency pacemaker installation 11/7/13. I just wanted to thank everyone for the information and giggles during my recovery.

Now, for my question. I'm wondering if anyone has had aortic valve replacement AFTER having a pacemaker. There is plenty of info about getting a pm after valve replacement, but nothing about the situation I find myself in now. I found out I had a bicuspid aortic valve 6 years ago when I was 39. Although my stenosis is still moderate, I'd like to be better prepared for the valve replacement than I was for the pm.

Thanks in advance for any help.

2 Comments

Valve and Pacemaker

by SteveE - 2014-03-29 09:03:15

I'm one of the folks who got a pacemaker a few days after aortic valve replacement, but there may be others who had the pacer first at valvereplacement.org.

Valvereplacement.org is a web site dedicated to all those who have had or will have valve surgery. You may have a better chance of finding someone there who had the pacemaker before the valve replacement.

I've been a part of that group (valvereplacement.com) for over 10 years. You can probably learn about anything valve-related over there, and the folks are really great about sharing their experience.

You'll want to check on forum

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-29 11:03:28

You've got the question out there, that's good. You'll want to check on the forum. Others have gone into surgery post PM and have had a tech to make sure the PM settings are OK. But since they are doing a valve, they'll be watching your heart closely and will probably have a PM tech available anyway.

Valve replacement is serious surgery but I've run into a lot of people who have had it. (I belong to a local heart patient group.) Biggest thing is to decide what kind of replacement valve you want. Post recovery and post rehab they seem to get along very well.

Some valve replacement people have mentioned the hardest thing to get accustomed to is the ticking caused by the mechanical valve.

Hang in there. Hope you get some answers from the forum.

Theknotguy

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