Home alone for the first day and a chance to ponder. This time 5 years ago I was completing a 4 day London to Paris cycle ride. Today's achievement is the first of three scheduled trips upstairs! Since release from hospital on Sunday afternoon I have eaten various fruit and protein based smoothies, none of which have really been palatable so I guess taste buds are screwed. 6 hourly cycle of paracetamol keeps me comfy and allows me to execute a mucus clearing cough clutching my cushtie in relative comfort as needed. Despite laxative, movement is merely a dream. So keeping mobile,hygradrated, relieved of pain and succumbing to on demand napping. Barely perceptible progress as I look out on a grey, wet day. So come on guys - I just need a few words raise the flagging spirits! I know you're out there for me
The Other Side of AVR Surgery - British Heart Fou...
The Other Side of AVR Surgery
Hi Ian
I had a mitral valve repair just under six weeks ago. Everything tasted strange for the first couple of weeks. Don't do what I did and eat prunes as well as taking laxative medicine - it worked but rather too well!
It does get better and I suddenly started to feel almost normal about a week ago. Just take things slowly and rest up whenever you need to.
CABG patient's wife here - the first few days are pretty rubbish, but it will get so much better! Six months on and my husband feels fitter and healthier than he has done for years. But even now he says stairs are tougher than power walking or the exercise bike, so be patient with yourself.
Can I suggest you try some more interesting food? The second night he was home, I cooked chicken breasts with some home made BBQ sauce - a bit spicy but lots of flavour. It really was a turning point!
The weather forecast is improving, so a little walk over Bank Holiday would help; just 50 yards and back to start with and build up really slowly. You just need to remember to make sure you've got the energy to do the return walk! Your energy levels will actually come back pretty quickly, especially as you've been fit in the past.
Very best wishes!
P.s. at some point in the future I will need to be telling myself these things as well - because my mitral valve is heading up to severely leaky and I've been told I will need surgery. So I have been following your posts with interest.
Hi Ian
Glad everything went well. Took me quite a while before I got my tastebuds back, even now I don’t like some of the things I loved before - mainly particular biscuits 😉.
It took a few weeks for my bowel functions got back to normal, I used s.tool softener rather than laxatives as they gave me stomach cramps, make sure you have plenty of fluids as that helps.
You’re home - that’s progress! It’s strange how your body works, it feels like you are making slow progress but after a week at home look back at where you were immediately after your op and you will see how well you’re doing. Be prepared for the odd bad day, what I call the “why me” days. Thankfully I didn’t have too many of them, but it is normal to have mood swings. Don’t put off friends visiting but make sure they don’t outstay their welcome, it can be very tiring.
Hopefully we might get some decent weather soon and you can get out in the fresh air, but start slowly and build up the distance gradually.
Take care.
Wendy
Hi Ian so glad your home and on the long road to recovery. As the song goes...one day at a time! Was your experience at LHCH a good one? Onward and upward..small steps. It can only get better. Cheers Roy
This is a reply based on my experience... not requested by you. But I found the bunged up-ness worse than anything else, after all that morphine etc. Makes you feel mega ghastly. Then my friend recommended Glycerol suppositories. I checked with the Hospital and they were v happy I try one. Total magic. Back to normal next day.
At least it deals with one less problem. Your life will improve.
PS my husband says if we were French we’d be much more used to suppositories
Not so much a problem, Kristin 1812, more a concern that there's no return yet to 'regular', so thank you for your advice. Recognise the French absorbtion route iso more effective. Regards,Ian
Glad to hear you are home and doing well, that is fantastic in itself!
I had my aortic valve replaced 9 weeks ago today! I had the ross procedure though as I am only 22.
My tastebuds were the same, and still now there are some things I can't eat without nearly heaving at the taste, strangest one is bacon! Although in the most part a lot tastes normal again now.
I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere for a few weeks and then all of a sudden one morning I woke up and just felt full of energy! I won't lie, long walks still knacker me out and I am still tired of an evening but I can see definite improvement, you will get there!
