Great to be back home after a mitral valve repair ~ 1

[seven-oh]

Had the op on Monday and came home last night. My surgery was in the Royal Brompton Hospital. First things first, thank goodness for the NHS, what professional and wonderful group of people. I couldn't fault the care. Second if you want to know why open borders is a good thing look at the number of staff from around the world who have chosen to work in the UK NHS.

What was the worst bit, so far, waiting for everything to happen and the best bit getting home last night, still its early days.

Into hospital last Sundae, down to theatre Monday at 12:00, woke up in Recovery at midnight, moved to the High Dependency Unit at 06:00. Apart form the the noise on the building site next door all OK. Made to get up a few hours later to move around. I'd say I was uncomfortable rather than in pain, whatever drugs I was on worked well. At this point I had 2 drains in my abdomen and one from the wound, 4 wires connected to my heart, an array of quick input connections in my neck to allow drugs in, a valve in my wrist to allow blood a catheter to urinate and a large scar in my chest, which I didn't get a look at until the last day in hospital.

Meanwhile I had regular chest x-rays, electro-cardiograms, blood measure, pulse and temperature measurements, these together with the regular blood tests were used to adjustment my drug dosage.

2 days in the HDU ended with the catheter and the 2 main drains being removed.

Then it was off to the ward. I quickly learnt how to disconnect myself from the mains powered monitor and carried the remaining stuff with me when I went for a pee, the bits and pieces varied over the few days. During my whole time in hospital I must admit I wasn't terribly hungry and struggled to eat much. I had a medium amount of water but again I struggled to drink enough. My days on the ward were a bit boring as I had plenty of time but low energy and a lot of the day was taken up sleeping to make up for the periods at night where I was awake.

By Thursday I was feeling much more energetic, but its all relative

Much to my surprise I was told on Thursday that provided I could poo I could go home on Friday, the drugs block you up so it wasn't as easy to get that done, but Friday morning saw the job done so to speak. One last echo-cardiogram to make sure the repair was holding fortunately it was and I was then discharged into the London rush hour. We treated ourselves to a cab home and the driver couldn't have been kinder when he found out my situation

Overall was it difficult? Yes but nowhere as difficult as I feared it would be, it was made all the easier by the wonderful kind and talented people who looked after me.

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It’s great to read everything went so well, the NHS are brilliant ❤️ Now the real healing begins, I wish you well and a speedy recovery.

[Ianc2]

Well done! I had my valves repaired and my heart remodelled at the Royal Brompton by Dr De Souza's team and spent some time in Alexandra ward. I still keep the bag that they gave me with a long list of medicines in it. I agree completely about your comments regarding their staff, they were brilliant.

You can look forward to slow and steady recovery where your fitness ever so slowly gathers pace as heart and breast bone recover. Welcome to the rest of your life and the new vista of opportunities that will open up for you.

[seven-oh in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks Ianc2, I toowas treated by Mr De Souza and team and I've kept my tags in the bag as a memento.

Could you elaborate on what the long slow recovery is like please as I'm trying to manage my own expectations.

[Ianc2 in reply to seven-oh]

Hi seven-oh

Depends to a certain extent on your age I suppose. I was 69 when I had my great chest exploration event. It takes 8-10 weeks for your sternum to knit itself back together. After this time you will probably get an invite to go along to cardiac rehab sessions organised by your local hospital, which are highly recommended.

At first I found it difficult to climb the stairs and walk around the house, but as I gathered strength I began to walk from lamp post to lamp post and met all my neighbours. My progress was monitored, by them, on a daily basis and everyone would stop for a chat.

Slowly but surely I extended my daily range. By the time the rehab course turned up I was moving quite well. The rehab course is a 'beep test' to start, followed by gentle circuit training which gently gets you moving. At the end of the course you do another beep test to measure your improvement. You then move onto the next stage and repeat at more energetic level, proceeding eventually to integrating into the local gymn, on rowing machines, bikes and treadmills.

At that point I resumed walking and getting out and about a lot more. That was in 2014. Since then I have made sure my waist is half my height, I am inside my BMi, drink plenty of water and I try and avoid sugar in all its many forms like the plague - which means I eat a very healthy diet. Curiously my arteries were clear of sludge anyway.

I still have an irregular heartbeat but it doesn't affect me too much. unless I am trying to walk uphill at 8000 feetin the Austrian Alps, as I was a few weeks ago. Wonderful things, ski lifts.

In summary I would say that about 3 months is needed to get back into action, followed by another 3 months to get up speed. I have met many other members of the zipper club in the last few years and most of them seen to have an 'up and at them' lifestyle. Any questions feel free to fire away.

[seven-oh in reply to Ianc2]

Hi lanc2, I'm 62 and apart from the valve issue in good health, my GP's words were you are relatively young and healthy with a damaged valve and after the repair you'll be relatively young and healthy so he is not suggesting cardiac rehab for me, I'm about 8 kgs down in weight since the diagnosis as I changed my diet ans upped by walking in anticipation of needing to do something. Pre op my device was saying I averaged 12000 steps a day, more at the weekend and fewer whilst at work. I'm pretty close to the waist guideline you mention, it sounds like an achievable target for me. I can get up and down stairs relatively easily at the moment, but I am taking plenty of rest.

I'm on loads of drug, when might I reasonably expect that to start to decrease (at least: beta-blocker, blood thinner, blood pressure reducer, pain killer, laxative)?. My blood pressure is good and my heart beat is a little fast but in a desirable pattern.

Thanks lanc2, its a great help to me you taking the time to respond.

[Ianc2 in reply to seven-oh]

Sounds like you have a good GP. If you are doing 1200 steps a day you can't be doing much wrong. The drugs will start to vanish, starting with the pain killer and the laxative. As you exercise and follow a healthy diet the next to go, or be reduced, will be the blood pressure pills and the beta blocker. The blood thinner may be a subject to further advice. Congratulations - the world is now your oyster.

[seven-oh in reply to Ianc2]

😊