[quote=Lugnut]I could retire but that would probably kill me! :
I still have my fireworks business but only physical work about 1 month out of the year.Scrambling the last few weeks trying to procure enough product for the 4th, we had delay a 40ft container from china because of the tarrifs so we’re short about 800 cases .

I am 80 years old and as far as I know it is the Aorta valve. My doctor hasn't given me the option of open heart surgery as far as I know. I take my wife along on my appointments because I can't hear what they are saying. I am not well versed on the medical terms, all I know is they are going to go through my groin for whatever the procedure is called.

That will be the Tavr procedure quick to heal with that one. Are you getting short of breath now?

The big upside to that is that you won’t have to go through the rather painful recovery of open heart surgery.

My dad had an aortic valve replacement in 1989 at the age of 36 due to a birth defect. He had the mechanical valve put in as the pig valves at the time were on about a 10-year cycle for replacement and he didn't want to go through it again any time soon. He is still alive and kicking and pretty much only limited by his own attitude. His was open heart and he was in and out of the hospital within 6 days. Has had to take blood thinners ever since but a small price to pay.

His only problem now is an aortic aneurysm that developed about 25 years ago that he believes was triggered by an auto accident.

Lol … that’s the spirit…. I don’t know about the valve but my mom and uncle had open heart surgery and were up and running in short order

I am 80 years old. I had this done a year and a half ago. They installed the cow tissue valve. Did it through the femoral artery in my right leg. In one day back home the next afternoon and out walking on the road in front of the house. Back to all normal activity in two weeks.

in 2006 I had five bypasses of heart arteries. That was done by cutting my chest open and working in there. In hospital for five days and it took 6 months to get back to normal activities.

If you get the cow tissue valve you don't have to take warfarin unless you have some other bad heart issues that requires it. I take an 81mg baby aspirin every day, that is all the anticoagulant that I have to take. Much simpler living. If you go with the mechanical heart valve you have to take warfarin for the rest of your life and frequently go to doctor to check that the warfarin dosage is correct. Bleed like a stuck pig with the smallest nick of a wound.

Good luck my friend.

The Best to you Jim, our thoughts and prayers will be there for you.

My friend had his valve replaced with a mechanical valve and he will be on warfarin the rest of his life. For some reason they told him he couldn't go on Eliquis or Xarelto.