Just don't push yourself. Keep the exercise brisk and slowly built up as you don't want to have any steps backwards.
Hope you are doing well and see imrprovement soon!
Seems like I should begin to experience something positive back from my mended body b efore too long -fingers crossed.
Hi Ian
It does get better - little by little. I am 6 weeks post AVR. I'm 59 and wasn't particularly fit before my op but already I can do more than I could before and so much quicker.
My tastebuds changed - I couldn't bear anything sweet! That's all back to normal now.
I've gradually increased my walking and am doing a 2 mile walk every day. My main challenge at the moment is not to overdo it as I feel so well. No painkillers at all now. I am amazed every day at how well I feel - I was expecting it to be so much worse.
You will get there - just don't overdo it.
Best wishes
Mo
I had aortic valve replacement in January.Thought I would never get better. Fractured rib diagnosed at eight weeks when I was feeling better apart from shoulder pain. Ten weeks got pleurisy, far worse than rib or operation. Now at 16 weeks feel great. Cardiac Rehab gym classes have been brilliant.
Breathlessness has gone, can run upstairs after only being able to crawl up before. Walking five miles a day with my dog and generally out and about.
The support on this site is brilliant. From the smoothies you must be on the fork mashable diet. I had very little voice for 6 weeks apparently damaged my throat when I removed my feeding tube myself.
Has a prolonged time on ventilator (8 days) I did say I was tired.
You will feel better day by day, taste will come back but it takes a while, I remember everything tasting wrong.
Reading about the constipation, didn't eat prunes but had banana a day and weetabix for breakfast. Seemed to work.
Hi, Nanny72. Seems you've had bit of a rough ride. Smoothies through choice as I can get protein fibre fruit and veg in a palatable format. 'Meals' just don't do it for me yet. Tried an omelette last night - nah! Don't think that would do anything for transit so maybe more fruit. Has to happen soon or I'll be calling Dynorod!
Almost in the departure lounge myself for ascending aorta replacement and AVR (pesky bicuspid AV). So I can't give you the benefit of experience, but wish you all the best. I think recovery for active people like yourself must be particularly frustrating but a journey that takes as much commitment and determination as that London to Paris bike ride! And you got through that...
So you can do this. Every step up those stairs is doing you good, however small the achievement might seem. Don't be tempted to overdo things though, be kind to yourself and enjoy your rest. Take care, you'll get there in the end!
Cheers, Janemags. Really just in that period of disbelief ,climbing a short flight of stairs and being stopped in my tracks. Slowly adjusting without any real pressure, other than from myself. Getting there, one day at a time. Wish you well with you're two piece aorta maintenance programme - hope it goes well for you.
Regards
Ian
Poor you , I too have lost my desire for the foods I love, but I have lost a stone and a half in twelve weeks lol so that's good the nurses just told me eat what you fancy don't worry if it's not that good for you just eat something , yesterday I had a lemon bun from my and s and it was heaven , then I managed smoked haddock after so it must of tickled my taste buds , good luck its a slow process .
Hi Ian welcome home 🏠 I’m 9 months today AVR 😍 yes the first few weeks are crap and both my husband and I felt abandoned and a bit scared after all the backup you have in hospital. I too had taste issues, some things I loved to eat like certain veg taste so bitter now, unfortunately it didn’t have that effect on chocolate, biscuits and anything else naughty but nice 😂
I still love bacon 🥓 sandwich, haven’t had the urge to roll in mud yet, but I have started to snort when I laugh that’s a Peppa pig Value for you.
Got my 1st appointment with my cardiologist on Tuesday, and yes I did say 1st, apart from from GP who is fab, and the cardio nurse I’ve not seen anyone lol
So some days it will be frustrating, your moods will be all over the place, but the sun is out at last, go for a nice walk and topp up your vitamin D.
