Becky

Becky, Becky, Becky!  Where are you?  We're all dying for you to finish your "story."  You're torturing us by leaving us hanging!  Puhlease, Becky! 

Comments

[Becky Havel]

I should tell you that we had tried getting pregnant before I found out that I had to have my aortic valve replaced and of coarse we were asked if we were planning on having children prior to surgery. We explained to the cardioligst that we had been trying for 2yrs and no success, so we assumed we could not concieve. I decided on the mechanical valve because I was not about to go through surgery every 7yrs to have a pig skin valve replaced. Of coarse this meant that by having a mechanical valve I would have to take coumadin for the rest of my life. I was explained of the side affects and how IMPORTANT it was for me to keep up with bloodwork. Okay, this was all good for us and like I said we went ahead and scheduled surgery. As a matter of fact I want to share with you all that when I woke up in ICU my husband said the first thing he heard me say to him was a little song we both had made up, because I was scared to death right before the surgery, so I sang to him "HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY" and I had the doctor and the nurses along with my husband laughing :-)
Okay, so this was in 1999. The following year July 2000 I had an irregular menstrual and I was usually always on time with my TOM, so I didn't know what could be wrong. After work I went and bought a pregnancy test thinking it would probably come back negative and maybe I would just get a later visit from TOM, (and no we hadn't used any kind of protection!!!) So, to my suprise the test came back POSITVE (I'm getting goose bumps writing this)and we were on cloud 9...I went to visit my cardioligst the following day and announced that I was pregnant!!! Bless his heart because Dr. Leaghy did not know what to do with me. He said he was used to dealing with patients that had their children way before their valves replaced (lol) Prior to surgery when we were asked if we wanted children and told the doctor that we had not had any success he explained that COUMADIN would/could cause birth defects. So, we knew that this could happen, but we felt that we could get through this and if our unborn child had any problems we would get him the best doctors available. This was a blessing for us... A gift from God.
I will tell you that the next 9 months were hell on me, but when I look at my little man everything was so worth it. He is your normal 4yr old boy :-)
I know I'm going on and on and I apologize to you all for not being able to finish my story before. I hope this inspires some of you. I know reading some of the other post I wished you all were around when I was going through my situation. Feel free to email me anytime if ya'll have any questions.
Thanks for listening to me and Thank you Michele for allowing me to be a part of your GIRLVALVE gang!!!
~~Becky

[shelly]

Thanks so much Becky for continuing your story. I for one want you to go "on and on" about your situation, because I've never met a single person out there in your shoes. So you stayed on Coumadin through your entire pregnancy? What kind of dosing did you require? Can you please let us know the details of your delivery? You are a superstar!!!

[Amy]

I need to know your pregnancy details! Please!

[Amy]

P.S. Overall, did the pregnancy have any negative affects on your heart or the valve?

[Becky]

Shelly,

No, I was automatically taken off of coumadin and was on Heparin shots for most of my pregnancy. You would think that by now I would be used to needles, but I can't stand the site of them!!! I had to give my self shots on my belly and was pretty much living at the doctors office , because they had to monitor my blood work. When my belly grew then I had to have the shots on my arm and my hubby took charge of that. I did have a mild stroke during the second trimester. I woke up that morning and I felt that I was having a dizzy spell. My vision was blurry and I continued my morning thinking that it would pass. I went to work and 5hrs later it was no better so I called the doctor and had to go to ER immediatlely. My blood work was out of WACK and was told that I had a experienced a mild stroke. I spend a few days at the hospital and they checked on Hunter (my son) and we were both good. Lets see, I was finally enduced and was in labor for 13hrs before they decided that I was going to have a c-section. My husband decided to video tape the WHOLE thing and if you are not looking at the video, you would think you'd be listening to a porno flix (lol) I was in horriable pain!!! The epedural that they gave me earlier only numb my left side of my body so I felt EVERYTHING during the c-section. So, I was moaning pretty loud, lol.....Shelly, I hope by reading this I'm not scaring you. My pregnancy was difficult, but so worth it. Anywho, if you want to know more I will check on ya'll later. Thanks for listening~~Becky

[Responding to Amy]

Hi Amy,
No negative affects on my heart. I'm still ticking away :-)
The only thing I have noticed is that my PT/INR has not been normal since having my son. I get so frustrated when one week I'm 3.0 and the following I'm at 1.9!!!! Very stressful sometimes, ya know?
I will check on you guys later. Have a good day~~Becky

[Shelly]

Becky,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us! You're a great resource for all of us - very inspiring. Can I ask, how much time was it between your last heparin shot and the epedural, and then when did they resume your heparin after the c-section? Also, were you taking 2 or 3 shots daily? I'm so glad everything worked out for you and your little one. I was on heparin shots three times daily and in the lab 2-3 times per week for the 12 weeks that I was pregnant; and that was pretty tough, but I was prepared to do whatever I needed to. Before I got pregnant I was of the mind that if this can be done..I'll do it. At this point though, my fear seems to outweigh my will in that regard. I have read every retrospective study that I can find on the subject, and at the end when I look at the general statistics for clotting and cardiac complications, it's just too high risk for me I think. It's slightly more risky for us gals with mechanical valves in the mitral position as well. Interesting that your INR has been tough to regulate since having your son. I've been a coumadin patient for over 15 years with a pretty manageable INR, that is until my pregnancy. Now my INR is ALL over the place and I seem to require more and more coumadin than ever before. My docs are looking into this, but I can't help to focus on the pregnancy, as that's the only significant change. Thanks again Becky for sharing your story with us.
Shelly

[Becky on Shelly]

Hey Shelly,
I was taken off of heparin and switched back to coumadin two weeks before I delivered. As a matter of fact, before they could do the epedural, they had to check to see if my PT/INR was okay, and it was. A day or so after I delivered Hunter they put me back on coumadin.
I did have to take heparin shots three times a day. Towards the second trimester they had me taking two heparin shots and then I was switched to coumadin.
When I found out I was pregnant I had been taking coumadin, so they did admit me in the hospital to make the switch. Just like you said I was also ready to do whatever neccesary for my baby. Our biggest concern the first few weeks was that there would be birth defects, but we had all the tests that needed to be done and were told that he would be a healthy boy.
Shelly, I'm so sorry about your loss. You sound like a strong intellegant young lady, and this may sound corney, but you never know they may come up with some new medical miracle for us valve girls to be able to concieve. Do u plan on trying again? I hope I'm not being nosey. If you do conceive you will always be considered HIGH RISK, but I'm pretty sure you will have the best obgyn available for you and who has the knowledge that is needed in your case. I live in a small town outside of Houston and had to see a specialist in downtown Houston through my whole pregnancy. I also had two cardioligst, one in town and one that was up to date with my pregnancy. I wish you the very best and I hope I have not insulted you in any way. I'm here for you if you want to talk or if you have other questions you can always email me cassador030801@aol.com
I will check on you later. Take good care of yourself~~Becky

[Cathy]

I have been on coumadin for 4 years, as you call it Tom I call it Hank has not come and I am a week late, my children now 18 and 16 were born perfectly fine, I am really scared, all of my Hanks have been 24 days and I am really scared. The reason I am on coumadin is for a very rare blood clotting disorder I in herited from my grandma but wasn't detected until I was 36 after my children were born, I had lost two children before than and the doctor said there could have been a link. I have asked about menapause but I have just turned 43 and the doctor said I am to young. Still waiting for my results and have heard that now instead of the hemperin needle they have a new shot out but when I get the results I will keep you posted. Signed very scared