AVR Surgery date.

[Potter52]

At last I have had a phone call from the Hospital this morning telling me that my Op date is set for Friday 3rd July. This is the day before my 68th Birthday so, if all goes well, I’ll “celebrate” my Birthday sore but relieved that my Op is done and dusted! 🙏🤞

[080311]

Great news, you will be fine I know it’s scary place you are looking into but you will be celebrating your birthday knowing your heart as been fixed. I was 68 when I had mine nearly 4 years ago.

It’s given me 4 good years and grateful every day for the medical team that gave me my life back.

I wish you the very best of luck let us know how you go.

Best wishes Pauline

[Potter52 in reply to 080311]

Thanks very much for your good wishes Pauline. Much appreciated. Al

[kefalonia1]

How wonderful, you will feel like a new person when you have recovered and jump out of bed every morning like a gazelle!!! l had two AVR's 5 weeks apart, the first one failed due to sepsis and endocarditis but 3 years and 4 months on l am still here and feel so positive. Someone on this site had their mechanical AVR 47 years ago and it is still going strong!!! Happy Days!!! Take care and keep in touch with us all, you will be fine. Sue.

[Potter52 in reply to kefalonia1]

Thanks so much Sue. I will certainly keep in touch. I’m having a pig 🐷 valve.

[Alisbabas]

Good luck and please keep us posted.

I hope it all goes well

Al

[Potter52]

Thanks a lot Al.

[Fredders]

Great news that it will all be over soon and you’ll be on the road to recovery. Keep us posted.

Wendy

[Supernanu]

Great news. I had an Avr 4 months ago. Bovine tissue. I now feel so much better, less tired and less breathless. In fact better than I’ve been for several years.

Best wishes. Nicole

[Potter52 in reply to Supernanu]

Thanks Nicole. I’m having a pig 🐷 valve.

[080311 in reply to Potter52]

Snap😂

[Metabrarian20]

Wishing you all the best. I'm starting out on this journey having been told I have severe AS due to a bicuspid aortic valve.

[Potter52]

You’ll be fine Metabrarian20. For some strange sado masochistic reason, I’m looking forward to this Operation. 🤣

[Mandy2020]

Good luck 😃. And happy birthday for the 4th 🎉

I've just started the 2 week isolation still waiting on a date.

All the best

Mandy

[Potter52 in reply to Mandy2020]

Well if you’ve just started your isolation, you must be due in 14 days time 🤞. I’m starting my isolation tomorrow but it won’t be much different than the last 11 weeks! Thanks for the birthday wishes and good luck msg. Stay safe.

[ITSINTHEBAG9]

Very very good wishes to you Sir. Keep us in touch with how you are getting on.

[Purple1935]

Great news! What a fab Birthday present!

Wishing you the very best for your op... given me some hope that things are now moving along with the ops.

Where are you having it done?

[Potter52 in reply to Purple1935]

Thanks for your good wishes. I’m having the Op at Wythenshawe in Manchester-about 20 miles from where I live.

[Samgeorge]

Fantastic! The best birthday 🎁. I’m waiting for mine but will be be having a mechanical valve as I’m 52 with bicuspid aortic. Here’s to a speedy and safe recovery🍺

[J007]

How long have you waited if you don’t mind my asking

[Potter52 in reply to J007]

Hi, I was put on the list in February. The Consultant said I would have my Op in 6 weeks but Covid messed that up! So I have waited 4 months for the Op.

[J007 in reply to Potter52]

Thanks I’ve been on the list since February Just trying to second guess a date

[Ocset]

Good luck and I wish you the best. Hope all goes very well. scary a bit but the benefit afterwards is fantastic.

[Ianc2]

Good news. I had mine fixed when I was 69 and haven't stopped much since. I am 75 now and a bit grumpy at the moment because I should be walking in the Stubai valley in Austria. However it is going to be raining there all week so it is not all bad and I managed to get my money back.

Get yourself a V shaped pillow and be prepared for a bit of a slog for the fist few weeks as you start to come back to life. With a bit of luck your hospital will have started to get it's rehab plan back up and running., but that doesn't usually happen until 8-10 weeks after your op so as to give your breast bone time to knit back together. Then after that it will be onwards and upwards and you will be able to enjoy your new life.

[Potter52 in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks for the pillow advice-I will get a V shape one.

[Peterpiper1]

Great news for you must be a relief for you.. I should have had mitral valve repair may/June but obviously with covid been delayed.. Can I ask how long your op was put back. Good luck

[Wildmeadow]

Good luck Potter52, I expect a date for Saturday 4th.. fingers crossed.

“In the same boat!”

[Sunnie2day]

Great news, and what a super birthday present! You've had some great tips from other members, I'd like to add, in addition to the V pillow, the suggestion of a wedge pillow as well. Makes getting a kip in easier, with the wedge pillow on end you can be a bit more comfortable leaning back rather than trying to ease yourself into a full recline to sleep the first week or so home from hospital.

