I have had my pre op assessment and stopped my daily aspirin and go into Kings College London on Easter Monday ready for operation on Tuesday. I have a tumour on my aortic valve which they will try and slice off or may need new valve. I have chosen a mechanical valve ,after doing my own research, and think I can cope with the warfarin.The lead up to this op has been so difficult. I have experienced sleepless nights, now gp given me sleeping pills, panic attacks, feeling sick and a rush in my chest, spent a few days with a portable ecg machine as heart felt like it was going like the clappers, it wasn't !! I have never been so anxious about anything ever and I have done a lot in my 56 years ! I am nervous about icu, everything about that ! I have had some momentary times when I thought to hell with it, I wont have it done, but, I know really that would stupid as have been told the tumour could cause me big problems if bits break away from it. I have also experienced the "why me" thing but those thoughts are unhelpful. Despite my nervous feelings I have come to the conclusion that I need to just get it done, I hope I am saying afterwards that the build up was worse that the actual op. I intend to use this forum as an outlet for all my feelings, I really hope that it might help someone else who is going through what we all are going through. It's a tricky thing to have an op for something you know nothing about, I am very lucky I don't get breathless or feel unwell and so having this op is precautionary but necessary and preventative. I have had 2 other cardiac events that the doctors thought might be takotsubo but maybe they were this blasted tumour. After posting before for any helpful tips I have readied the v shaped pillow, put extra meals in the freezer, downloaded stuff on my gadgets, purchased earplugs, cleared my diary of work and driving for a few weeks and hope to be able to enjoy my recovery with regular walks and napping when I can. As Tuesday approaches I am sure that I will go from tearful, irrational me to practical, sensible me. I hope to post more updates and share my experiences. Thanks to those who responded before.
Valve surgery very close now, hoping ... - British Heart Fou...
Valve surgery very close now, hoping to keep posting about my experiences
I was not particularly nervous as I had waited so long, and was sick and tired of angina and breathless - a flight of stairs needed two rest periods on the way up.
You will find once you get admitted the air of calm professionalism will reflect on you and you will become quite relaxed.
Thanks for that MichaelJH, I consider myself very fortunate to be "well" prior to this surgery and yes I am sure I will be reassured by the staff at the hospital. It is all just a little overwhelming and scary. I hope that you are feeling better. Thanks for your reply,
Hi Michael, post op can you walk up stairs normally? I have similar symptoms and I would like to know there’s a good outcome ahead.
It took me a while but I think recovery is affected by fitness pre-surgery. In fact last weekend I marshalled at a car trial in the Chilterns - the other marshall in my hill was also a heartie!
I was like you before and had to go on diazapam but like Michael says once you're in the hospital the nerves will go away. Well it did for me as the nurses put you at ease. The v pillow is a godsend and your wise to have one. I stopped using mine this week as I'm now 5 weeks post op and it's now comfortable to lie on my side. I wouldn't worry so much about ICU as a lot of people will tell you you don't really remember much as your heavy sedated but when you're back on ward remember to ask for pain relief anything even if it's a 4am! I didn't one night and payed the price the next morning 😔 I can now say I'm regular walking 3 miles a day and the healing nicely without needing strong painkillers and hopefully you will be the same 🤞
Good luck for Tuesday and keep us all posted
Thanks, really helpful to read your reply. This forum, I should say the people on this forum, make everything seem better, it is so reassuring to hear from post op patients who are feeling better and have had positive experiences in the cardiac units, thanks again.
Our best wishes for a speedy recovery. It's all been said I think. You're in good hands so go with the flow. It's the not knowing that messes with you.
Keep us up to speed with events. xxx
All the best for the op. Like you I didn’t really have any symptoms before having the op, but I had known for a long time that it would eventually have to happen.
As the others have said, you’ll be fine once you get in there, I think it’s the anticipation beforehand that’s the worst, plus your mind tends to overthink everything.
Keep us posted.
