What to expect as my partner has valve replacement surgery

Hi, I am looking for hints, tips and heads-ups regarding my partners pending valve replacement surgery.

I want to be prepared for whats coming and what I can do to make his recovery as easy as possible. Any ideas, heads up or just plain old basic tips about what he wont be able to do that I possibly haven't thought of?

[Nic25]

Hi SannaSC, I'm sure lots of people can help you here with their personal stories and advice (I had an AVR in December) so happy to answer any specific questions. But as a starting point I found these pdfs from my hospital Guy's and St Thomas' really useful/helpful in terms of giving an overview of what to expect?

guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/reso...

guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-...

guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/reso...

For me I was pleasantly surprised how "able" I was when I came home - I was in and out in a week - I could go up and downstairs myself, wash and dress myself, make a plate of food, find my own way to the sofa etc! I had fully expected to come home something of an invalid, confined to bed and needing all sort of help, but none of that. In fact we bought all sorts of "recovery" cushions that we never used.

I was sore of course and tired easily but, in general, the reality wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. Of course everyone is different and I was lucky in that I had few if any complications so everything was very straightforward. But hopefully it will be much the same for your partner.

Some quick tips if helpful:

- Get them practising standing up from sitting without using their arms, as they won't be able to push up initially.

- First six weeks you're told not to lift anything heavier than a half-full kettle so there may be a lot of toing and froing and getting of stuff.

- They may want front-closing clothing, and loose clothing, as they may not be able to pull anything over their heads initially (and don't forget that about pyjamas/nightwear in hospital too).

- They'll be encouraged to get up and start being active quite quickly. So sitting up in the chair beside the bed and then gentle walking and then gradually upping the pace/distance.

- A basic small wedge maternity cushion is a good idea as something to have against the chest to provide support and protection.

- Ditto a small rolled-up towel tied at the ends is a good idea to have so they can hold it against their chest if they need to cough, sneeze or laugh, as that will hurt for the first few weeks as the sternum heals.

- Take the painkillers: it's not a whose toughest competition! Having said that, I came home just on paracetamol and it was mostly fine, again less painful than I had expected.

- But accept tiredness/fatigue may be an issue for the first few weeks, so take it slow and steady. Everything will take time to heal. But I also found the improvement in heart function was immediate and quite startling, considering I hadn't thought I had any symptoms beforehand anyway.

But good luck to both of you - as it can be difficult being the helpless observer in all this too - and hope it all goes well for you. This is a big and scary operation but for the surgical teams is a very straightforward, almost bread-and-butter one these days. So I am sure you'll be in good hands and your partner will be on the road to recovery in no time at all.

But do keep using this forum for advice, as that is what we're all hear for!

Nic x

[Hidden in reply to Nic25]

Hi Nic, thank you so much for this - I really appreciate it. It was also quite reassuring, thanks for the tips.

[Fredders]

Hi, Nic’s reply is very thorough, the only things I would add are you may find his memory and concentration levels aren’t what they were before the op. I was told this is as a result of the anaesthetic and it does wear off over the weeks. I also found it could vary from hour to hour. Sometimes I could read for a while with no problems and other times I would read a few pages, put the kindle down and then have to re-read it cos I couldn’t remember what I’d read - could be very frustrating. I also kept forgetting people’s names, more so than normal anyway! 😜

I would also ask family and friends to keep their visits short to start with. I was surprised how tired it made me, and often had to have a little nap afterwards.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised how much he improves each day immediately after the op. My husband said I looked like death warmed up on day one, but the following day I looked almost back to normal. I think it was about day four and I was sitting in the day room with my husband and another couple came in, one of whom was waiting to be booked in for his op, they asked me when I was having my op and couldn’t believe I’d already had it!

All the best to you both.

Wendy

[Nic25 in reply to Fredders]

I'd definitely agree with all that Wendy, great advice. I thought "a month off, I'll finally be able to read lots of improving books". No chance. But I did manage to make a lego model of the Titanic (complete with clear brick icebergs)! Hope you're keeping well yourself by the way? Nic x

[Fredders in reply to Nic25]

Hi Nic, I thought I’d have plenty of time for my hobbies of card making and drawing, but I ran out of energy quite quickly so you did well to build the Titanic.

I’m doing well thanks, although found out at Cadwell yesterday that when carrying a fishing brolly and pulling a cool box I get very breathless, am fine if not carrying anything except my handbag so think I need to get a bit fitter. Have an exercise bike now so will have to get going on that! Hope everything is okay with you.

Wendy x

[Nic25 in reply to Fredders]

Or a valet to carry things for you maybe?!! Glad you're all ok. Yes all good with me thank you. Just back from first post-op holiday this week, which was lovely and relaxing (if very hot as we were in Greece) so another positive milestone ticked off.... onwards and upwards x

[Fredders in reply to Nic25]

My boss was in Greece, got back a week ago, and he said it was very hot. We’re off on a cruise next month which starts and ends in Corfu, going up the Adriatic, hope it will have cooled down a bit by then. x

[Nic25 in reply to Fredders]

Ooh we were in Corfu, on the west though went to Corfu town a few times. Lovely place and should be a bit cooler by then. Have fun! X