Hi all the waiting list where I am is so long I've taken a lump sum from a rubbish pension and decided to go private... My surgeon locally is lovely and very confidence inspiring but I was interested in getting this valve ( I'm 60) and he has not used them before. He's very happy to use one but now I'm really scared of letting him put in a valve he's never ' installed' before . I almost wish we didn't have so much choice these days... Can anyone who had one of these for AVR please tell me where they had it done and whether NHS or private ? And why they chose it and how they've got on ?
Yours anxiously
Penny
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Bookworm60
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Dear Penny,I have an edwards inspiris resilia. op was private. The hospital held the valve when my consultant gave the go ahead. It is widely available. I believe that current edwards will now take a TAVi if needed.
My op was 1st May 2020 when I was 72.
I took the surgeons advice. He was operating so I would go along with his advice.
Surgeons have difficulty because they prefer tried and tested but advances are so fast they can’t keep up.
My scar is tiny. No difficulties post op. Stitches came out easily.
Thank you so much Colin. I liked the surgeon ( though he's the only one ive met and they may all be lovely for all I know). And he'd be happy to use the new valve but he hasn't used one before. Somebody said to me if I'm going private then I could go anywhere and have a surgeon who has installed one of these before but I hate the thought if starting all over again ,! Plus being close-ish to home has other benefits of course. I don't know if the valve requires a slightly different procedure or is just made if different ly treated tissue. I've emailed to ask that question.It's hard to make important decisions when you're anxious and sleep deprived! 😂😂
Yes, it is hard to know what to do. Luckily, I was so ill that I didn’t care. I went 100% private, whereas you may be able to use your NHS surgeon and not have to pay all the costs.
My valve cost £8521.50 but I got a 37% discount off that. There are all sorts of things used in the op. And I paid all these. Bottom line was £41,000.
If you go with your NHS man then you might well get all sorts of stuff paid for. Maybe you get a payment because you are saving the NHS doing the op etc.
Big problem with going private is that you never know what there is to pay. And weeks after the op I got an extra bill for an anethatist. I don’t mind his charges, but I assumed it was all in the. Hospital fees..
In your shoes I think I would check that a latest resilia is being used, eg that a TAVi could be added later.
Isn’t it good that you are too young to go with a straight valve ?.
And I would go with your nice consultant. And go to your local hospital.
I couldn’t do that, I live between Colchester and Ipswich and the cardiac ops are done at Basildon. But it was all closed.
Your cardiac ward will be quite separate. Mostly single rooms. Really good.
You will need an ICU bed and that will be waiting for you after the op.
I think it’s ICU, I get confused by all the terminology.
Waiting is by far the worst bit. By far. So if you can get seen quicker by going private then go for it.
By the way. I went for my first preop test at Colchester. Expected to go to Basildon for second and third test. Covid stopped that. I then had all three tests at the Cromwell then stayed in my room until the op was done.
Lots of good people on this forum will give good advice. I will answer anything you want to know, except the female only related issues.
But I am reluctant to swamp you with loads of things that can wait until the time is right.
This waiting time is the worst. As soon as I set off on the journey to hospital, I got less and less stressed.
I had an Edwards Inspiris just over 2 years ago. As I understand it aTAVI is possible next time round with my valve, although they seem to last for up to 20+ years I am told. I decided on an Edwards as my surgeon suggested it would be the best option for me at 67.
I had mine done at the Royal Brompton in London and under medical insurance that I had at the time. I was in for about 8 days and came away with a small scar.
What I would say though, is the relationship you have with your medical team is most important. If you have people you can approach and trust I’d go with that. However, I hear what you’re saying about fitting a new valve that your surgeon hasn’t used before. I can completely understand why you might opt for someone who is familiar with your chosen valve. There might even be someone at the BHF who could help you with this important decision. Take your time and let us know how you get on. Sue 🙏X
Hi, I just had a Ross procedure done at the Royal Brompton hospital in London. Excellent NHS care, my surgeon and the whole team were extremely careful and scrupulous. My plan B was a biological valve, and my surgeon told me that they basically use the inspiris as a default biological valve.Perhaps you could try to get in touch and ask more info. Good luck 😉😊
Hi Penny,I had this valve in November 2018 in Southampton aged 56 at the time, it was recommended by my surgeon so I went with his advice as he said it can be repaired using TAVI down the line if needed.
Feel free to ask me any questions or have a look at my other posts, the bit before the op is the worst bit, your mind will be all over the place. Once you know when its happening and where you can get busy making lists and organising everything....takes your mind off things. Buy a raised loo seat, a shower stool and a V shaped pillow....and some audio books as you will be awake at all times ....a good audio book works wonders!!
Hey Denise thanks so much for you reply and ideas of what I might need. I'm an Audible junkie already as I spent the first lockdown motivating myself to go out for walks to break up time at my desk by listening to about 20 crime thrillers😂. So I'll line a couple up. I think I might be able to have the minimally invasive op rather than full sternotomy. Can I ask which you had? Not sure if I'll need special bras for example which I have seen recommended on here.ive got a v shaped pillows and treated myself to some lovely new pyjamas but no raised loo seat or shower stool yet...Thanks
Hi Penny, mine isn't a huge scar so I think I had the minimally invasive op (probably about 7 inches long. )As far as bras are concerned I think I got a couple off Amazon but I'm not that big so I think at first I didn't bother with a bra, I bought some really soft cropped tops from Asda and they were really comfy, For the first two weeks after I came out of hospital I slept (!) downstairs as we have a recliner sofa and I just found that easier than in a bed. You don't sleep much at first and that's where the audible books come in. Please feel free to ask me anything, it is a complete head fu@k where you are right now and it really does help to talk to people who have been through it and are out on the other side. I had my operation privately as we are lucky to have insurance through my husbands work, but the surgeon did not know I had insurance when he recommended the Edwards valve as I had been seeing him on the NHS, he just thought it would be better for me as I like to be active etc only time will tell but I felt I would go with his recommendation as he is the expert.
Hi Penny, I had an Edwards Inspriris Resilia aortic valve fitted on the 27/2/2020 at the Trent Cardiac Unit of Nottingham City Hospital. This was provided by the NHS. I was lucky to get the Surgeon that I asked for and his name is Mr Naik. I cannot recommend Mr Naik, the Trent Cardiac Unit and his Secretary high enough. The whole team is fantastic.
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