Aortic Valve Replacement - Home and next 7 days

[road2ruin]

When my wife first picked me up from the hospital my only thoughts were of joy. Not because the hospital and staff didn't look after me well, I cant't praise them enough, but everyone wants to get back to normality. Hospitals are difficult places to feel comfortable in.

The first night back in my own bed was bliss, cool sheets soft pillows. Suddenly I realised my bed wasn't what I had left it, I had to learn a new way to sleep! Extra pillow, particular side, to hot, to cold...it was tough, but I was still happy.

After two days at home I was feeling rather chuffed and I joined my wife in taking out girls to school. On the way home we stopped at a DIY store to collect some goods. Not walking far but getting out. As we got home I started to feel unwell, nothing you can really put your finger on but, dizzy, light headed, fuzzy and just very little energy. My first though was I had over done it and to sit down and rest. This soon, I realised, was not right. My wife came in to ask if I was okay and after mush soul searching (I don't like to make a fuss) I said no, can you take me to the hospital. The A & E department were great, straight in, no waiting and set up on a monitor before I knew it. I was in AF. Appraently up to 30% of patients suffer from this, and, it was in my going home book. I just hadn't realised what it was. They decided that because my heart was so erratic and high they would keep my in and put me on an Amiodorane drip, again a common treatment. I was thne submitted to the cardiac ward to wait it out. I stayed the night and by the early hours my heart was back to a normal rhythm. Early morning, after a visit from the consultant, I was told I could go home, however, along with another raft of drugs, which I now had to take fro three months. This was the tablet form of the drip. One echo later and my wife was taking me home just after lunch.

The rest of the week was fairly uneventful with lots of reading, watching TV, small walks and just general boredom. It sounds fun being off work, but when you are stuck at home it isn't!

One thing that I was becoming aware of though was my mental health. I was very sad, depressed, struggled sleeping and relying on sleeping tablets. Mental health issues are not real are they? Of course they are, and not only happen to other people. Don't suffer in silence. I had an appointment to see the GP anyway so, so I asked her what I could do. Unfortunately on the NHS counselling is not a speedy process, 4 month wait here apparently. So private it had to be, I could not wait and had to see someone. I am looking forward to my first meeting tonight, I will keep you all posted.

Regards

R2R

[Mirador19]

Hope the counselling helps you feel better, I think all who have heart issues and procedures suffer with the low feeling and shock (depression), I know I did and i didnt have anything like you went through. It is good when others see you talking about this problem and that it is perfectly normal after heart problem. Keep us up to date with your progress and well done for doing something about it.

Joan

[road2ruin in reply to Mirador19]

Thanks Joan, it's always nice to have support

[FreedomOne]

Just in case you were not informed Amiodorane can cause sleep disturbances. Hopefully this will not be the case for you however if this does happen I found you get used to it and after a while you adjust. Things do get better with time... I found regular walks helped me greatly and the Rehab was great too, other people in a similar situation who you could relate to and the rehab itself was normally fun. Best wishes....

[road2ruin in reply to FreedomOne]

I didn't know that about Amiodorane, thanks. I am trying to get out, but very cold at the moment. Thanks for the help.

[Suzy1954]

Hi. It’s very common to feel down and depressed after a big operation. I’ve had three OHS and needed counselling after two of them. As time went on I started to feel back to normal. It just took time. I lost my confidence but still tried to do the things I did previously. My husband was the one to drag me out when I felt I couldn’t do it. It’s early days for you but I seem to remember it took me a few months to get back to some sort of normality. Good luck, you’ll get there 👍

[road2ruin in reply to Suzy1954]

Many thanks, does make me feel better x

[Alison1960]

I know it’s too early for you but rehab is very helpful - I was advised to definitely attend - not just for the physical part. No matter how much they want to help, families have not been through what we have and only people who have been through OHS can truly understand.

After surgery I thought I’d not been affected at all mentally. However now that a year has passed I realise this isn’t true - first 6 months of thinking I could conquer the world and second six was a rollercoaster of emotions. Happy to say I’m back to normal now but people should be aware.

Good luck and remember we’re all here for you! X

[road2ruin]

Thanks, I am looking forward to the cardiac rehab. Thank for sharing.

[Stevo1979]

I know what you mean about the mental side of things very difficult to understand what your body has been through, I had an AVR in December 18 and a pericardial effusion a few weeks after the op, in all I was in hospital for 3 months. The best medicine I had for the depression and anxiety was the cardiac rehab. Helped me a lot more mentally than physically! If you are offered this then I would recommend it 110% hope you are feeling better soon, you do get over it, I'm back to work 8 months now and have learnt to enjoy my life

[Handel]

Your experience is exactly what my husband went through. Fortunately (or not)!, he was already in hospital when AF was diagnosed.

