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aortic valve replacement

So, about a year ago, i had a stress test, ultrasound, ekg, and found out that i had mild aortic valve regurgitation.  follow up in January had given me a diagnoses of moderate aortic valve regurgitation.  then, last week, i was given the diagnoses of moderate to severe aortic valve regurgitation.  My cardio said that he would suggest me having it replaced within the next year.  what types of valves are out there now?  how long do they last? what is my life expectancy? My research is limited because the internet only gives me the articles that are most viewed, not the most current.  i need to find out what valves are out there.  i need to see which ones do not require life-long blood thinners.  I have a family and want to have more of them, but fear when I have the valve replaced, the artificial type will be used and that I will be on coumadin for the rest of my life.  the idea of not being able to make love to my wife ever again scares the mess out of me.  I don't have any symptoms, yet, but I know now this will have to be taken care of sooner rather than later.  Any advice?
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Avatar universal
You're no whiner.  You're just going through what everyone goes through who has this experience.  I had the same thoughts of wondering whether my life -- either my life as I knew it or my life, period -- was over.  There is life after aortic valve replacement, and there is also a lot of support available for you from people who have gone through it.  We'll be here for you.  You've been directed toward some good resources, and you can come back here as much as you want.  I'll look forward to hearing how things go.
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Avatar universal
I will check it out.  thank you.
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Avatar universal
thank you.  i hate to sound like a whiner.  i will keep you in the loop for sure.
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329165 tn?1515471990
Here is a very good site to use:

Valvereplacement.org

I used it pre-op and it was extremely helpful.
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Avatar universal
Do not even think that you are not going to be able to make love to your wife or that you are not going to be able to have more children.  You are going to have a long, full, life, and you are going to be able to do anything you want to do.  That is the truth.  This is just a bump in the road.  It's a major, major one, to be sure, but it is NOT the end of your life.  Look up the website of the Bicuspid Aortic Foundation, and they have a lot of good information there.  They have a medical advisory board of expert physicians and surgeons, and the information is sound.  As Achillea says, posting links here is against the medhelp rules, but the Bicuspid Aortic Foundation site is easy to find.  The Bicuspic Aortic Foundation has a facebook page too.  They helped me a lot when I was in a crisis when my first valve replacement failed.  You are going to get this surgery done, it is going to be done well, and you are going to be healthy and have a long, normal life.  You listen to me, young man.  
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Avatar universal
thank you. been a rough few days, and I appreciate the help.
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Avatar universal
To get more of the most recent articles on aortic valve replacement, just type this into your google search box:  '2014 aortic valve replacement'

It's not foolproof, but putting the date first in the search does tend to concentrate more recent info towards the top.  At the bottom of the page, there will be many more related links, which you can also customize by adding the date.

Perhaps some people here have personal experience with aortic valve replacement, but the truth probably is that you're going to have to do most of the research yourself.  But there's good news:  I have done a little pre-checking of some of the articles that turned up when I tried including '2014,' and there is a LOT of information out there about the very subjects that worry you.  Medhelp here frowns on providing direct links to sites, but I can tell you that a site devoted to aorticvalvereplacement, which starts with www.nhs.uk has some recent personal accounts by people who have had this surgery done.

You can also type something like this into a google search box:

'personal experience aortic valve replacement'
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