My wedge pillow testimonial: I'll be having the op sometime in the distant future according to my cardiologist ('trivial' scarring on my aortic valve he fully expects to progress but not anytime soon) but so far my only real experience with the wedge pillow is in part owing to needing to keep my upper body elevated (recurrent pericarditis complications) but more than anything owing to breaking and dislocating everything in my dominant arm several years ago (plus shoulder and collarbone) - once home from hospital, lying down was sheer agony (no mechanical bed to gently raise and lower me!) until my husband brought home a wedge pillow. I slept with the wedge up on the short end (so it was more a back rest than pillow) for weeks and was so grateful for the ease it provided! No more painful strain to lie down, it honestly was bliss.

Eventually you 'graduate' to using it 'flat' so it just elevates your upper body during sleep, then finally you'll chuck it in the corner as no longer needed - but you'll be glad you had it 'in the day'.

Please do update us as you go along, and I wish you a very happy birthday, in advance.

[Potter52 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks for the advice and birthday wishes. Good luck to you too.

[road2ruin]

Good news and good luck.

[123ghana]

Hi .absolutely great news for you .fab birthday pressie for you .

Keep us posted on your op and recovery 😊😊

[Annie-blue]

Congratulations and Good Luck. I hope you get the valve you want and get back your life. I'm still playing the waiting game with severe AS and success stories are so encouraging to hear. Do keep us posted - the ups and the downs - on the journey.

[Hidden]

Great news!! Good luck!!! Sounds like you will be spending your birthday in ICU but you will be well looked after and they have lots of drugs to help with the sore!! I hope all goes well for you xx

[Smerblue]

Fantastic news. Good luck with the op and hope you have a great Birthday.

[Beverley25]

All the best please keep us posted xx

[Handel]

Great news. Happy birthday for the 4th July! Keep us posted when you're recovering.

All the very best to you and your family xxx

[Potter52]

Thanks very much to everyone who has given me such good advice, encouragement and best wishes. I have been overwhelmed by all your kind comments. Good luck to you all, whether you have had surgery or waiting for Ops. I will certainly keep you all posted on my progress. It’s so good to know that other people are rooting for me. Take care and stay safe everyone.

[Nic25]

Mine was the day of my parents Diamond Wedding anniversary! They spent it praying for me, which made me feel seriously guilty afterwards!

But that's great news you now have a date (well great news apart from the fact it's a date for open-heart surgery), so pleased for you that you now have some certainty. Now you can get out of limbo and start planning and sorting out.

Good luck and do use us hearties if you need tips or advice.

Cheers

Nic x

[Tyke1]

Good luck, hope everything goes well, my husband has his stents fitted on the 1st and had a pre-assessment over the phone today and has to have a COVID swab test 2 days before, they’re staggering the appointment times to minimise the number of patients on the ward at a time and you can’t have anyone with you so it’s all a bit strange and quite stressful. I’m sure you’re feeling it too so I’m thinking of you and your family and 🤞🏻I’ll be feeling less stressed by the time it’s your turn so I’ll have my fingers crossed for you, take care and stay safe, best wishes

[Potter52 in reply to Tyke1]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I’ve started my 14 days isolation today. I have to go for a drive-thru Covid test 72 hours before my Op. Let’s stay positive and go through this together eh?

[Tyke1]

Thanks, yes I’ll keep my fingers crossed for my hubby first then for you when he’s all sorted. I’ll Post an update On him then we’ll all wait for your update as soon as you feel well enough and at least you know we will be thinking of you and awaiting your post it will, I hope give you some support and encouragement 👍🏻

[Potter52 in reply to Tyke1]

That’s great. Thanks for your support.

[Tyke1 in reply to Potter52]

Hello Potter52, I said I’d update you when my husband had his stent fitted, was a long day there for 9am and didn’t go down until 1.50 so didn’t get out until after 7pm but all went well and hope it’s all uphill from here, I’ll think of you on Saturday and wish you a happy birthday. Good luck

[Chrissyh80]

Great you have a date. Wishing you well for your operation and sending good vibes for a good recovery. I'm 18months post op and in good health, no problems. Take care 😊

[Potter52 in reply to Chrissyh80]

Thank you very much Chrissyh80. Much appreciated.

[Hidden]

I wish you much success.

I spent my 'Heinz' birthday stuck in the local Heart Clinic having an Angiogram.

It made life fun when everyone kept asking for name and D.O.B. to confirm who I was

[Potter52 in reply to Hidden]

Hahaha! I never thought of that. At Ieast I should remember my dob! Thanks for your good wishes.

[Smerblue]

Good luck. Hope everything goes well.

[Potter52]

Thank you. In today and Op tomorrow.