The mental trauma really affects you and not only you but your wife and family as well. Counselling services up our way are dire so me and hubby talked through everything we were feeling, every day!! Been married for 46 years and have never had these sort of chats.

Good luck to you. You'll get there xxxx

[Ianc2]

Hi

Did you have your valve replacement by open heart surgery?

[road2ruin in reply to Ianc2]

Hi, Yes I did.

[Ianc2 in reply to road2ruin]

It takes 8-10 weeks for your sternum to knit together. You really need to take it easy for the first 6 weeks at least. You probably find the rehab people won't contact you until about ten weeks are up. There is an awful lot of repair work going on inside your body and you need to give it a chance to be effective. Very gentle exercise to start with - I used to measure my daily progress in lampposts. Nice and easy does it every time.

[Hidden]

Hello there,

Your story sounds a little like mine. I had an AVR just over two years ago. I spent a bit longer than expected in hospital due to a slightly raised temperature. I also developed AF and was put on a low dose of a betablocker. I eventually "escaped" on the eleventh day. I was delighted to be home like you and the first few nights in my own bed seemed like bliss. However, on about the third evening home I experienced my heart pounding at a rate of knotts and started to feel anxious. I eventually asked my husband to call for an ambulance and a short while later the paramedics turned up and did some tests and found my heart rate was 140. They decided I should go into hospital to be checked over. We arrived there about 10 p.m. and after four hours my husband came back home thinking I would be kept in until the morning. However, as I had stabilised the doctor on duty decided I should go home. It was now about 2.30 a.m. I explained that my husband had probably just arrived home (half an hour away) or might well have crashed out from exhaustion and wouldn't hear the phone. She said if necessary she would arrange for a car to take me home. As I am sure you can imagine I wasn't too happy about that. Fortunately for me my husband heard the phone and about 40 mins later turned up to collect me.

A few days later I had a similar experience but this time I ended up in A & E during the morning. I stayed in this time until the evening during which time the doctor on duty changed my tablets and made sure I was well enough to go home. Fortunately, I haven't made any more journeys by ambulance to the hospital, but found my doctor less than understanding when it came to my being anxious and also being extremely aware of my heart beat. My husband described it as being so strong it was shaking the bed. Apparently because I am on the slim side - I weighed just over 7 stone after the op - I haven't got much insulation and this makes me very aware of what my heart is up to. (I am now back to 8 stone which is pretty normal for me).

I still suffer from anxiety and palpitations to a degree and my heart isn't always happy about which way I lie in bed but I try to concentrate on my breathing which sometimes helps.

I can't help thinking that because we read that recovery from our operation takes about 6 weeks we may think we should be back to "normal" in that time. I think the 6 week period is just the healing time of the surgery and in fact one consultant told me that it can take up to two years to recover fully. We are all individual of course but I feel we should look after ourselves more and give ourselves time and make sure family and friends do likewise.

Do hope your counselling session goes well and I shall look forward to hearing how it went.

Best wishes

[Nanny72 in reply to Hidden]

I put down the depression after my valve replacement to being on the ventilator for 8 days, during which time I had horrendous hallucinations.

I was told the hallucinations were when I was being extubated .

After a month of flashbacks I was started on Sertraline, I am still waiting to feel better.

[road2ruin]

That's a lovely post, thank you. Good luck for the future xx

[Nanny72]

I was also extremely depressed after my aortic valve replacement. 21 months later I cant get off my Sertraline.

Hope counselling helps you.

[road2ruin in reply to Nanny72]

Thanks, me too.

[Ticktock123]

I had an aortic valve and 3 bypasses on 16 May this year, home after 6 days and the usual 4 months recovery with no driving for the first month.

Went to Palma Majorca for a week in early October and walked 27 miles during the week. Next trip is New York for 10 days over the Christmas period so I can see my son who lives and works there.

So I feel better than before the op, sleeping 8 to 10 hours a night, nothing but a few very minor twinges associated with the bedding down of nerve sensitivity on my donor leg and chest scars.

Naturally I am in awe of the surgeon and NHS staff in Derby and Stoke cardiac facilities.

I’m 75 in January

I wish you a faster recovery over the next months so you can get back to enjoying life!

[road2ruin in reply to Ticktock123]

Amazing, thanks for posting

[lovelifetoday]

You have done amazingly. I believe most operations cause depression and yours was a big one. Be kind to yourself you will get your life and happiness back and I am sure talking about it will speed it along.

But will say it again wow you have done amazing after such an op.

Take Care xxxx

[road2ruin]

You are very kind. Good health to you too.