AVR = All Very Real

[IanGordon]

So no longer in the departure lounge but my flight has been called! In hospital with Aortic Valve Replacement surgery scheduled for 2:00 tomorrow. So just a big thank you to all forum members who have provided info, advice and generously shared their cadio - experience. It's been enormously helpful and supportive and helped me arrive at surgery as well prepared as I can be. Anaesthetist and Surgeon, do your best. I put my life in your hands. More posts once clarity and Aortic valve is restored.

[Fredders]

Will be thinking of you Ian. All the best.

Wendy

[KazSumm]

❤️ your going to be fine

I’m coming up to 9 mths and me and Peppa Pig 🐷 are doing great 👍 the next step getting home and that should be in 6 days. Keep us updated, wishing you a speedy recovery Kaz ❤️💖💕

[IanGordon in reply to KazSumm]

Thanks, Kaz. 9months in and you're sounding pretty chipper which is always encouraging. Not named my pig donor yet but plenty of down time to ponder that! 6 days would be good-5 even better. But one step at a time. Probably literally.

[KazSumm in reply to IanGordon]

You will be amazed, I got up the next day and walked to the loo 🚽

Ok I got a wheelchair back 😂

By day 3 I could do both ways.

Remember what ever drugs they offer take them 😆 I was surprised it wasn’t half as bad as I expected, and on the day of the op I so calm.wishing you calm seas and plain sailing ⛵️

Kaz❤️💖💕🐷

[Alison1960]

Good luck tomorrow!!! Sounds like you’ve got the right attitude . Xx

[Anya58]

Good luck x

[Numberone1]

Where are you having it done? I’m not even on a waiting list. Good luck and waiting to hear how great you’re doing.

[IanGordon in reply to Numberone1]

Hello Number one. Chose Liverpool Heart and Chest, Broadgreen which is 3hrs from home and just got lucky with the timing. Excellent rating and a surgeon I can connect with and is happy to answer my numerous questions. Despite NHS pressures he is generous with his time and I feel I am getting personal care.

Hang on in there - your time will come.

[DAFFODILLS]

Take care , thinking of you

[Zena166]

Good luck thinking of you. Take care and speedy recovery. Zena x

[RoyM]

Good luck Ian.

[Chrissyh80]

All the best for you operation☺ Onwards and upwards x

[RoyM]

Hello Ian i also have chosen Liverpool heart and chest even thou it is a 150 miles round trip. I am due a repair to my Aortic Root and valve saving surgery on the 8th June. Good luck and take care. I do hope you're home soon. Roy

[IanGordon in reply to RoyM]

Experience so far tells me LHCH is the best place for me and I'm confident you will be more than happy with your choice. Best of luck for the 8 June and subsequent recovery.

[Sparklecake]

Sending positive vibes and a speedy recovery. All hail the little piggy! 😁 xx

[mewg]

goodluck ian im 5 months since mine and doing well you will be surprised how quick you will be up walking about.only advice i can give after surgery is keep a pillow close 2 you at all times and when u sneeze or cough hold it tight against ur chest and if they give you a cough lock use it as it helps because jf you sneeze it feels like you have been shot.goodluck

[IanGordon in reply to mewg]

Pillow to hand for anticipated sneezing and coughing. Well prepared thanks to this forum.

[arethusa_12]

Good luck Ian. Had my AVR at Liverpool Heart and Chest. Amazing people.

[IanGordon in reply to arethusa_12]

Great to have these endorsements which help dissipate fear and uncertainty. Thank you for your feedback arethusa_12. Appreciated as I wait to go down to surgery. Diazapan- tick. Things getting woolly - in a good way. Chilled.

[Stevegg]

I'm 7 months post replacement valve and now back at the gym and allotment (sore back to prove it!).

Good luck for the operation, you are in good hands.

[Riedenise]

Good luck Ian, be thinking of you x Rie

[grandmamaggie]

Good Luck and better health after. Mine was done 2004. I expect the procedure is improved now. I do hope so. Love Maggie x x x

[MKB38]

Best wishes Ian. The only advice I have to add is to keep a positive attitude (which you already have) and do as you are told regarding your recovery. Don't become complacent and overdo things, you'll regret it!!

I'm 5 months on from my AVR (bovine tissue) and doing well. Make sure you get signed up for Cardiac Rehabilitation if it is available in your area, it's great. Take care x

[IanGordon]

THANK YOU HEART WARRIORS!

