Morning folks. I had 2 valves replaced on 7th March and have been feeling tired and not well I was told at my followup appointment with a consultant that I had to stop being impatient and give it 6 months!! BUT 2 weeks ago I suddenly realised I had a good bit more energy and on Tuesday & Wednesday I shopped with my best friend who was visiting from Scotland. She & her husband and I went to several large stores and I managed to walk around without too much trouble. I admit I was/ am tired now, they went home yesterday. They did stay in a local hotel as they would not impose on us and we don't really have room in the bungalow for visitors to stay, but I can't believe the sudden improvement and the strength I've got to do my housework and potter with my pots in the wee bit garden at the side of my house. I can't wait until I'm back to normal it's been such a long time since I felt well, so if you've had valve surgery be patient things may very well improve and you will not believe how ill you were for such a long time before your op and of course after it, until you get to this stage.
Recovery after valve surgery!! - British Heart Fou...
Recovery after valve surgery!!
It;s great you;re doing so well - enjoy the sun and remember water your pots using half a kettle full of water at a time - or get out the hose!!
I've got a better idea, my darling husband does the watering. I also bought spikes which attach to bottles which you fill with water and put the spikes into the soil.They seem to be working
I'd be a bawheid if I suggested to my husband he participated in any aspect of gardening....
Do I take it you're Scottish? My husband knows nothing about gardening but he knows where the watering can lives!! x
No my father was a Scot and we lived in the south west of England - no one understood us when we (brothers and sisters) went to school as we used his words and proverbs.... many a muckle etc... even the dog was Wul dhu as he was a black lab..... My dad left the Borders at 16 and never lost his accent or vocabulary!
I moved to Lancashire in 1986, my husband is from Brierfield nr Burnley. I was constantly quoting my grannie when I first came down, she had some sayings. My Mam was from Newcastle and I had a Geordie accent until I went to school and never had a broad Glasgow accent. I was known as Posh Pants at school but refused to lower myself to the Glaswegian slang! I've not lost my accent but folk can't believe I'm Glasgow born & bred!
Glad you are on the mend, enjoy the newfound energy x
That's a very 'positive' Post and happy for you 
I am waiting for Valve Surgery. Have to see the Consultant next week for him to go over everything with me and now getting more nervous by the minute. Plus had two NHS Reminders, by Text, already today from them which has made me worse 
I am waiting too Greenlady, hopefully it will be next Monday. I have had one postponed last week due to an emergency coming in. Nervous time waiting, but lots of positive posts on here.
I agree it is worrying. I hope nothing like that happens to me. Don't think I could stick anymore waiting! I feel for you, I really do.
Postponements are very hard as you do get yourself built up. I hope everything goes well for you next Monday x
I was down in the anaesthetic room when they discovered my potassium was way too low so I was kept in being force-fed supplements for a week then the op was delayed for another day as there was no ICU heart bed. Do you know whether you're having a keyhole or open heart op? I had keyhole but I think it's still a scary op. I found the ICU care was wonderful, I was in Blackpool and can't fault that or the heart ward treatment. I hope everything goes well for you.
Open heart surgery. That sounds like a bind, having to sort out your potassium levels first. Thanks for your good wishes x
Thanks very much. I'm not really sure what they are going to do yet. Will Just have to wait and see what Consultant says on Wednesday. I will be going to Cardiff and he has told me I will be in excellent hands. Easy for them to say that though, not so easy for us. Sorry for the situation you were in too.
I had key hole to repair leaky valve
Exactly a year ago
And it’s taken me a whole year to be back to normal
Although my thigh is still quite numb
Where they went inthrough groin
I had both Mitral and tricuspid valve surgery I had cuts on both sides of my groin and am still having numbness in both my thighs and a really strong shooting pain every now and then. I'm hoping it goes away but I have nerve damage on my left arm and armpit after a mastectomy in 1989 and also below my right knee after a joint replacement in 2007 so I'm not holding out too much hope that it will disappear!! They are discomfort and sometimes a great deal of pain but I'm stoic about it. Must be my Scots blood, I know my husband tells me I have a very high pain threshold.
I am pleased to hear that you are feeling so much better. Patience is a virtue and we all recover at different rates! I had my Aortic valve replaced and my Mitral valve repaired, an ablation and a pacemaker fitted within about two weeks of each other last year. It was open heart surgery and the breastbone wound has taken a year to heal. Although I have been able to work, my fitness level was about half of what it used to be.
On Wednesday I had the Mitral valve replaced going in through the groin. I feel a bit battered and bruised but hopefully on the mend. Please recover at your pace and don't be put off if it is taking a bit longer. Good things come to those who wait.
I found my post this morning whilst looking for help and advice recovering from my last bit of heart surgery, Mitral valve replacement.
I am struggling because there are days when I don't have the energy to get dressed and the only reason I do is because I am on a phased return to work so three days a week I have to.
If I go out, I have to sleep afterwards; I even fell asleep on the stairs because I had to sit down going down them.
I am tearful all the time and think constantly about my QOL wishing that I won't wake up.
It's been three years since my heart disease was diagnosed and I just seen to be going backwards.
This wasn't how I saw being 64.
I'm 6 months down the road and find I have good days and bad days, I'm still suffering from nerve damage in both legs and my breast, I'm seeing my consultant on Thursday morning and will bring this up but from the long term nerve pain from previous operations from which I suffer I'm not holding out too much hope of it going! I realise now how tired I was before my op but everyone is different and I just try to pace myself and if I'm pooped I get myself off to bed when I can. Be good to yourself xx
That's encouraging...I'm having an aortic valve replacement tomorrow...Fingers crossed and looking forward to getting back on the bicycle, eventually.
It's good to hear that youre doing well. Please don't be discouraged though by feeling tired. I have had 2 open heart procedures for 3 valve repair/replacement procedures in the last 3 years. I'd say that it took a full year before I felt roughly right. It can often be a 2 step forward, 1 step back progression and sometimes a cold, an infection of something as simple as pollen count can set one back temporarily. A lot of the problem is our heads, but we're also comparatively less fit after our recuperation. Remaining positive and grateful for what we have helps tremendously.
I agree I had felt as if I had more energy for about 2 weeks, it sort of gradually crept up on me but I had a busy week this week with friends down from Scotland then a shock when my 9-year-old great nephew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Fortunately, my niece noticed he was drinking and weeing a lot so it has been caught in good time and they're very impressed with her vigilance. I'm completely pooped today and am also having an episode of Diverticulitis which has not affected me since before the op in February. Yuck, I'm annoyed with myself and feeling frustrated. Knowing you have taken a year to recover is worrying but I guess we're all different
congrats!!!!! enjoy.
My dad had aortic valve replaced aged 60, 20 years ago. More energy than an 18 year old and still going strong.
I must admit I'm back to feeling a good bit better with energy levels creeping back up. I am doing more again so that's a good thing BUT even better I had an ECG last night at my GPs and the nurse took the results to one of the GPs and he said I can stop warfarin YIPPEE, I'm so happy I've hated every tablet I've taken so this is a relief.
That's useful to know because I guess we all wonder how we should be feeling at different stages: I've been quite tired and acheysince valve replacement nearly 3 weeks ago but because, as the nursing team put it I did well after the surgery and made a good recovery I'm getting concerned about some breathlessness now I'm doing bits in the house and I've started walking (I was a keen Walker before) but I've also been told I'm not giving things enough time
Recovery after new valve
Recovery after Mitral Valve Replacement
Recovery after stents
visual disturbances/temporary blindness following valve surgery
A new path - 1 Year after Aortic Valve Replacement and Root Op