Wendy
I am an expert in mind working overtime and it certainly has done of late. I need to get the op done now, hopefully it wont be delayed and by end of next week I will be posting to say, it is done and I will be moaning about something else, thanks for your reassuring reply.
That's fine as long as you don't post about Brexit! It gives me a headache due to boredom rather than over thinking!
Thanks for your reply, so far I have found Kings excellent and I just need to calm myself down and trust in their professionalism. I will keep posting, thanks again.
I am with you all the way you are very brave and honest I will be having valve surgery in the not too distant future, I am 62 but when I was 15 I had ohs for mitral valve repair, its worked well for all those years. Take heart - literally!!
Thank you, I will keep posting and let you know how it goes, best wishes for your op too, thanks for your reply.
Hello Kentishbunny
I am also waiting valve surgery at Kings. I had aortic valve replacement - also at Kings - 5 years ago, and have to have the whole thing done again with root replacement as well this time. Waiting is the worst part! I have been waiting over a year now and although had pre op assessment have no date yet. But thats my story.
The teams at Kings are wonderful and the whole process was quick and professionally done. They know what they are doing and do it well. They are calm, kind and reassuring and the medical teams equally wonderful. ITU was a blurr, but I was out so quickly and up and walking within 24 hours of surgery. Ask questions, ask for pain relief if you need it and put your trust in them. Kings is a centre of excellence for this type of surgery.
As others have said, the staff will put your mind at ease, and once you are on the ward there is no time to worry and you will feel calm.
One minor point. Ask your family to bring you food (there is an M&S on the ground floor) - the food in Kings is truly dreadful and I was so grateful for those little gifts from wonderful M&S!
Good luck and let us all know how you get on.
Hi, thanks for your really helpful response, so good to know from someone who has been to Kings, my radar has already spotted the M&S ! Can't beat a bit of that, and I have already primed my partner to be ready to call in there if need be, thanks for the tip off. Hoping you get your date very soon, thanks for taking the time to respond, take care.
Hey kentishbunny1 good luck! We'll all be thinking of you. If it helps for me the build-up - the terror, sleepless nights etc - was like you worse than the operation itself so I'm sure once you're in hospital, in the "the process", you'll be fine. But sorry you've had such a rough time of it. I know everyone says it is these days a very straightforward operation - but it really is! I'd known for years that I would need an AVR at some point and so once I woke up afterwards and realised "that's it, I've had it" it was a big thing. I'm 50 - so near your age - and have made a good recovery since I had it in December. I'm exercising - trying to get fit for the first time in my life - and feel loads better. Also I went home much more mobile and able, much less of an invalid, than I had ever expected I would. So I hope it will be the same for you. As I say good luck and keep us posted how things go. Nic x
Thanks for your good wishes, everyone replying with all these positive comments really helps. The important thing is that the comments being made are from people who really do know what its like, that means so much more. Continue your recovery and feeling well and thanks again, I will keep posting !
Good luck, it’s a year ago today since I had a triple bypass & your post reminds of how I felt pre op just waiting for the porters to arrive to take me to theatre. By then I just wanted to get the op over & done with. It seemed such a long wait that day (it was in my case) & trying to keep calm wasn’t easy. I hope you only have a short wait & everything goes well.
Jean
Thank you for your response, great to know you are well a year on. I will try and stay calm but there will be a meltdown that morning at some point, it just wont take me by surprise, thanks for your kind thoughts.
Good luck kentishbunny. I am 59 and had valve surgery 6 weeks ago. Like you, I felt fairly ok before I went in. I also was the right weight, fairly healthy lifestyle etc and felt it was a bit unfair finding myself in that situation. I also did the overthinking everything and mulling over every single thing that could go wrong. I was scared of being in ITU but the staff there were fantastic. 6 weeks on, I would say the old cliche that “it’s a real roller coaster “ is very true. I’m glad I was warned not to feel a little bit better every day because it’s not like that, it’s very up and down, but on the good days I can see how far I’ve come in 6 weeks. Wishing you all the best x
Sounds to me like wise words, good to know you are doing well, I will take things as they come post op, I know it will be a difficult time for a while and expecting an emotional turmoil but I also know it will pass, so bring it on. Thanks for your reassuring words.
