Partner having second mechanical aortic valve replacement in 4 years.

[Jenbo100]

Hi I'm new here. My fiance is in hospital with heart failure. Ye has a mechanical aortic valve which is leaking significantly so they are going to have to replace it. This is the second replacement, so third surgery in 4 years and they don't know why it keeps failing. We weren't together during hus previous surgeries so it's all new to me. We don't know when the surgery is but I'm scared and very nervous about seeing him when he comes out connected to all the machines and tubes.

[Nic25]

Hey Jenboo100. Really sorry to hear what you and your fiance are going through. That's really bad luck that things keep failing. So feeling it for you. I had a tissue valve in December rather than a mechanical one so can only help so much. But all I can say is that, while yes it is a big operation - and is scary to go through and prepare for - it is or should be a very straightforward operation these days. The tubes normally come out quite quickly (48 hours or so in my case) and he should hopefully be back on a normal ward and sitting up (which they encourage) and walking about (ditto) in 2-3 days, depending of course on how everything goes. It is a big operation and will take him time to recover fully but sure he'll be in good hands. There are lots of posts on here about pre and post AVR (not least by me!) so do search around the site as there is lots of useful advice and reassurance. But good luck to both of you. Fingers crossed and do keep asking us questions if you need as it's what we're here for. Nic x

[Jenbo100 in reply to Nic25]

Hi Nic, thank you so much for your reply and kind words. 2-3 days to be sitting up and walking around is less scary than I thought. I hope you’re back to full health!

[Fredders]

Hi Jenbo

I had two AVR’s in 7 years. My first was a tissue one, which started to leak within a couple of years and gradually got worse until it needed replacing 18 months ago. This time I’ve gone with mechanical, in the hope that I won’t need another op as in the interim period I had to have my spleen removed when it decided to kill my blood instead of cleaning it!

My husband said I looked like death warmed up immediately after my op but by the next day was looking back to normal. They had me out of bed and walking the day after my op and I was in hospital for a week. I had most of my tubes removed before I got back to the ward, they tend to just leave the catheter, a drainage tube and pacing wires in for a few days.

Like Nic has suggested, read through some of the posts on here as there are a lot of us that have been through open heart surgery. As he’s been through it twice before he will already know all the do’s and don’ts so ask him to put your mind at rest. He will tire easily to start with, his concentration will be crap and he’ll probably find food tastes odd (a result of the anaesthetic and being on bypass) and his appetite won’t be as normal, I found eating a little and ten was best for me, but he must keep his fluids up.

We’re here to help if you need it, so ask any questions you have. When it’s all new to you it can be very frightening, not helped when you don’t know why the valves keep failing.

All the best to you both.

Wendy

[Shar28]

Hi, my husband had an AVR 14 months ago and I too found it really scary and worrying. His surgeon described the operation as “major but routine” because it big, serious stuff but they do lots of them so they’ve had lots of practise. I went to hospital with him when he was admitted and visited afterwards in ICU. The staff there were wonderful, really kind and reassuring, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be.

There lots of information on here, the BHF website and the hospital will talk you both through everything too. Please try not to worry too much - easy to say and hard to do I know - because the medical staff will take good care of him.

Best wishes.

[OttoK in reply to Shar28]

I am 6 weeks after my aortic valve replacement plus double bypass. Yes, major but routine. Trying to find a phrase to discuss how I feel right now I would say it feels a bit like descriptions of PTSD. The single word which describes it is "trauma". Rather than depression, which in my opinion is an over-used term, I think "anxiety" is more accurate. Matters which I would usually cope with, tend to get blown up, even something as simple as losing my mobile, or a large gas bill . What I am saying is backed up by a bit of reading on "PTSD following heart surgery". I am saying all this because I find it comforting to know that how I am feeling is "normal" in the sense of being well-known. My view is that rehab, which I am offered and is good , should not only be walking stretching etc, but should cover the trauma/anxiety aspect. Interested to know what others think.

Cheers,

Otto

[Jenbo100]

Thanks everyone that’s really helpful. Especially knowing what to expect from him emotionally when he’s recovering. I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to help.