Worried about heart valve replacement amid covid

[Numberone1]

I seem to have been hanging around forever and now that a year ago it was decided I needed the valve replacing, I had all the pre op scans and angiogram etc. Then covid. I felt like Id been lost down the back of a filing cabinet.

I finally saw the surgeon again in August, my valve is severe/critical but in one of the scan they saw I had problems with my adrenal glands. So he wanted that investigated as it can be dangerous to do surgery without knowing what they are dealing with.

Ive seen an endocrinologist and I have to have various tests but now Im getting scared because we're in lockdown again and Im wondering how long it will take to do these further tests.

Im okay during the day but at night I am having panic attacks that affect my sleep. Ive started taking Prozac to help but Im consumed by it all and lockdown now is making me more scared.

Many thanks for any comfort or enlightenment here. I should add that my surgeon says my heart is very strong so I suppose he thinks we have some time and other than breathlessness I feel very well with no pain, dizziness, difficulty laying down or sleeping etc.

I just want my life back

[ITSINTHEBAG9]

From what I've read here, those sort of ops still would go ahead. We are not talking about an ingrowing toenail here. Keep in good touch with your Cardiologist and keep in touch with us here x

[Numberone1 in reply to ITSINTHEBAG9]

Have you had yours done yet? Do you feel safe!?

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to Numberone1]

Yep, I'm severe but none or barely any symptoms. Seeing Cardiologist for review today. I deal with it mentally like this. I look after a flock of sheep. Within that flock is a 17 stone Ram who can be aggressive. I deal with him daily. Statistically, I have more chance of the Ram sending me to my maker than my heart and that's how I deal with it. A little known fact is that more people are killed by Rams than Bulls each year. An old farming saying is this "the farmer who is not wary of his Ram knows nothing of sheep". All will be well love. Keep in touch.

[Numberone1 in reply to ITSINTHEBAG9]

How did your appointment work out. What symptoms do you have albeit barely there. I feel so well.

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to Numberone1]

Well. Off I toddle to Hospital. See the actual consultant himself. Mentioned I get a bit breathless in warm weather. He really picked up on that. CT SCAN AND CT ANGIOGRAM before Xmas. New heart valve Feb/March. Kings College. He's a great chap and was very very nice. Bit shocked but I know it has to be done.

[Numberone1 in reply to ITSINTHEBAG9]

I’m under Kings too. Who is your Consultant?

[ITSINTHEBAG9 in reply to Numberone1]

Don't know yet. Haven't met the London Consultant.

[Ageingfast]

I have a strong heart too. But the valve was completely shot. Strong heart will help when you get the op.

It is six months today. I was in central London with the corona stuff raging. The delays were a bit worrying. Told it was very urgent, but still put off for a month.

Now the good bits;

The hospital was a posh fortress. No one got past the outside doors, It was also pretty empty. Fabulous staff. Tests had to be repeated, all done on day one. Stayed in hospital and on day three the op.

Tests were fine, nowhere near as bad as i was lead to believe. Mostly i was wheelchaired to these tests. But on the op day i was walked into the theatre. Handed from the ward nurse to the theatre nurse. I hate the needles and i was thinking , couldn't they knock me out then do the need........

Woke up in ICU.

I hope they do you soon. Waiting is the worst bit.

Colin