My surgeon is on holiday most of August and I just had my last scan yesterday. So out of the blue just got the call for Sunday 2nd Aug admittance for Monday op at the LGI Leeds ward L16. I know I am having a Triple Bypass and Aortic Valve replacement. But I was so shocked I forgot to ask if he is also doing a Root Aorta Aneurism as well. That is what the last were scans were for after I saw him. I am phoning the secretary back tomorrow to find out. He did say he may need to decide when opened up. Isolating now of course. Now I am wondering what I need to take to last me up to two weeks in hospital with no visitors? I bought a good pack of 10 disposable underpants as I don't think wards have washing machines? I am 73 and never had a proper operation before, so all new to me. Any practical advice having it done during Corvid-19 would be most welcome. I have read up about recovery at home after for Bypass Operations. Thank you everyone who has offered advice to me in difficult times of all the delays to date. All in the past now and looking forward to a normal life again in the Autumn.
Got My Operation Date Today - British Heart Fou...
Got My Operation Date Today
Hi
Firstly, all my best wishes with you. Not going to rose tint it and say it will be a walk in the park, but we're so lucky to have the NHS. I couldn't have asked for better care. Regarding what to take, SNACKS! Obviously non refrigerated ones, but take nuts, crisps, cup-a-soup if you like, and plenty chocolate. Great for energy! Suffice to say, make sure with the medical team before you consume anything. All the best, mate.
Hi there, I have just spent 26 days in hospital following a mitral valve replacement.
Things I didn’t need: lots of pairs of underwear - very difficult to to put on and off after open heart surgery; a dressing gown - again couldn’t put it on or take it off.
Things I had but needed more of: snacks - after the first 10 days I was hungry quite a lot because the food was awful and I hadn’t got any way of getting food that I could eat as I was confined to the ward and didn’t have any cash with me to ask the staff to shop for me; drinks - for the same reason. I found I craved hot orange squash but couldn’t tolerate fruit juice (the only alternative to water or tea on the ward) or anything else sweet due to nausea (you may be different). I needed mints or something to suck as I had a horrible taste in my mouth for around 14 days despite cleaning my teeth and drinking plenty. I also wished that I had taken a real book and puzzle magazines - I had my iPad and Kindle but developed migraines and some vision changes so looking at a screen was a problem for a while. I found audiobooks and the radio were a lifeline. I also wished that I had taken mouthwash as for the first week I hadn’t the strength to clean my teeth! I needed body moisturiser cream as the skin started to peel off my feet and hands - think it was the fluid used in the heart-lung machine. I wished I had taken indigestion remedies too as I couldn’t get the staff to take my severe heartburn seriously and really struggled to eat and drink. After five days they finally gave me omeprazole and two days after that I was finally in less pain. I also recommend an eye mask and ear plugs in case they don’t supply them. My hospital did, but I also took my own just in case.
That’s all I can think of for now. I wish you the very best for your surgery and if I think of anything else I’ll post again.
Great advice, especially about the dressing gown. If there is no-one to drape it over your shoulders, it is next to impossible to struggle into it even without drips attached and completely impossible if tethered to a drip.
Hi. Hope all goes well. I had a valve repair two years ago at LGI and the staff were amazing. Most of the heart wards have free TV, radio and internet access via the individual TV’s so take headphones you prefer wearing. I also took a face mask to make it dark during the night as I hate sleeping with any lights on. I remember very little until I was in HDU after my op. Unless you like drinking water all the time take some squash or fruit juices. Your appetite and taste may be slightly different fOr a few days at least. If the weather is good you may be able to go to the roof top garden which is for heart patients but don’t know if this is open with the pandemic. If it is make good use of it for your daily walks afterwards. If you have a tablet download podcasts or your favourite radio programmes. The BBC sounds have loads free and your attention span may be quite limited. Loose clothing is good because I found that the excess fluid they need to pump into you during your op takes a while to go and I needed loose fitting trousers and shoes for a few days when I was first moving around. Can’t think of anything else but hope it all goes to plan and you’re not in for long, I was only on 5 days for valve replacement and they do like to get you home as soon as you’re medically fit as that’s when you start your proper recovery.
That must have come as quite a shock being so quick like that.
I know my local hospital does let family and friends drop off anything you may need at the hospital and they get it passed on to you.
I hope it’s the same on your case you won’t worry so much that you may have forgotten something.
There’s always ‘I’m sure I’ve forgotten something’ issue on the way there isn’t there.
