Anyone in same place ?

[iw51]

Been told I need an op on my aorta couple of weeks ago and just cannot deal with it mentally I’m 54 in good health and really scared.

[GeorgeAlexander]

My husband had a mechanical aortic valve and an aortic root replacement in July and he is just 45. He too was very scared and it all came as a massive shock. If we can offer any advice these specialist know exactly what they are doing. This forum has really helped us, use all the resources available, to you, the cardiac nurses are amazing. I hope everything goes well for your op.

[Deary63]

Hi if it helps , my old dad was 88 when he had his aorta by pass , due to aneurysm, unbelievably he couldn’t wait to have it done so he could feel better, he come through it all ...these doctors are amazing...

But you wouldn’t be human if you wasn’t scared, it’s the unknown ...your in good hands Iam sure...good luck

[Nic25]

Hey iw51. I had an AVR in December last year age 50. The emotional build-up/terror was for me almost the worst bit. In the event, yes it was a big operation but I was in and out in a week, very few complications and am now fully recovered and fitter than I was pre-op.

But the six months beforehand was a really dark place. The mental side of these things is massive and often overlooked. So the terror/emotional mess you're feeling is completely normal. It doesn't help to say it but it is a very straightforward operation these days, even if a big deal for us going through it! But good luck, and hope things are ok. And feel free to ask any questions as that's what we're all here for. Nic x

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I am fairly convinced that when people feel well or have no symptoms surgery comes as a bigger shock. I had a quadruple bypass and for me it could not happen quickly enough as my life became dominated by angina and breathless! A friend's wife had a valve replaced and two others repaired at 70. Two years later her younger husband cannot keep up! I know it will not help much but cardiac surgeons often do two or three operations a day and are highly skilled at it.

[seasider18]

Aortic valve or aortic aneurysm ?

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to seasider18]

Hi Seasider, the profile mentions an enlarged valve.

[MumaLines]

Hi Hearty

Total Shock & Horror is what I remember. Scared was not the word when I was kept stable, then a Quadruple Bypass a week later.

I was petrified, layed there so quiet, thinking, tick tock tick tock in my head: What if I die?

I won’t see my other half

I won’t see my Boys & 2 wk old Grandson

I said goodbye to my Sister just in case

I would die without the surgery, could die with the surgery, fact.

So I put my trust in the fantastic Cardio Surgeons, dead without them, they perform daily what I call a miracle, surgery.

Yes you will feel scared, tell them, they understand, don’t be silent, we’re here!

I’m here!

Opening my eyes each day, loving my family especially my now 4yr old grandson & baby granddaughter.......

I had no idea I had a problem, I feel better than ever, not breathless anymore, no more heavy feeling on my chest.

The medical teams at Basildon Cardio Centre are fantastic!!!! Miracle workers, life savers, trust them where you are, that’s all you can do, then you can reply to me after they give you a new lease of life.

We all do this silent terrified thing!

When you wake up after your op, you will be shocked at how fast they will have you up and moving around then home with your loved ones! Then rest and gentle walking, then joining other Hearties for cardio rehab (exercise, advise & lots of laughter).

You can then wake up each day, breath, smile, love and enjoy life like me.....

Jane x

[RoyM]

I too am on watch and wait for an aortic valve and root replacement. I understand the anxiety it causes and the waiting and not knowing is the worst made worse by lack of symptoms, knowing you will feel worse when you come out(initially anyway) is not easy to get your head around. I try to take the view that I am lucky in that the condition was spotted before something went tragically wrong. Yes, a big operation certainly but on the positive side the surgeons are amazing and you are in the best hands....good luck.

[MumaLines]

Oh by the way my friend had a ruptured Aorta, she too is with me laughing and enjoying life.

[popeyeuk]

Hello well after cycling for 30 years ..never smoking and a good diet .. I am currently in hospital awaiting a double bypass.. I am scared but the team in here are fantastic and very reassuring.. I am feeling exactly what you are .. We'll get throught it and come out the other side fitter and stronger.. P.S. I'm 57 yrs old

[Hidden in reply to popeyeuk]

All the best with your operation popeyeuk 👍 I’m sure it will be worth it, your in the best place ❤️

[Stevo1979]

Hi had AVR last December aged 39, I had endocarditis which meant 6 weeks of IV antibiotics in hospital 6 times a day plus an extra 2 infusions of some other drug and by the time I was nearing my operation I was actually looking forward to it as I couldn't do anything really, a walk to the shower was a real task and it was only about 50 steps away! Post op i now feel fantastic and i go out on daily walks with my dog for a couple of miles at a time. That said post op it really hit me what I had went through and what it meant for me but the other side of what could have happened is not worth thinking about. After the op get yourself to the cardiac rehab it is not just good for getting physically active again, I found it a great help mentally

[Cliff_G]

Hi, iw51,

Sorry to hear this, you will be looked after as the others say, but I can assure you that having an elective operation is the best option for you, scary though it might be. I was monitored for an enlarged aorta for many years and dreaded ever having to have it operated, but in tne end it decided for me - it dissected, and the resultant emergency and recovery was very much worse than I would have had, and I now wish I had had a planned op.