It won’t be long before life returns to normal and your back on your bike 🚲
Wear your scar with pride ( don’t forget to moisturiser it lol) you are now a heart Warrior. Speedy recovery Kaz❤️💕💖
Hi Ian, I can't give you any advice as not long been diagnosed with MVR myself. On the wait and see route at the moment. I have noticed I'm becoming breathless when walking up a slope/hill. I was also diagnosed with SuperVentricular Tachycardia at the same appointment and on Bisoporol.
But interested on yours and others journey through the replacement journey. What to expect etc.
Good luck with your recovery and hoping the taste and bowel problems ease soon for you. Drink plenty of water, a glass of orange juice in the morning, cereal too. Take care Rie x
Riedenise, thank you for you feedback. Open Heart Surgery is the standard route for mechanical fixes of our 'broken' hearts but then we all go home and it's different for everyone but it's so good to have this forum to exchange experience. Knowing others have been there before and maybe developed useful coping strategies is so useful. Difficult sometimes to reconcile getting worse to get better but that's the reality. Take care and good luck in finding your mending.
This is the part that scares me the most. I feel reasonably well and yet I am going to have to get worst to get better. I can’t quite come to term with it because I’ve got myself pretty well back to normal after a serious car accident - dreadful effect on me. Now I’m having to go through similar again. Almost feel like saying don’t bother and see what happens. I’m interested in your journey and look forward to reading how well you’re doing. Good luck.
Good to hear from you Numberone1. To start with, you are a proven survivor from what was a random and uncontrolled accident. You can take an enormous amount from this personally,regarding your focus and resolve and ability to cope with what life throws at you. You will still have that inner reserve as it's not a 'one use only' attribute. And with your heart issues, most of the procedures will be elected, planned and controlled, long way from the car crash scenario. You will be fine.
It does come back but just give your body time to heal , I dint think I felt really sorted for about 6 months , you had major surgery all your insides are swollen bruised it takes time to heal
I was 57 when I had my AVR and CABGS I it’s still hard as I wasn’t 20/30 any more . I’m 60 soon and having to go back in a diet as all the weight I lost with surgery came back , I’m just over my healthy BMI I’m determined to look after my patchwork heart
I’m overweight and it seems impossible to lose any. I’m beginning to think this surgery might be my answer when I get frustrated about weight loss. How much did you lose after surgery?
I'm barely a couple of weeks post-op with no real appetite. Probably just under 3 kilos which is fine for me.It's a bonus but incidental really. Declined an invitation to a Hogroast last night - just didn't see right! (pig valve)
Good to hear from a fellow survivor,Kimstyles. I'm using my current lack of food interest to get to a better weight for rehab! Good you're taking control of your destiny too. Admiring your focus and determination. Good luck.
hope it all went well and you took the pillow advice lol.my taste buds are only just getting back 2 normal.how did it all go a good bit of advice when ur home sum days you think im much better 2day can do more then the nxt bang it hits u 4 six just take ur time no rush get well soon.
Hi again mewg. Yeah, managed to dodge any complications and reaped the benefits of the two pillow strategy; 'L' shaped for sleeping/support, cylindrical force shield for coughing and sneezes! Pain relief routine is key - get your retaliation in first. Without the pain, the demands of stairs ( 4 times a day now) are doable. Progress is slow and my tongue is like Ghandis flipflop! But hey - I have the gift of leisure (retired) so the only pressure is from me. You gotta roll with it - according to Mr Gallagher!
great well said so glad all is going well ive had 2go hospital 2day big bruise on my arm apperead on a nasty lump so had it checked and my warfrin is high so got 2 phone back tom and c wot they want me 2 do.otherwise all good from my end wish i was able 2 take it easy got 2 kids under 4 so im wrecked everyday but wouldnt change it 4 the world.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
ADVICE ON POST AVR/BYPASS SURGERY
AVR Surgery date.
Supporting partner post AVR surgery
Post Operative Care After AVR Surgery
Is it normal having chest pain around 3 weeks after avr surgery? 
OUT THE OTHER SIDE 
