Hello, I am new to this site so hoping to get advice and support regarding my husband. He is currently in hospital following open heart surgery. We are currently on day 10 following a bicuspid valve replacement, aortic aneurism repair and one bi pas surgery. He is going through the mill a bit at the moment and due to the covid restrictions are not allowed to visit. He is left with a high heart rate which is proving difficult to control. He has low magnesium and potassium levels which they are treating but nothing seems to be helping. Any advice, support would be appreciated. They only tell you so much via telephone so its difficult to find out what's going on and what plans they have to rectify his current state.
Thank you!
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bevdav
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Hi and welcome to the hearties club. You have come to the right place for support, you will get some really good advise, your husband is in good hands and will be very well looked after, it is a very difficult time to have surgery during a pandemic, i had my surgery before Christmas and couldn’t see anyone, i did keep in touch via phone and facetime, my biggest worry was worrying about family, how they were coping etc. My advice to stay strong and communicate with your husband and other family and friends, it’s only natural to worry about everything. Your husband has been through a lot and is on the road to recovery, be prepared for when he does come home but remember to look after yourself too.
Support is always available on here. Wishing your husband a good recovery and to be home where he belongs soon. Stay well and safe xx
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I have been lucky enough to speak to him via watsap so I should be thankful for that. Yes it is so difficult because you feel you are the only person who has ever gone through this but just reading all the replies this evening has already given me a boost. I hope your recovery continues to be positive. Keep well xx
Welcome to the forum, firstly sorry to read your husband is having a couple of issues since his surgery, but we have members here on the forum who like him have had a few problems after surgery. His medical team will sort it out they are well versed in these sorts of problems. Because of COVID and you not being able to get a face to face with his doctors and nurses it’s so much more difficult for you.
Advice for you take time for yourself you need to stay strong a positive attitude will help him and you. He will be home before you know it and you will be able to help him, as I am no doubt that what you feel you should be doing!
I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 4 years ago and am still grateful every day to the medical team that gave me my life back.
If you need to talk or have questions just post and someone will be along to help, to lend an ear or give you a shoulder to lean on. You are now a member of the Hearties family and will never be alone.
Hi Pauline, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Its really good to know that there are others out there who have been through the same. Its so daunting going through this and I suppose we both felt that he would have the surgery and that would be it. Reality has now set in and we both realise that the surgery itself is just the start. I feel the road to recovery will be a difficult one but I already feel that there is support out there. I am trying to stay positive for him but staying strong is hard. I feel I need to be hands on and with the Covid restrictions that is certainly hard. We look forward to more positive feedback from the ward tomorrow.
HelloI think I am correct in saying that quite a few people have Low Magnesium and Potassium levels after OHS. I can confirm the treatment for Low Potassium is ne of the worst tasting medicines I have ever had !!!
Did your husband have pacing wires put in during his procedure they sometimes use them to, correct Heart Rate !!!. Try not to worry I know the Hospitals are a little full but Coronary Care will still be very very good.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Yes he still has his pacing wires in place so hopefully we still have that option if the current medication continues to make no improvement. The set up at the hospital is very good regarding the virus. Visitors are not even able to step foot in the building which is really good in one way. The closest I have been to him is a brief exchange of dirty washing for clean at the hospital entrance. Good to also hear that others have had the same issues and have recovered.
I spent a couple of days in hospital after low potassium caused bout of Afib. I actually liked the taste of the disolvable tablets. Good job they dissolved they were huge. Worst tasting was Nystatyn? Which had to be dissolved on the tounge. Urgh! 😣
Dear bevdev I had AVR on my bicuspic valve, May 2020. So i can relate with being alone during the pandemic etc.
Yes the op is major surgery, using a lot of anesthetic so hit for six is a good description.
I too had some issues with heart rate and was back in ICU in no time.
I came home on day 11 and all is now well.
The lack of rehab is an issue, but for the first week or two thats a secondary thought. He will need to cough and that hurts. A rolled towel held to his chest will help. So that towel stayed by my side for a while.
Stitches will need to come out and that didn't hurt, to my surprise and delight.
He will be pretty disabled for say three months. No lifting. Not even a full kettle, half full is about the limit.
Getting good sleep should be a priority. I used five pillows.
As soon as possible he should take slow gentle walks. Not alone. He should talk as he walks.
I have kept a diary of progress, so ask anything you like.
The great plus point is that recovery happens in line with his efforts.
Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I'm glad that you are now on the road to recovery from your recent surgery. What I'm hearing is that a lot of people have the same issues as my husband is currently having and although I wouldn't wish any problems on others I must admit it is a comfort to know that what is happening to him at the moment appears to be pretty standard in some.I am ready to support him with the hard work when he eventually returns home.
Hi Bev and welcome to the forum. My husband had his AVR 3 years ago. I remember just being absolutely numb with worry, and that was without the Covid factor too so I really do empathise.
My husband went into a really fast rhythm a few days after surgery, called Atrial Fibrillation. Is that what your husband has? My husband was resistant to medication to sort it out, he had 3x 24 hour courses of Amiodarone via injection and drip but kept going back into AF shortly after each dose finished. So they did a DC Cardioversion ie under a mild anaesthetic giving an electric shock to stop the heart and then let it start beating again in normal rhythm. That worked a treat for him and was nowhere near as bad as it sounds. Before he had it done everyone was saying he wouldn’t feel a thing and would feel much better afterwards...and they were absolutely right. He settled and came home a few days later.
There’s loads of information on the BHF website and the BHF nurses are well worth chatting with as they’re so knowledgeable, kind and helpful. The number is 0300 330 3311 weekdays 9-5 and Saturday. 10-4.
All the best to you, your husband and your loved ones.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply, yes it seems that he also has AF at the moment. Its been pretty daunting as nothing seems to be helping. They have him on his usual medication - bisoprolol and keep saying that it will get better with perseverance, they have no other plans at the moment to try anything else but I suppose these people know what they are doing so we just have to stick with it.
Hi Bev, sorry to hear about this, but it's good the aneurysm and BAV have been caught early. Open heart aortic surgery (aneurysm and the valve), even planned like this, is pretty challenging for the body, and add a CABG and that's a fair package. What he and you are experiencing is pretty normal for these circumstances and things will settle down, the medical teams are well used to dealing with these after effects. Hang in there, it's made more difficult not being able to visit, but it will come right, probably in small stages.
Just so you know you're not alone, I had an emergency repair 3 years ago for a dissected aneurysmal aorta: new metal valve, new ascending aorta and arch plus essentially 2 CABGs and a stent. Being an emergency it was a lot more challenging than your husband's, but I'm doing ok, hubby will be a lot better off than I was!
Hi Cliff thanks for taking the time to reply. It sounds like you've been through the mill too but good to hear that you are now recovering. I have learned through all this that we mustn't expect things to be perfect straight away and that time is the essence. Its really hard when your at home worrying though but as I have said these people know what they are doing so we must just put our faith in their skill. I'm sure, as you say, that things will settle eventually.Glad to hear that you are now doing ok.
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