Wishing you all the luck all goes well, look after yourself, let us know how you get on 😃
Hi and good luck with the op I am sure it will go well and you will be up and about soon after, I am in hospital just now waiting on a transplant so I don't know how long I will be here for, the things I couldn't do without are, my eye mask and ear plugs totally essential, my kindl and laptop the WiFi is awful here so I have had to pay for data, essential to pass the time but annoying at the same time, head phones are good as well if you don't have your own room, friends and family can pick up my washing and drop off clean clothes and snacks, the food is awful, we have a fridge so I have some lovely M&S goodies in it along with cheese nibbles etc, I have just been wearing short sleeved t shirts as its easier for them to take bloods and do blood pressure, I was thinking mabe after the op button up tops may be easier to get on and off? Mabe someone that has had surgery could say if this is a good idea, I would like to know myself, Also face wipes moistureiser, mouth wash, I also have shampoo conditioner hair brush mirror shower gel, you can tell I have been in and out of hospital a lot! I bring travel size if its not too long a stay take care,
char x
I was only able to manage wearing a hospital gown for the first 10 or so days as anything involving putting my arms above my shoulders or behind my back was impossible. Then I wore very stretchy baggy vests with straps not arms and baggy PJ bottoms. I also had a couple of loose, stretchy nightdresses.
I had a more difficult time because I was treated 150 miles from home at a specialist centre so I didn’t have anyone near enough to bring me anything. Never again!
Hi having been hospital a lot but not having had any heart related surgery, just waiting on the big one at the moment, I didn't really no what it would be like, in terms of what is comfy to wear after, so thank you for an insight to it, I really hate hospital goonies, not forgetting the giant, one size fits all, paper pants 🙊they are so awful, I will just have to get stuff brought in if and when the time comes, I was lucky with the hospital it is a national one but only a 20 minute drive from where I stay
Char
I hope everything goes well. To be honest for the first few days I was barely aware of anything so the gown didn’t bother me. It is also the best thing to wear with all of the tubes and the ECG. As its open heart you’ll be catheterised so pants aren’t really option for women - unless you get some from an Adult lingerie shop 😆
Very true hehe, I wish I could just get it over with but who knows when it will happen, I am just crossing everything that it won't be too long, I will wear the paper pants with pride 😂char
Oh yes - wet wipes. The couple of days that I had a nurse who did not help me at all I relied on those to stay a bit fresher. She appeared to think that tough love was best and left me to get on with everything alone 3 days post op. Next time I will be very vocal about needing help and won’t hesitate to ask another member of staff. It was only as I recovered and saw the care that other patients received that I realised how bad it was! The other staff were great though and thankfully she went on vacation for most of my stay 😉
Don't forget earphones and charger for your ipad or smartphone. It can get boring. Ear plugs at night are a great idea! Hope it goes well.
You are all so positive and helpful. Thank you so much. Unfortunately it is not possible for anyone to drop off washing etc. The hospital is at least 2 hrs away and is not our local hospital. We are in our 70's too & my wife is not in good health. So no top ups for me.
I was in the same position so I tried to make sure that I had everything. However, I had packed for a maximum of 10 days but ended up staying 26 because of some post-op problems. It is worth giving that some thought.
When I had my first AVR I also had a distended aortic root and was told that they wouldn’t be making a decision about what to do with it until they had me open! In the end they wrapped it rather than replace it.
So far as stuff to take with you, I agree with all the other replies. Earplugs are a must if you want to get any sleep. They usually take the catheter out after a day or two back on the ward, basically once you’re peeing properly. I took my phone, MP3 player, iPad and kindle with me (plus chargers) and I also took a puzzle book. Concentration is a bit rubbish after the op but does get better. Also you may find your memory a bit rubbish for a while, again this is normal and does improve. Take some money in with you. Not sure whether they’ve changed due to Covid but when I was in we had someone come round daily with a trolley with papers, magazines, sweets etc. I did find my tastebuds changed after the op and biscuits that I used to love (ie could eat a whole packet in one sitting) I now can’t eat.
Certainly at Glenfields they like to get you out of bed ASAP after the op, as it aids recovery, and they encouraged us to get dressed in something comfy rather than wearing nightwear all day. I had loose ‘jogging’ bottoms and baggy-shirts.
Not sure f it has previously been mentioned, but take the painkillers. It is no time for heroics and if you are in pain you won’t want to move about. There is plenty of time for cutting down on them as you recover so ask for more if you need them.
All the best with your op.
Wendy
Thank you Wendy, especially re the aortic root. My surgeon is phoning me tomorrow to explain what he is doing re my aorta. From what the secretary said today it looks like he is not doing an aneurism, but she was not sure. hence the call. So wrapping may be an option. Thank you for other points too. All very useful info.
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