Hi new here, a little about us, my hubby Rob got diagnosed with a thoracic aneurysm on the heart root back in December 2015, and has been monitored ever since, but last year the regurgitation on the heart valve went from moderate to severe and he opted for surgery so he could get his quality of life back.
Well yesterday was surgery day.....I won't lie....scary! So he had the aneurysm fixed, due to the swelling at the heart root he ended up having to have a mechanical valve fitted as his was misshapen and not functioning correctly....oh and double bypass to boot and poor guy not even 50 yet. You really never know what life is going to throw your way.
Just wondering if anyone else has had something similar done and if so what was your recovery time? I know it will vary from person to person. I'm also curious can you hear the mechanical valve? Any recommendations I can put in place for when he's home to help aid his recovery. Anything that helped you?
He can't wait to get back out walking with me and I know our dog Freya will be delighted to have his company too, she's really missed him when we go walking
Sorry to have waffled on and appreciate any help and advice.
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Mandy31
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Many thanks BeKind28 🙂 I will indeed keep you updated. Just looking forward to hopefully having a chat to him today. The poor love is shattered and on quite a bit of pain meds which is probably keeping him feeling tired too. Not being able to see him is the hardest bit
I hope he has a wonderful Rehab nurse as you did 😀 x
Hi Mandy welcome to the forum. What a lot you are all having to deal with. There are many people here who have been through something similar, and have some very good practical tips on what might help him.
He should also get a lot of information and support from the Hospital, but do ask any specific questions.
Hi Mandy,Last year out of the blue, I found I had an aortic root aneurysm needing operation aged 52. I had a replacement root, ascending aorta and a mechanical valve at the end of March. I had 12 weeks off work then had a phased return over 6 weeks. I still get very tired so dropped to 4 days a week but feel I have recovered well.
Recovery can seem slow at first. It's important not to lift anything heavier than half a jug of water or reach for things at all. Putting things at waist height is good to do. He is likely to feel exhausted after any activity to start with. Bit by bit it does get better. I was advised to walk 10 minutes daily the first week, then add 10 minutes each week until I got to an hour, then increase my speed or inclines. I now alternate walking and slow jogging.
He is likely to need a backrest/foam wedge) or similar as it's not comfortable to sleep flat to start.
Re hearing the valve, at first I felt very conscious of the sound of my heart beat, especially in bed. Then I decided it was reassuring to know it was beating ok. My husband can't hear anything other than odd occasions in bed when I ask him to listen and really concentrate and occasionally he can. Actually, I feel it's only occasionally I hear the valve, it certainly doesn't bother me.
It is normal to be up and down emotionally, it is a huge operation and takes a bit to come to terms with. Important to take each day as it comes and for him not to put pressure on himself.
I wish him a good recovery and feel free to ask if you have any other questions 🤗
Might have to reduce his mug size for his tea as he does like a rather large mug 😆
I purchased from Dunelm a high backed cuddle cushion which I've test drove and I think it will be just what he needs......thinking I may need to get myself one...rather comfy
I guess with the valve you're probably more conscious of it than others are. I know he'll be on blood thinners for the rest of his life but that's a small price to pay to have him here and healthy.
Hi I am 57,I can't comment on the valve but six months ago I had a cabg x4, after twelve weeks I started back at work,lite duties.I am a builder, and just before Christmas l laid a sandstone patio. I think that qualified as a recovery.
The first couple of weeks are probably the most important, slowly starting to take excersise, I started walking for ten minutes a day during the first week, and added ten minutes week two,then ten minutes a week until I hit a hour twice a day.
He will be given some excersises by his nurse,follow them and also he will start to know if he can 'push' harder, listening to what his own body says is the important thing,we are all different and recover at different rates,he has to understand that and the fact that some people are'fit as a fiddle' after 8weeks is not a good yardstick.
In my case yes 12weeks and back to work, but that was 4hours a day 3 days a week, and when I got home a little bit of a sleep, for me it was at 5 months that I suddenly started to feel'right' but I am still not really back to'normal' .
Tell him that time is the biggest part, but like all of us who have had a intervention,we now have that, so use the gift and and good luck.
He is now on the right road,but at times it does seem a long one.
Thank you all for the warm welcome, responses and advice, it's very much appreciated. Nice to have somewhere to come and ask questions...don't feel quite so alone now ❤️
Hubby called me this morning He's in quite a lot of pain and is very tired which is to be expected with what he's had done. He did say he felt a little better than yesterday which I'm taking as a positive. They got him up and about yesterday and walking a little Taking each day at a time.
Just to let you know Rob has been moved from the HDU bit of the ward yesterday to the normal part which is a lot quieter so hopefully he'll be able to get some decent sleep now, as he hasn't really slept properly since getting in to hospital on Sunday. He had the remainder of the wires removed yesterday including a pacing wire which I had to google as was intrigued...😲... and he's been able to shower which he said was really nice but very tiring, with that and the walking about I think he may have done a little bit too much today. All being well will be speaking to him later on today and hopefully he'll be feeling a little better still 🙂 Should be having bandages off today from the wound on his chest 🙏 Rehab nurse hopefully seeing him today too, she's been the past couple of days but because of the strong pain meds he wasn't really taking it in.
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