You don't say what your problem is. Is it the valve, an aneurysm, or what? One of the best things to do is read up on your condition; if you say what the problem is, we can direct you to some great resources.

[JulianM]

Last year, I had my best season ever as an age group triathlete. At 59, I'd qualified for a slew of international events with the British Triathlon Age Group team. I felt fitter and healthier than ever before. Then I volunteered for a heart study at St George's, London, and after an exercise stress test and an echocardiogram, was sat down by the researcher and told I had an enlarged ascending aorta at 4.6cm and, as a doctor, she had to advise me to withdraw from competitive sport, she explained the two ways it could kill me (very quickly, or very slowly), and recommended I ask my GP to refer me to a cardiologist.

Yes, this was a shock.

However, 13 months later, as I'm now waiting for my second CT scan, to confirm the apparent growth seen on repeated echos (up to 4.9cm + in July) and a decision on surgery, hopefully in January, I count myself as extraordinarily lucky to have found out when I did, to have been able to access really good advice and options.

I'm currently having my bathroom completely refurbished and adapted to make it easier to use after surgery. I've bought a very comfortable reclining deck chair from John Lewis on end-of-season sale terms. I'm talking to family about where I stay and with whom for the first two weeks after surgery. I'm also training the guy who will cover my shifts at work for the three months that I think I'll need, before I can again meet the physical standards for pool lifeguarding (my main day job).

Yes, I've had a few sleepless nights along the way. It's taken time to come to terms with it. But it can be done.

We're all different in how we cope with this. I totally agree about the challenge of facing surgery, which I know will be seriously painful, at least for some days or weeks, when I'm really not used to this stuff. My way, which is to find out everything I possibly can, doesn't work for all. But everything I've read and heard confirms that the very best time to have surgery is when you are thoroughly fit and well.

Things I've found helpful include joining two active Facebook groups for thoracic aneurysms and for aortic aneurysms; they're mostly American, function partly as prayer-circles (I'm not religious, but for those who are, I can see that they gain from that), and they don't have access to some of the surgical options that are available here (notably, PEARS surgery to protect the aorta without going on a bypass machine, which is what I'm aiming for). However, they're extremely supportive, constructive, and have helped me get a lot of perspective.

I've also had the privilege of meeting several aortic dissection survivors; it's the worst thing that could possibly happen, and yet they've coped with it, and with much more drastic surgery than I'm looking at. They've been very helpful to me, in working at getting good relationships with the professionals I am now relying on.

Do you have a specialist nurse assigned to you? The one who saw me for my pre-operative blood tests and other checks is very accessible - by phone or email, and more than helpful.

Have you tried the British Heart Foundation helpline (if you're in the UK)? Again, they have trained nurses who are well versed in these issues, especially in relation to the mental pressures.

Hope this is helpful, and very best of luck.

[Nic25]

Hey iw51. Just to add to my previous post. As well as a bicuspid aortic valve I had an ascending aneurysm. Although the thought of it bursting was scary (though I tried to be philosophical about - basically if it went and I was anywhere other than A&E it would be game over so no point fretting!) in the event the cardiologist kept a very close eye on things (I got down to six monthly checks) and eventually it was the valve rather than the aneurysm that prompted them to act and move to surgery. But it was repaired during the op, essentially stitched tight as I understand it. So hope that's also reassuring, at least a bit. Nic x

[cjbroon]

I am 51 years old, had an Ascending Aortic Aneurysm of 4.9 diagnosed in April 2017. I was fit and had no symptoms and never got any symptoms after diagnosis. As a Police Officer I immediately go put indoors one light duties.

I continued to keep fit through using an exercise bike at work and golfing a lot. I was told to stop contact sports like the karate I did to keep fit, no weight lifting and I used to do the insanity workout which I was told to stop as well.

Got OH Surgery to fix it in April this year, and further OH surgery due to complications. Got kept in a month as I had a couple of infections. Was back in 3 weeks later with pneumonia.

I went back to work 3 weeks ago on a phased return/light duties. Back in the gym at work and have been back golfing since August. I almost feel back to full fitness now and hopefully there will be no further issues.

The hospital, Consultants, Surgeon and nurses were excellent. I never really asked about the ins and outs of the surgery. I just asked if I was fixable. I kept really active and fit right up to the surgery which I think really helped and I tried not to think about it too much beforehand.