Got a date

[joel132]

Got my date for Valve replacement and triple bypass on 7th october... Hospital are saying i must have someone with me at home for a week when i come home. I don't have anyone will they still go ahead with the opp? Would appreciate any suggestions for getting ready to go in and any for being prepared when i come out?

[080311]

Hello, joel32

I have had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done, but don’t know about having someone at home with you when you come home, there are a few on the forum that have been on their own when they get home and that doesn’t seem to have been a problem they should be along to give you some advice.

Tips for going in, front fastening PJs don’t know if your man/woman but front fastening bras. Lose clothing, iPad charger, snacks and your normal washing products,

When you are home a V shaped pillow as you will be sleeping on your back, I had a rolled up baby blanket that I used to hug good for when you need to cough or sneeze! Protects your sternum. You will be given breathing exercises in hospital, keep doing them when you get home, I called them huffing and puffing it’s to help your lungs to start working properly remember they have taken a hit as were as your heart. They really help.

Gentle exercise walking is great, I use to count lamp posts and try and get to the next one the next time a went for my walk. No arms above your head and don’t lift anything heavier than half a kettle of water.

It’s 4 years since my op, and I am grateful every day to the medical team that gave me my life back.

I know how worrying it is but believe me what is going on in your head is much worse than the reality.

I wish you the very best remember your medics do this as their day job 😉

Pauline

[joel132 in reply to 080311]

thank you pauline.. x No lifting above your head! i better get the kitchen sorted so i don't have to reach

[080311 in reply to joel132]

Yep no hoovering no ironing 😂it’s the push pull movement on your sternum, takes 8-10 weeks for the sternum to heal. You don’t want the wires round the bones to move, when I saw my surgeon for my 6 week post op check he was showing me after op X-ray compared to the one before and I was asking about my sternum and he said that after 18 months my sternum would be stronger than his new bone grows over the wires. Always think that’s very clever of our body to do that😊

[gilreid1]

When I had my bypass a patient in at the same time had nobody at home. Aftercare team arranged social care to visit daily for ten days after he got home. This was in Aberdeen not sure if same everywhere

Good luck

[joel132 in reply to gilreid1]

thank you.. x

[Shar28]

A chair or stool for the shower! My husband had his AVR and found he couldn’t wash his hair by himself, so perhaps do that in hospital where you can ask for help before you go home.

And 2 pint size bottles of milk as the 4 pint ones are heavy when you’re sore.

All the best. X

[Fredders]

Let your cardiology department know that you won’t have anyone at home with you after your op and they should be able to get something sorted for you. You won’t be able to do any shopping to start with and you can only lift something as heavy as a half filled kettle, so you may need some help with meals. We used Wiltshire Farm when I had my surgeries, they do a good variety of frozen meals which you order weekly and they deliver and there is no contract so you can just stop using them when you’re able to cope on your own. I know one person on here who stayed in a rehab place for a couple of weeks, perhaps speak to your GP surgery to see what assistance they can give.

I think Pauline has covered most things, but the one thing I would add is to take the painkillers on offer and do ask for more if you need them, post-op is not the time for heroics as if you are in pain you won’t want to move, which will slow your recovery.

One thing you can do now is to practice getting up and down from your armchair/settee without using your arms - you really do not want to put any pressure through your arms initially as it will hurt like hell!

All the best for your op,and we’re here if you need us pre and post op, there are a lot of us who’ve been through it and come out the other side.

Wendy

[Nic25]

Hey Joel132. I know a mate on here who had his AVR a few months before me went to stay for a week or two in a care/nursing home in Littlehampton before going home because he also had no one to care for him at home. So that sort of option - if available in these Covid times - might be something to look into?

But yes totally agree with Wendy that you should inform the hospital and see if they can suggest any options. For me, I came home much less of an invalid than I had feared I would be, but I still very much valued having people at home to care for me, and I had few if any complications. So I really wouldn't try to muddle through on your own at home straight after an operation like this.

But best of luck with it; really hope it goes well for you. And if you have any questions about the procedure itself (or anything else) do ask away!

Nic x