Good health tips for my pending leaky heart valve op

[Bigsweet]

Hi, I was diagnosed with permanent AF and leaky heart valve 2017. Currently waiting for replacement of my faulty aortic valve in next few months. Interested in good health tips from any who have had this op?

[Deb1838]

My dad has this op 5 years ago when he was 80, he also has permanent afib for about 20 years but copes very well with it.

He had it done at St Thomas’s London.

His general health was good and it was felt it was a now bum or never while his health was good.

It all went well and he was home two weeks later. Although he did have to go back to have his chest drained as he had an infection.

[Bigsweet in reply to Deb1838]

Thanks very much for sharing this.

[Becksagogo]

Hello. Are you having open heart or Tavi. If you have open heart please do not lift anything or open any strong doors. I didn't listen and was carrying shopping bags and opening heavy fire doors so took longer to heal.

Most importantly listen to your body. If it wants to sleep let it !

The TAVI procedure is a lot less invasive but can still be tiring.

[Bigsweet in reply to Becksagogo]

Hi Thanks do much for sharing your experience with me which is very helpful. The surgeon is hoping to do Tavi but won't know if it will be possible until the actual op. Open heart is the fall back option and I know this will take much longer to recover from. How long did it take to recover and how are things going now for you?

[Becksagogo in reply to Bigsweet]

Mine has been quite a journey I'm afraid. I had my aortic valve replaced in June last year (open heart ). I also had the Mitral and tricuspid valves repaired followed by an ablation. Unfortunately the op wasn't successful (I am always the one in a million) and I had a pacemaker fitted. I was back to work on a phased return in November.

In June this year because I was still very breathless they replaced the Mitral valve (Tavi) and I was out the next day! Back to work full time in late August.

Unfortunately again I am still very breathless and I am now waiting to see whether I can have the Tricuspid replaced. I don't know whether it will be open heart or by TAVI. Am hoping for the latter because of the time it takes me to recover.

My previous health history is pretty awful which is why I take longer than most to recover so please don't let this put you off.

A lot of fitter, healthier people recover from open heart in 6 weeks and from TAVI within weeks!

[Becksagogo in reply to Bigsweet]

Let me know how you get on and wishing you all the very best for your op.