Morning all
I'm going in Monday morning first for aortic valve replacement and replacement of ascending aorta at St Barts. I keep being told that as I'm fairly young to be having this and the fact that I'm very healthy that I will recover very quickly. I've been told a variety of different recovery periods by health professionals, between 4 weeks and 3 months. Could you lovely people let me know your experiences please?
Hello
I, like you have been given some variable advice, and it depends how invasive your procedure is. I'm guessing you will be in the same boat I was i.e. they will be cracking open your sternum. That being the case, this is more or less what I was told by the team at Basildon:
You will not be able to leave hospital until you can safely negotiate a flight of stairs. This sounds easy, but believe me, it'll be exhausting.
If you live in a property with stairs, use them once a day (to come down in the morning and to go up them at night)
No heavy lifting (limit I was given equivalent to half a kettle full of water)
No driving for 6 weeks
No golf, tennis, squash or similar for 3 months
Start walking as soon as you can - walk enough to get rosy cheeked but still hold a conversation
Don't try and do too much - its a marathon not a sprint
From about 2 weeks post op, I was up and down the stairs as normal, I was at about 2 miles walking on the flat (I am now 4 weeks post op and I'm comfortable at about 3 miles on the flat). I'm still restricted in what I can lift (your body will tell you very quickly if you try and over do it - it'll hurt!). In a couple of weeks time I will have my first appointment with the Cardiac Rehab team - I fully anticipate doing a lot more work then.
So, although messages are a bit variable, they give much the same key messages: exercise is good, but don't overdo it. Get plenty of rest. Stick to walking to begin with. At the beginning you will likely be quite fragile but, if I am anything to go by, improvements happen quickly.
Good luck for the op
Steve
Thank you Steve. Can I ask if you are a similar age to me? I'm 49
I think I remember being 49! I turned 60 the day before I had the op. So, not as young as you, but certainly on the younger end of the scale for a triple bypass. Like you I had no other underlying conditions so was quite 'healthy', major cardiac issues aside!
hi steve glad 2c you are doing so have you kept the cough lock on at home and while walking
Pleased to hear you are recovering well Steve and thank you again.
My heart problem is congenital and I didn't even know I had it until 3 years ago!
I had exactly the same op as you at 53. I was in hospital for just over a week, able to drive at 6 weeks and back at work at 13 weeks then on a part-time basis over 4 weeks. I'm hoping for a similar recovery time this time.
Wendy
Thank you Wendy. Hope all goes well again
Op has gone reasonably well, had a mechanical valve this time as don't want to go through another major heart op in the future, also had to have a pacemaker fitted due to heart block, but that's one of the risks they tell you about with having heart surgery - not that we really have a choice!!!!! I am doing well and hope to be going home tomorrow.
Just remember we are all different and there is no timetable for recovery. From past experience you will have good and bad days, but we're all here to cheer the good days and help you through the bad days just shout!
Hope the op goes well.
Wendy
Hi Wendy. I have just joined this site. It would be great if you could share your thoughts about the valve. I am due to have a valve replacements op-n. What is it like having a mechanical valve? Is it noticeable day time and is it noisy at night? I am 47 and have sleep problems due to hormone body changes. I think a lot about the new valve. Thanks. Much appreciate yr answer.
Hi Lana, only had the new valve for a couple of weeks now but haven't found any negatives so far. During the day I haven't noticed any noise from it, I doubt you would unless you were sitting at n complete silence. At night I can hear it, but I find it quite soothing. I do wear earplugs at night so not sure how much difference that makes. I know some people on here have had trouble getting used to the clicking though.
The other thing of course is that with a mechanical valve you will have to take warfarin for the rest of your life. I have just had my first appointment and they are only testing me once a week, but they support home testing, so I have just ordered a machine.
Hope this helps. If you have any other questions just post them on here, there are loads of us in the same boat 😸
Take care.
Wendy
Hi Clairebear281
I’m Kaz you may have seen my posts, I had exactly the same op as you 15 wks ago today, I too was classed as being young (57) and didn’t have any idea I had a heart problem, birth defect. I had chronic Stenosis . The operation wasn’t half as bad as my imagination lead me to believe, can’t pretend you want be scared on the day but them premeds are wonderful, and I laughed all the down to theatre . I can’t even remember going to sleep. I was woken up early the next morning, and I have to say I felt great took a few mins to register that it was all over and I was so thirsty . After about 1hr took the main drain out ,and fitted a posthorax vest.and I was doing so well that I skipped going onto High dependency by 10am was on normal ward. Can’t say I was in any real pain just a bit uncomfortable. The next day I was up and walking morning of the 6th day I went home.
