Hi all,
Apologies for the delay in sending this, but I wanted to get down in writing what happened in the build up to the operation and what happened after.
Firstly, before the op, describing some of the decisions as last minute is putting it lightly. I went in on Monday 20th May to be consented and was asked “by the way, what kind of valve do you want?” I pointed out that my valve was being spared and was “only” having my ascending aorta changed. They then pointed out that, at times, when changing the ascending aorta, any torsion/tension in the prosthetic can deform the aortic valve when sewing and hence may need changing. Hence my question to the group about mechanical v tissue valve. I opted for the Inspiris valve as I was being operated on at Harefield.
I arrived at Harefield at 06:30 on Tuesday 21st May for the op as I was going to be first in; another patient “B” was also there. We were then taken off and had our chests, arms, groin and B had his legs shaved as well. Last minute checks done, we then walked down to theatre and were held in a waiting area on beds whilst they prepped for us. At this point, there was the second surprise. I was originally told I was going to have a mini thoracotomy to avoid opening up the sternum. Whilst waiting to go into theatre, I was then told there’d been a change of plan and they were going to perform a mini sternotomy instead. B and I were then wheeled into the anaesthetic room. Having had a general before, I was expecting the large syringe of milky fluid but I was given a small injection in the back of the right hand whilst someone stuck some large metal plates to my back (not quite sure what they were for) and then it was lights out.
Seven hours later I came around in Intensive Care where the nurse asked me if there is anything they can get me. Apparently I asked for 20 gin and tonics and then fell asleep again. I then came around again and asked for sweet tea. I was feeling pretty sick at this point due to morphine (I had a hand held pump to self administer) but was given a drug to counter that. I then slept on and off through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning being conscious of having dressings changed and given a bed bath by the nurse.
On Wednesday morning I was given breakfast and then transferred to the High Dependency Unit where they got me on my feet for a few minutes. At that point I was aware of just how many cables, wires, drains and pipes there were connected to me which restricted movement. The day was spent having various checks and obs done whilst having some dressings changed.
By this point I was pretty shattered as there is so much going on and noise that sleep was often disturbed.
On Thursday I was transferred to one of the HDU wards and an element of normality. As per the previous day, is was a series of obs, bloods and medication interspersed with sleep. By evening, I was really looking forward to a decent nights sleep. My wife had brought in my noise cancelling headphones and eye mask to I thought I was set for the night. So much for great plans, around 9pm on the Thursday evening, my plans for a great sleep were interrupted by the onset of Atrial Fibrillation. This was treated throughout the evening by alternating mixes of potassium and magnesium and by connecting my pacing wires up to a pacemaker. Amiodarone was given as well. About 12 hours later, my heart went back into Sinus rhythm and could finally rest. Friday and Saturday were spent having various drains, pipes, wires and my pacing wires removed. On the Saturday, I went for an ECG and echocardiogram. My wound sites (sternum, groin and two drains on my chest) were frequently checked.
On the Sunday, i met with the doctors who gave me a rather large bag of medication plus schedule and I was discharged and home.
Sadly, it didn’t end there. I had another AF episode on the Monday and was admitted to my local A&E and I stayed in hospital for a further two nights till the AF was under control.
I was told that AF after heart surgery is very common so there was no real concern.
Since then, I have had no further AF episodes. I’ve visited the cardiac rehab guys who have been excellent and am now up to running 5k and have been back at work 4 weeks.
I met with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago who said “we don’t need to see you again, you’re fine, enjoy your life.”
What was an incredibly daunting operation is now in the past and I couldn’t have got through it without the love and support of my wife and the support of people on this group.
I’m now sat in a beach in Greece having been snorkelling - you do get past it!
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