3 weeks since avr

[mewg]

evening all quick update 3 weeks since my avr mechanical valve ticking well lol.mood swings and and getting nasty 4 no reason feel every1 is against me and dont care think ill go 2c my doctor 4 sum tablets wot u think?also i cant believe my surgeon done it threw a cut this big and its healed so well i am still in alot of pain thow.

[Fredders]

Hi, I'm just over 5 weeks post AVR. Sorry to hear about your mood swings, would be worth speaking to your GP about it. Thankfully I don't get them too much, just occasionally feeling a bit down, but I think it helps that I already take amatryptaline, which in higher doses is used as an antidepressant but I have them for back pain.

I am still getting pains in my chest, mainly the area of the sternum, but I also had to have a pacemaker fitted following my AVR and that area still gets a bit painful, especially at night and first thing in the morning. When you think about what the surgery entailed it's not surprising it still hurts, but it does get easier.

I hope you're recovery continues well.

Wendy

[mewg in reply to Fredders]

i was taking amptriplyne b4 the op so maybe ill go back on them.it does seem worse in the morning and nightbut getting easier day by day thanks hope you still keep recovering well x

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

After beung told that depression is common after major heart surgery I decided to look into it. It does appear that as the heart is vitl to life and people have to face their own mortality. Linked with a prelonged period of anathesthisa it often results in anger/depression/mood swings. Part of the problem appears to be people as being treated as a cardiology problem and not as a whole (quite common in medicine I find).It does appear that people need more support than they get both pre- and post-op. I am currently reading \a book on it and if I think it is useful with put up a shofrt review.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

Opps, it posted by accident and I was just to tired to bother. I wanted to correct the spelling of anesthesia and add that there are a lot of books on heart disease but not many good ones IMHO!

[Mary_Janet]

Well fine for doing so well. The mood swings sound most unpleasant. I did not have mood swings as such but did get quite tearful at times especially in the morning if I had not had enough sleep which was most nights as I was in hospital for the six weeks post surgery.

Your wound looks like it is healing really well, it is half the length of mine. There will be discomfort and indeed pain for several more weeks, the surgery is really quite intense and the scar only tells a small part if the story ! Pain and discomfort also stops you from doing too much.

Look after yourself and don't be slow to see the medical team. You may find that a conversation with one of the cardiology nurse specialist or rehab team helps depending whose number you have been given.

Take care

Mary

[mewg in reply to Mary_Janet]

hi mary yes my wound is small as my surgeon is the only 1 in the uk who can do it like this.i will def be speaking 2 sum1 nxt week.6 weeks in hosp that must of been hard 9 days drove me nuts sleeping is getting easier but i have 2 small kids who want daddy time so aint easy and my daughter is only now comeing 2 me due 2 the clicking which is hard but hopefully things will get better.i hope ur recovering well x

[MKB38 in reply to mewg]

Don't be too hard on yourself, it is still very early days and everyone copes differently. It must be really hard being around the children, they wear you out at the best of times. Try to rest more, and as suggested get some fresh air. I'm 4 weeks post AVR and can't wait for the New Year when hopefully I won't be sore. By the way, I'm too modest to post a picture of my scar, but it is very small too. Take care and have a happy Christmas. X

[Numberone1 in reply to mewg]

Hi. I am waiting for a similar “small wound” surgery. Still worrying though. I’m having mine at Kings. Was yours done at same hospital?

[melville999]

The operation is huge despite your smart small scar.You are very very normal to feel how you feel.The surgery is 10 % of the process.The rest,in our cash strapped NHS is left to person.a few suggestions ,local heart rehab group,by word of mouth find other folk with same op,write down how you are feeling ,talk to gp,practice nurse,if you feel dire Samaritans' good.walk a bit in fresh air,just sit somewhere nice for a bit everyday outside wrapped up,,find a special wee place,let yourself cry,your a man its hard in our society to do that but you probably need to let go of lots of emotion of what you have gone through.Your daughter reacting with love cos she realise you are ill and beyond the fine ticking her natural instinct would be to stay a wee distance away.its a major adjustment recovering from any heart op.if you are young,in someways its harder to get your head round it all.if mood swings occuring have a couple of default tunes you can put on and listen to on earphones as loud as you want.yes antidepressants may help.maybe eat a bit more protien,helps brain too.Get some funny DVD s or whatever you like.giveyourself time.lots of time.realise your family all going thru it too and lots of emotions may bubble up.please know you will get through it all but use the medical services out there to help you through this.sorry my texting crap due to hand arthritis

[mewg in reply to melville999]

thanks mel music useually cheers me up but even thats not working roll on nxt year so tbe worst will have past hooefully.i havent seen any 1 since i left hosp which is terrible i think after such a big operation its like im alone sumtimes

[melville999 in reply to mewg]

it can be very lonely getting better.sometimes its also an instinct to isolate self like injured lion in the wild.can you phone/text/e mail people even if you don't see them?,can you get to local shop,have a chat?.lots of guys around world like you in very similar circumstances.try internet even American websites like this One too.(arnie schwartzneagar had mechanical AVR.)you will find a lot of people out there.can you book a double appointment with the gp so you get time to talk?.your cardiac surgery liasom nurse maybe able to link you with someone like you age wise who had the op to chat to (they would need to sort that cos if confidentiality but may help).Each day in hospital is a week if recovery.its never a smooth course,more like snakes and ladders.but you will get there.you are investing in your future.you are 'doing time' now so as in 20 years you will be there for your family and living your life to the full.believe in yourself and future.ps take paracetemol or painkiller regularly as works better that way.