Btw. The other piece of equipment I have found invaluable is a helping hand - one of those grabbers for picking things up with.
Ps have just walked 1.1 mile round trip to the park with the dog, some of it uphill, and sat enjoying the sunshine for half an hour. There are good days to look forward to x
Keep posting, kentishbunny1, see you on the other side. Big hugs x
Hi it's Normal to feel all of those things and more, you are having a procedure that you haven't had before, remember it's ok to cry,scream or anything else, it's a very big deal, but remember when you have recovered you will be great. Will be thinking of you next week and don't be hard on yourself, you will feel anxious this weekend but am sure when you ready to go to theatre you will be looking forwards to a bright future good summer and feeling better with not the worry of this thing breaking off. Lots and lots of best wishes. Cate
Ah thank you, your kind words are much appreciated. Yes I need to get rid of this pesky tumour and get on with the rest of my life. Stupid thing totally grew in the wrong place ! Thanks again
You welcome keep safe and think the future is going to be much better, tumour free. cate
Hello kentishbunny, you sound like you have this in the bag, a balance of scared witless and sensible planning and acceptance... Well done you. I admire your courage and bravery this is a huge step for you, its something I've never heard of before, but I'm sure you will feel so much better afterwards with that nagging risk eliminated. Those type of niggles weigh us down and you are young and will bounce back after surgery I'm sure. I look forward to your updates and I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday. Have you got family to spoil you when you come out?
Good luck xx
Thanks for your reply, a tear came to my eye. What kind words, much appreciated. I believe what I have is rare and the surgeon said it was interesting before he said anything else. I realise it is good to have your surgeon interested although it feels like it is a bit of a curiosity. I intend to be up as soon as I am told to be and carefully get back to my busy self. Thanks again for your kind words and I will keep posting.
Best of luck with your surgery x
Good luck Kentish. It’s a difficult time for you and so being scared is a natural and normal reaction. However as others have said the team are experts and will have done this type of surgery very frequently so are extremely skilled and professional. Try and focus on the following few weeks so imagine yourself being discharged imagine going out for walks imagine what you will eat. It sometimes helps to focus on the future so you can work towards that goal. Whilst I haven’t had this type of surgery I did this after my heart attack when I was scared of everything! It really helped me. I imagined the ambulance journey home imagined the rehab classes etc. I just found it helpful to focus on the future not the nerves of the here and now. You are in good hands. Stay strong and positive and look forward to the delicious food from M&S. sending virtual hugs. Zena x
Hi
I had a mechanical on x valve 7 weeks ago due to aortic stenosis ,you will be fine ,I too was nervous but once you get to hospital you will feel fine I was more worried about them cancelling my op to be honest ,I was advised to have as much pain relief as you can so didn’t find the pain too bad ,although the morphine made me feel sick so they changed it to a different pain relief , they will have you up walking as soon as possible ,make sure you do your breathing exercises as I ended up with fluid on the lung ( pleural effusion ) but that cleared up with Diuretics ,ear plugs are a must and the v shaped pillow,I had good and bad days but the time has flown by and I’m back to work soon ,warfarin takes a bit of getting used to but determined not to let it bother me ,I just got back from my daily walk 5 miles today ,good luck for Monday I’m sure it will all go well
Andrea
Wishing you all the best and a Good Recovery. Xxxx
Best wishes for Tuesday and a speedy recovery afterwards - just don’t overdo things!!
Husband been given a appointment for his valve operation
Thank you all, and there's always someone to listen or same experiences on here,dealing with a loved one mitral valve surgery
What to expect as my partner has valve replacement surgery