If given a vest it will become your best friend, don’t and it’s hard use your arms, sleep was a major problem you get so use to being woken up when your in hospital so saw my GP (who were brilliant) she gave me sleeping tablets, I had the best sleep and only needed to use them for a week, they really helped my recovery in the first week home.get a V pillow and a body pillow don’t push yourself . For me the bad bits depression don’t effect everyone but be prepared I’m going to have therapy starting next week. Now I’m fine going to rehab and went back to work last week.so give yourself a good 16wks to recover . My scar has healed beautifully and at the top you can hardly see it I use bio oil and massage it in.
I hope I’ve not bored you with my ramblings lol everything will be fine I’m walking prooflol kaz❤️💕❣️
Thank you so much Really helpful Kaz
Hi Claire, good luck on Monday. I'm 50 and had my op 9 weeks ago. I was reasonably fit given the circumstances pre op. I'm now doing 2 miles most days which is less than others have mentioned. Unfortunately I had post op complications and went back in hospital for a week at week 2. I'm still quite stiff and only started driving this week. I think we're all different and you must listen to your body. I'm taking it easy until the new year as I don't want any set backs. Don't rush it and don't feel under any pressure to rush recovery. A family member kept saying I was young and fit so should bounce back quickly which I found upsetting especially when I had a set back!
I do so agree about being told “you’re young to have this”. Not really a compliment!
Thank you for the reply. Hope your recovery continues to go well. Everyone is saying the same to me too about bouncing back. I'm always described as tough and strong - I keep thinking that if I'm not this time, they will all think I'm faking! Lol 😆
Hi Claire, very sound advice above, recovery will also depend on how fit you are currently. The stair thing is possibly the hardest thing I have ever done, due to your lungs being deflated makes deep breathing an issue, but there are chairs on the landings so you can rest (I was in Barts too). I I did think the nurses were pushing too hard, but really it does you good to be got up, "your turn in the shower room, why don't you go for a wander"
Take some ear plugs with you, hospitals are very noisy places and you will need rest, something to read as well.
Ooh the stair thing sounds interesting! I'm fairly fit but I also have a dodgy left knee which can be very painful. I've kind of left it due to having the heart problem which seemed more vital to sort. However, I imagine it won't be painful due to copious drugs! I've been told to take supportive bra but have also heard we get tight vests to wear?
copious drugs is right, plus they are sticklers that you take them at the same time, be prepared for being woken in the middle of the night for your meds!
I didn't get a vest but others did
hi claire im going in tuesday for avr and im 40 so hopefully i will recover quickly as im fairly fit.well was until last year and i was shocked that i was born with heart problems goodluck and we can compare how we get on x
Hello. I see you have the same as me, bicuspid aortic valve. I'm having that replaced and another bit too! You must have not been discovered until it was quite bad? I've been 3.5 years since diagnosis and although I always knew I would have surgery in the end, it never really felt 'real' as I've been well. I'm only little and at the angiogram it seems that the rest if my heart has been overworking to compensate the naughty valve. The chamber below has enlarged and I have an ascending aorta aneurysm which is also being sorted. Good luck to you for yours too next week. 😊
yes i only found out last december i was training really hard the last few yrs as i used 2b 24 stone so i changed my life around and got down 2 about 14 stone last year then i was feeling a pain in my chest under my left arm so i just thought it was a strain but then seen the doctor and he heard a murmur then they done the test with the gel and found i got servere leaking valve and possibly the other valve aint working.so he told me i need surgery within 12 months and here i am now waiting 2 go.they said ive got a abornormal heart wot they mean im not sure as i cant really take it in as got so much other stuff going on with my daughter i just carry on.so hope you and i get sorted soon and have a speedy recovery xx
Wow, well done on the weight loss. It's not easy to take it all in, I agree. Hope you get everything sorted, take care .
Claire
I had an AVR 4/11/2015 aged 56. I am due my first check up on the 16/12/2017. I was told I could drive after 4 weeks. I drove up to the stables and rode my horse around the arena in a very ploddy walk. He's quite sharp so I was surprised. It did me good. Also I was harassed by the rehab nurses within days of coming out of hospital. Good luck and join the club.
Claire,
I hope all went well with the op, I had an aortic valve replacement in Aug 2016 at Bart's along with a bypass, I was running again by the end of Oct 2016. I am now running 3 times a week and I do a park run each week and my times are faster than they were 4 years ago. So although you have to take it easy early on you can get back to good health. Mr Uppall did my surgery and he was excellent
John
Hi, hope your surgery went well . I had my AVR done 5years ago I was 28, I was back to work within 11 weeks. Everyone’s recovery is different but don’t push yourself as you will only do more harm then good. Take each day as it comes! I’ve since had a baby and currently due to drop with my next any day now! Positive thinking and I downloaded Andrew Johnson relax app for night time to help me sleep at night . 
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