[mewg in reply to melville999]

i go out 2 the local shop and chat 2 mates but sumtimes its hard as they dont understand what its like.ive taken ur advice on board thanks and will def c my gp tommorrow and speak 2 my partner on how i feel going 2 get sum rest now as cant keep awake.cheers paul

[Hidden]

Hi there. Wow your scar is so neat compared to mine. Mine goes from the base of my neck to about 3 inches above my naval!

Sorry to hear about your struggles with mood. It seems as though it’s all part of the healing process and will hopefully pass.

It’ll be 4 weeks post op for me tomorrow and I have no pain - just a little discomfort now and then and I’m ticking well too! Seems to be only me who can hear it though!

Sending you my best wishes and hope the kids let you rest plenty x

[mewg in reply to Hidden]

hi claire hope ur well hun yes my scar is small as had super surgeon lol but because its so small it meant more streching of my muscles and the docsaid thats why i get so much pain.these moods are horrible im up and down like a yoyo even told the misis and kids 2stay out longer yesterday as i never wanted 2 upset her glad ur still doing well x

[seagrum]

I had the same op in 2011. I had quite a lot of discomfort which depressed me and some really terrible dreams but never actual pain. They use some pretty strong drugs during and after the op and these can play with the mind. I accused one nurse of trying to kill me. She came in after dark to take my urine (I was on a catheter) and so as not to wake me, never put the light on. In my drugged paranoid state I was unable to see that she was being really considerate and only saw her as a threat. I think that was 2 or 3 nights after the actual op. Fortunately I was able to apologise to her before I left hospital.

It all gets better really quickly but every day in hospital seems like a month. I was offered sleeping pills which I refused and suffered the consequences. My advice , for what it's worth is take the sleeping pills, the painkillers, whatever is offered and start the exercise as soon as possible.

Try and keep positive and good luck

[mewg in reply to seagrum]

thanks i was very nasty 2 the doctors and nurses aswell straight after surgery the dreams are horrible i dont understand why i feel like i am i should feel great that it was found and ive survived heart surgery i really dont want 2 spoil xmas i got 2 see the after team nxt week so hopefully that will help.thanks 4ur reply

[KazSumm in reply to mewg]

Mewg hi I am 20wks post op AVR and Aortoplasmy reduction

My scar is just a little larger than yours, but has healed beautifully and the top part which shows when wearing clothes you can hardly see it. I was very fortunate that I went through the op and recovery with no real pain and no side effects from any medication I was given while in hospital . But as you have now discovered very few of us get away from the depression, mood swings and generally feel like someone else’s personality has taken you over, it’s like your conscious self is walking along side you trying to get back. And what makes it harder is that you are so aware of the feelings and know why and what’s caused it but there’s no real solution to cure it. Being able to chat to others on here to others who understand because they too are or have felt the same is a great help, I have read some of theses post out to my Husband he now sorts of gets it that it’s not just me. I am waiting for therapy but I don’t know how long that could be. I always read the patient information leaflet and the medication we are put on are great contributors to the depression and joint and muscular pain which is what I am now experiencing, having blood tests done next week . But hey we are alive and hopefully the other stuff will return to us soon. So you are not alone which is a great help knowing it’s not just me 😂 The technology and the brilliant work they can now do to repair our Heart condition is amazing, but I do think more investigation should be done on the emotional side effect which can last longer than the initial surgical treatment . So don’t be too hard on yourself, let your wife read our thoughts and comments it will give her a better insight, it helped my Husband , close family & friends and some of my work colleagues too. Take care Kaz 💓💕💖

[KazSumm in reply to KazSumm]

Don’t know what’s happen to my post €TMZ

[Lisa4]

Hi I had my AVR and aneurysm aortic arch replacement 6 week’s ago. I feel from your post how bad your mood swings are. I don’t have small children, if you took me back 15 years and ask me to cope with my 3 children I think I would have run for the hills. Be kind to yourself you’ve been through a major operation under anaesthetic for 3 to 4 hours. This on its own changes your body let alone the recovery. The pain after 6 week’s is just starting to ease off. I have just managed to start to lay flat at night. Be patient I recommend the cardio rehab nurses who run local sessions. They talked to me before I had my Cardioversion at week 4/5 it was so helpful, more like a counselling session. Definitely see your GP and see if they can give you something to help calm you. You are not alone we’ve all experienced the ups and downs and frustrations. Keep posting for support. Take care Lisa x

[mewg in reply to Lisa4]

hi lisa glad ur pain is getting better yep the kids def keep me on my toes and with xmas it makes things harder as cant go shopping but it will be over soon then my recovery can start properly i have got apointment on weds with rehab team so will be takeing as much help as possible and get a diet plan in place 4 the new year then back jogging soon i hope.

[mewg]

quick update 5 weeks on and things are getting better with the pain and mood swings but ive got a water infection and still very swollen so on more tablets 4 that.hope every1 had a nice xmas and we will all have a happy new year