I have had the good fortune to have a private room that has allowed me to sleep in two hourly increments. Came out of ITU pretty quickly with swift removal of trace wires, chest drains, one of two wrist cannulas and neck cannular together with catheter so tube free except for nasal oxygen. Yes there's been pain and a degree of disorientation but I'm now through the worst of it. Had a shower and visitors yesterday which was exhausting! Also clocked an unaided walk so rehab launched!

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to IanGordon]

Great news IanGordon. You should be on your way to the hospital's departure lounge for home early next week. Good luck and watch that breast bone!

[IanGordon in reply to MichaelJH]

Michael, thank you! Home early next week concurs with my surgeon's timescale.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to IanGordon]

My surgeon's predicted timescales are much the same - on the ward within 48 hours of going down and home after five. By the way I initially made a typo and put "Great new IanGordon" - in retrospect both apply!

[Cariad-y-Mor in reply to IanGordon]

Absolutely brilliant

news IanGordon . I have been following your heart journey on this site ( no...I am not a stalker....honest 😀 ). So pleased your op went well. Good luck with the rest of your recovery.

[IanGordon in reply to Cariad-y-Mor]

Just been down the corridor with the physioterrorist as they are called here. No real balance issues just low energy levels. One step at a time I guess.

[Cariad-y-Mor in reply to IanGordon]

Physioterrorist - giggle giggle. 😀. One step at a time is good . Take care.

[Zena166]

Great news. Glad all is ok and you’re on the road to recovery. Stay strong and keep the momentum going. Every day will see improvement. Take care Zena x

[IanGordon]

Day 4 and in need of pain relief; 9hours without analgesia means it's difficult to do lung exercises which means blood oxygen levels are suppressed. Some work to do today if I'm going to escape on Monday. Mustn't grumble - heartie nexdoor has had alien invasion hallucinations along with time travel to meet his great grandfather. Counting my blessings.

[IanGordon]

Day 4: In my confused mind state, trace wires have just been remove - relatively pain free, which was a bonus. So far I've dodged A Fib, post op wound infection, stroke and death , so feeling pretty chipper this evening!

[skid112 Heart Star]

Going great guns there, keep it up. I dreamt I saw a harrier jump jet, landing outside the window. Then had an experience with an enthusiastic night nurse who decided that at 3am the guy in the next bed needed a bedbath.

[IanGordon in reply to skid112]

Can only assume he offended her in some way or was this all part of your hallucination skidd112? Just rehearsed walking out of hospital which felt good. Just awaiting final, final sign-off.

[skid112 Heart Star]

Oh no that part was very real or I think it was!

[IanGordon]

Day 5: Had a fleeting sensation of 'normal' following a particularly good power nap. Today was also the event of the 2nd movement. More uncomfortable than emotional but the product of 5 days analgesia. Like passing a large baking potato! Final sutures removed from the two drain tube sites so all relatively tidy.Some potassium supplement needed for a couple of days but just awaiting sign off of my drugs package. Soon be home now for chapter 3.

Thanks to all who have followed me on my journey. Not so much scary but different. Hope that it may help those who will inevitably follow in my footsteps

[KazSumm in reply to IanGordon]

Well done 👍 Ian

Good job I wasn’t thinking of having a baked potato for tea 🤣 so off for a Toby Carvery.

If your waiting for your meds then discharge must be happening. Keep us up to date

Soon be in your own bed being waited on, oh them were the days enjoy while you can because life returns to normal pretty quickly 😆 take care Kaz ❤️💖💕

[vinc]

hi ian

glad to hear your op has gone well, and wanted to thank you for your posts. I am still awaiting a date for my AVR so still at the beginning of my journey

i wish you well and your recovery is a smooth one

regards vin

[Alison1960 in reply to vinc]

Hi Vinc

Did you get your date?

[vinc in reply to Alison1960]

hi alison i still have no date because i am a symtomatic i am using the time to get fitter and work as when i can, do you have a date for yours yet

[Alison1960 in reply to vinc]

Hi - no, no date but waiting for referral letter any any day which will be the beginning of the real journey. Chose my hospital and surgeon - will see what he says ( and if I like him - everyone says you have to be comfortable with your surgeon). Thank goodness for these forums! Same as you, trying to get in best shape in advance.

[IanGordon in reply to Alison1960]

I believe it's such an enormous emotional benefit if you exercise some degree of choice as indeed you have in selecting your hospital and surgeon. At a time when your body may seem out of your control at least you can exercise some influence on the context in which it is fixed. Psychologically, I found this to be an enormous benefit although I appreciate that this degree of proactivity does not suit everybody.

In the same vein (lol) you will reap the benefits of getting fit for surgery and using your time productively - not just waiting and worrying. Well done you!

[MK1954]

Look forward to you posting post operation. 😜⚓️🍺