Warfarin Sodium and mitral valve

I have been on Warfarin since the end of Aug. 2007 when I had my mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve. I will be on it for the rest of my life. My doctor.'s all assured me there were no side effects other than the bleeding risks. I now know this is not true. The side effects I am dealing with make me sometimes wish I had chosen a tissue (pig) valve, even though I would be guaranteed another heart surgery within ten years. I am 39 years old and a mother of two young kids. Since being on Warfarin I have experienced various body aches that come on suddenly but don't stay long; extreme hot and cold; itchy hands and feet; dry hair and hair loss; seeing "spots" usually followed by a headache; very thirsty; ongoing bowel troubles, possibly developed colitis; but the worst side effect for me is the fatigue and depression. I feel like I traded in my old self for my mechanical valve. Like I said, I'd have to have a tissue valve replaced eventually, and as bad as heart surgery is, I'd rather have 10 happy years w/out Warfarin than this struggle I deal with almost everyday. My brother is a surgeon and even he buys into the "no side effects" b.s. I work out as much as I can, which used to make me feel great, now I feel like it helps me get by but not the positive effect it used to have on me mentally.

i am a 33 year old male and i have been taking warfarin for the past nine years. i have had most of the side effects that i have read about here. before i began taking the drug i asked my doctor about side effects and i was told that there were only two; bleeding and bruising.
i have since learned that the research had not been done. that is why they don't know about the side effects.
here are just some of the effects that i have had in my nine years on this drug. memory loss, hair loss, itchy feet, blurred vision, headache, brittle/crumbling teeth, stomach pain, non healing wounds.
i have began to do more research on my own lately, since it has been almost 10 years since i first began taking warfarin. the only new side effect that i have learned about is calcification of cartilage. i have been lucky not to have had this problem yet.
i have had no trouble yet with bleeding, although i do get some pretty bad bruises. i usually have three or four bad ones on my legs or arms at all times.
i am sure i will develop more side effects as the years go by. i am 33 years old now and will be taking warfarin for the rest of my life.

p.s. i have a titanium st.jude mitral valve