Heart valve operation process

[G345]

Hiya my son has been told he needs his heart valve operation in next few weeks over the phone on xmas eve and that he had to find dentist and have treatment before op no advice on antibiotics or not so he got appt for 12 Jan but on 9th Jan was rang night before saying he had to go have a scan it was on his neck the nurse said oh your op is on the 12th Jan he was very confused and said no I'm at the dentist on the 12th so started 2 weeks treatment couldn't get a reply off consultant or secretary for nearly 2 weeks . I asked a cardiac nurse at another hospital what happens in the run up to op she said he'd have to isolate have blood tests etc but no one was giving him information , finally got through to consultant by email to be told he and secretary had gone on holiday and will be away for few weeks but he'd been told having op end Jan beggining of Feb then been in hospital yesterday chest pains immflamation in heart and again not much advice what to do how bad it is . So has anyone had a more organised immformed path before having they're operation what should actually be happening he is so stressed try to stay calm and and say " well they must know what they're doing " but I just can't sleep and terrified he, just just drop dead at work as no advice to not go work or anything or about needing antibiotics or not . Sorry to go on feel like I'm in a bad dream .

[LadyPumpkinseed]

Morning G345, I’m so sorry to hear about you and your son’s situation. I think your son has the right attitude- they wouldn’t have sent him home if he was in danger and they do know what they’re doing but you’re his mum so you’re bound to be feeling anxious. I can only sympathise re being kept in the dark, having had no contact from the hospital since they cancelled my mitral valve repair the day before in mid December. For that I was given just less than 2 weeks notice, had to isolate and then have pre op assessments ( bloods, X-ray etc) the day before admission. I was aware of how much strain Covid was putting on ICU beds and staff being redeployed elsewhere so after informing my cardiologist I left chasing the surgeon’s team until last week. I emailed his secretary and followed up with a phone call a few days later. She told me surgeon had received my email and he’d asked scheduling for availability of a new date but had received no answer from them. She didn’t offer any further advice so at this point- and I think this is what I should have done much earlier (!) I asked for scheduling team’s number ( which I’d been given pre December but didn’t think they’d be first point of contact) It sounded chaotic in their office, but a team member asked me to hold and then gave me a new date for March! I was on priority list for surgery and when I asked her why so late she told me surgeon is on annual leave and half term throughout February! She’s ringing me on Monday with more details but I thought I’d share my experience with you as it seems we really do have to push to get a result. I’m usually assertive but believed as Covid cases reduced that I’d be contacted. Not so! (I’m comforting myself by imagining if I’d got an earlier date it might have been cancelled again.) All this is little help to you except to suggest you ring the cardio department and ask to speak to the advanced cardiac nurse and explain your situation. I’m new to all this and there’s wonderful supportive people on this forum who’ve vast experience but just thought I’d share what I’ve learnt of late. Thinking of you and your son and hope you soon get the reassurance you need soon. Pen

[ChoochSiesta]

My bypass is scheduled for Friday. I have had blood tests, ECG, chest xray, and endless questions on my medical history.

[G345 in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Hiya I started replying but it disappeared I'm hopeless with technology , thank you for giving me an idea of what should happen before an operation . My friend had a bypass 2 months ago and is doing well I didn't even notice a difference in him as I'd not known he was ill so that's a good sign . I hope you have as good a result after your operation , wish you all the best for Friday

[Rhinos67]

Good morning G345I'm also waiting for the same surgery as your son, but my journey do fargas been a lot smoother.

The best advice that I can give is for you both to join a Facebook group that I found. Everyone in the group is going through or has somebody who has Aortic issues. We have Zoom chats every other Friday, the next is this Friday. The people in the group are my support and have been amazing.

Let me know if you want the details

Joanne

🙂

[Leonardo1]

Hi I had valve replacement in December - I’m doing great walking 3 miles plus and feeling so so much better . Prior to my surgery I have a series of pre surgery tests an endoscopy, a neck / artery scan a Toe scan which is a day procedure , several chest X rays and echocardiograms . I was under the amazing Harefield / Royal Brompton - and did a one day one stop shop where they did most of the pre surgery checks in one day - bloods echo chest x Ray lung function and I had to give them the certificate from the dentist that proved I had no infection or teeth issues . Gum disease is a big no no for heart surgery . I had further chest X-ray and echo the night before the op - the surgeons have a mammoth job they need all the most up to date info available . The surgery was “dramatic - “ but the recovery is quick as said I’m 6 weeks post op and feel so much more like I did. At the beginning of all this my GP said you might have to make a fuss and I did have to call secretaries and chase things up - some were more efficient than others !!! don’t sit and wait make the calls and write the emails ensure they have all the copies of the tests and keep copies yourself and take them to every meeting .

It’s a journey but the result is you will get a better quality of life and for that I am truly grateful- good luck hang in there !! The beat goes on!!

CH

[Megaladon]

Hi,I will have my valve replacement op on 10th February. Until i got the date i had to call and email them few times as they left me in the dark by just saying “its urgent. We will do it within 2/3 months”.

On Thursday they called and said i must start isolating as my op is on 10th Feb at Barts in London. So i came home and working from home since then.

Today at 3pm received a call asking my previous health details and informed me about how the operation will happen from admission to discharge day. But they did not ask any questions about my dental care issues.

So I will go to hospital on 7th for pre-assessment.

Then on 9th afternoon i will be admitted to hospital to have the operation either at 8am or 1 pm that day.

All I know so far is operation itself would take around 2 hours and i will be taken to intensive care within 4 hours including the op itself. Family members can call the ICU to find out if i am ok.

1 or 2 days in ICU and then normal ward. If all goes well I will be discharged on 16th February. She said i can go home with my family member and start having a shower by myself once at home.

Lady on the phone was amazing as she answered every question i asked. Her advise was to keep positive as it works for the benefit of the patients. I am positive as I know these guys know exactly what they are doing and this is their day to day job.

If you need information call them or email them. Otherwise, sometimes, you get nowhere without a bit of hassling them. Please get rid of negative thoughts from your mind. Everything will be fine. I am hoping to update my situation here once I start using my phone.

Good luck.

Ken

[G345]

Thank you so much for this reply hopefully he will get a lot of imformation soon so he can relax and look forward to getting his operation done . We were told he, d have it early Jan last year so it's been a long wait . I hope it all goes to plan on the 10th for you very best wishes , lt will be good to hear about your experience it sounds like your in very good care 🙂 Good luck . Gina

[Megaladon in reply to G345]

Thank you.I will put an update post here about my experience so people can benefit.

All the best

Ken