Hi all, thank you for all your best wishes and kind thoughts. I'm pleased to say that I am now home from hospital, took a bit longer than planned due to having to have a pacemaker fitted as my heart decided it didn't want to fire properly after my AVR. Very pleased to be home now and can start recovering. Bit worried about getting used to taking warfarin, so any help there would be appreciated.
Think it may take me a while to get settled tonight, not having the luxury of an electric hospital bed plus the addition of at least one cat!
Wendy
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Fredders
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Its a lot quieter at home you may even sleep better than what you expect.
I am on lifelong warfarin for my mechanical Valve.
I am doing okay with it,its just a nuisance getting it checked everyday initially but once your INR is within range they tend to test once a every week,mine is once a month.
I slept quite well and woke up about 5.15 to a dark room - very strange after nearly two weeks sleeping in an environment with various lights on!
My first blood test is on Monday, they've just guesstimated my warfarin levels for the weekend.
I'm hoping they might support home testing and either help with the cost of the machine or I can get the strips on prescription. I won't mind buying the machine if they pay for the strips. I know some NHS area do that. Would make life easier as my clinic is the other side of the city. If I can get it down to once a week I should be able to go to my doctors surgery as the Anticoagulation Clinic run a session there every week.
Sorry I can't help you with the warfarin I'm afraid. But just wanted to wish a speedy recovery and hope your first night home wasn't too uncomfortable for you my lovely. You take care xx Rie
Sounds like you are doing really well. I too have a mechanical AVR and on life time warfarin. The warfarin is not really a problem for me . I had surgery in May and am now on fortnightly blood tests. I was not a big drinker before but do find it a bit of a pain having to be so careful about what I drink. But it is a small price to pay....
Rest lots and hope that you are coping with the clicking. I now find I really only hear the click as I am going off to sleep which I find a comfort. Best wishes. Mary
Morning Wendy, glad to hear you're home and managed to get some sleep.
I have been on warfarin for 4 weeks and my INR is checked every week, I take the tablets about 6pm. If I decide to go for MVR I will be back on daily BTs which is hard work straight after surgery, I remember that from last time.
Hi pleased to hear your home and doing well. I'm a life long warfarin taker. Have been on it 7 years now. Have a blip now and again. Checks around every 8 weeks so it does get easier. Good luck x
Hi and welcome home, I can't help with the warfaran, I hope you can get it sorted out, with the home testing, it sounds like it would be a bit of a journey for you, I am bad enough once a month for the hosp, I wish you a very speedy recovery, take care char xx
Hi Wendy, l had the same as you in Feb, AVR and pacemaker. All good now (touch wood). The stories you hear about bleeding to death are rubbish, Warfarin just dilutes the blood so it flows better around the AVR. The only pain is getting your levels right, don`t eat cranberries or grapefruit as they interfere with them, apart from that you can live a perfectly normal life. Take care, Sue x
Hi Sue, just been for my first appt with the anticoagulation nurse. They only want to test once a week which suits me fine as they hold a clinic at my doctors surgery once a week and that's within walking distance. I'm actually going to buy the inr machine so that I don't have the hassle of going to the clinic once I'm back at work. Just need to see if my doctor will prescribe the testing strips.
So glad it went well, I can't believe you're home already. My A V To went well on Friday. I'm still in hospital and hope to go home Thursday borrow Friday. Obviously the sternum is sore and it takes some getting used to getting in and out of bed, but a few practices and exercises beforehand greatly improve your chance of a quick release. I'm glad it's behind me now and all being well we can make Holiday plans for 2018. Thanks to everyone for your good wishes. Margaret XXX
So pleased everything went well. I always raised the head of the bed to help me get up - do miss that now I'm home!
I had to stay in a bit longer than normal because I'd having to have a pacemaker fitted.
Getting home is the real start of your recovery. I find first thing in the morning is the hardest, until the painkillers kick back in. After that I am able to move about quite comfortably.
Hope your recovery goes well and that you'll soon be home and looking forward to next year.
Great to hear from you, Margaret, I have been thinking about you and Dory a lot. Will be so good to start 2018 with the worst already behind you, sure you will make it a fantastic year. All the best with your recovery and take care x
Welcome home Wendy, now the road to recovery starts, I found the first week home the hardest, getting out of that hospital routine of being woken up every few hours and going from having all that support around you to just being left, I too missed the electric bed for the first few nights I slept downstairs in the electric recliner,then my husband brought me a body pillow and along with the V pillow that gave me the comfort and support to sleep in the bed, for the first 4 weeks I slept in the spare room, it gave me the space and I didn’t want to disturb my poor husband lol So here’s wishing you a speedy recovery . Kaz❤️❣️💕
Thanks to everyone for their good wishes. It is surreal that I've already been home for two days, exactly one week post op. I consider myself extremely lucky to have a good husband who is caring for me, so I don't have to do anything except sometimes supervise from the comfort of the sofa. Of course I'm still in pain from the sternum, particularly left hand side, Coughing is agony, but I made a 'teddy' to hug when needed. I'm eating pretty normally and sleeping well. Let's hope the recovery continues without any setbacks. The wound is healing well too, so onwards and upwards and very best wishes and love to all my heart friends who've encouraged me to stay positive along the way. Love Margaret xx
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Lots of love x
Valve op... post op news 
8 weeks post op check up for AVR
first day home from hospital
home after AVR
Back home and recovering
