Open heart surgery

[Michael42]

Does anyone else suffer with anxiety after their heart surgery.. I also suffer with nausea it’s been 7 weeks ago since I had my aortic valve replacement

[Hidden]

Hi,I think your feelings sound completely normal. It's very early days a d you've had a major procedure/ operation. It is going to take time for your body to heal physically and also for you to come to.terns with everything that has happened. Perhaps speaking to.ypur gp or cardio rehab team might help with any questions you have. Good luck.

[080311]

Hello Michael42

Welcome to the forum, first thing 7 weeks isn’t very long since your surgery. You have been through huge operation and your brain at the moment is still trying to process what as happened to you. The dose of anesthetiser we are given takes longer than we think to work it’s way out of our systems.

After my surgery couldn’t get my head round someone had held my heart it took me ages to come to terms with it, but realised that I had been given a wonderful gift of a second chance by some very clever people.

It will be 5 years next month since I had my Aortic valve replaced and bypass done and I am grateful every day.

Just take your time, ask for help from your rehab team things do improve as I am sure you were told after surgery it’s baby steps.

You are now a member of the Hearties family and if you need to have someone listen someone will lend an ear or if you need a shoulder to lean on we can do that as well.

There are so many of us here that have been through what you have and come out the other side.

Best wishes Pauline

[JimIOW]

Hi Michael, it is completely normal, as the others have said what you have been through is massive and your brain is trying to cope. Ruby, my partner, was warned that I might be emotional following surgery, and 4 years later I can still be, especially when you consider the enormity of what we have been through. Don't worry, the nausea will pass or your meds might need tweaking and you will mend emotionally. Take very great care of yourself and hope your recovery goes well.

[CBH192]

Hi Michael, yes completely normal 😃 I am nearly 11 weeks post op now & although I still get the odd anxious feeling I’m starting to feel much better. You will too, it just takes time as we have been through something so major and only those that have been through it can truly understand, no matter how hard friends/family try. Just keep checking in, share any thoughts or feelings, we know how you feel! X

[Jocastina]

Yes, I had a mitral valve replacement nearly 6 weeks ago, and I thought the anxieties I had before about my heart would go, but they seem to be replaced by different ones - I had AF for the first time a few days after the op and am now on amiodarone for that but need to come off it soon so I’m worried about AF happening again, I’m also anxious about building up exercise and struggling to build up confidence with that, I keep going over in mind the general trauma of waking up in ICU in such pain, and I’m worried about Covid and how this new wave will affect our access to healthcare. I told the cardiac rehab nurse all of this and she has referred me to a cardiac psychologist. Haven’t had an appointment yet but looking forward to trying to get past some of these worries. I would ask at rehab for a referral.

[Walkingintherain]

Hi Michael, your thoughts and anxieties are completely normal. After I had heart surgery (ASD repair) I felt the same. Worried I’d die, that I would never really recover and that all my plans for life would go out the window. I was tired and very emotional. Jocastina, like you I was worried about exercise, would I be able to walk to the end of the road, if I went further would I get back? I started focussing on small goals - walk 10 mins, building up each day but resting if I felt I needed to. One goal for each day, week or month however small. Before you know it you will be feeling stronger and the anxiety you have will go. That was over 20 years ago for me, since then I have had two beautiful children, ran races and had wonderful adventures - you will get there. Do keep talking and sharing whether here, to friends and family or professionals you need to unburden yourself and talk about your concerns - your body has been repaired but your emotions and mental health also need TLC. I unexpectedly had a pacemaker fitted last week and Some of the old anxieties have returned but I keep reminding myself to take it a step at a time. Communities like this one are fantastic in providing lived experience and support.

[Vicky12345678]

Hi Michael42 , Just popping in to say I'm pretty sure I was also still feeling somewhat nauseous and not back to my usual appetite at 7/8 weeks post op (in fact I seem to remember the nausea being at it's worst at around this point weirdly!) Be kind to yourself, it will gradually get better (I remember wondering if I'd ever enjoy a cup of tea again as I went off it completely post-op very strangely but hurrah and huzzah I enjoy a cuppa just as much as ever again now! Sidebar - the body is SO clever I wonder if it knew that caffeine was best avoided for a bit to let my poor heart recover).