Tomorrow I am having mitral valve replacement op at Barts due to mitral valve stenosis and severe regurgitation. It will be OHS. I will be admitted to hospital this evening. CT angiogram showed no issues with my arteries. EF is around 56%. I am 45 with no other health problems. I am hoping to write back my experiences in order to help others who are in similar situation.
In the mean time I would really appreciate if there is any pre-op advice from the experienced forum members.
I have long charging cable, big towel and books. They won’t allow any visitors so I must make sure to take whatever I need with me today.
All the best
Ken
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Megaladon
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I think that you have it all covered, your young and have a fit heart, other than your valve. So all I can think of is a massive hug mate and to know that I am thinking of you.
Thank you for a very kind reply. 🙏 I am in a great mood and my morale is very high.I will post an update.
Ken
Wishing you all the best that all goes smoothly and your soon back here telling us about your progress. My son is expecting an appointment for the same operation within the next few weeks, He should have had it 2 years ago, but a serious accident meant he wasn't well enough to have it until now, so we've been holding our breath for a long time. I think I'm more nervous than he is, especially with the no visiting rules. You're positive attitude will help you through this, I'm sure. I'll be thinking about you. Take care.
Thank you. 🙏 its very kind of you. Sorry about the accident. I hope your son solves his condition very soon as well.Yes no visiting rule makes my wife more nervous than me but after I met the staff at Barts on Monday I feel much better. The lady there said “remember this is our day to day job. We do this for living. We will look after you and send you home well”. That was reassuring. If there is something wrong they will fix it before discharging anybody. Positive thinking is the key for quick recovery as i get from everyone.
I hope I will come back with good updates soon so others can benefit from my experience.
Hi Megaladon, I’m due for mitral valve repair March 7 and when I met advanced practice nurse at Barts on Monday 7 for pre op assessments she said from that day pre arranged visitor with neg LFT evidence would be allowed in around day 3 of recovery which is heartening. Good luck and look forward to updates!
Yes on Monday thats what she told us at Barts but than sent an email two days later saying she has got it wrong so visits are not allowed. She told me to speak to the matron today and get it right. I will find out this evening and post here.
Oh Lord! Well I hope you can have a visitor- thanks for the update.
In my exerience, just relax, and let them get on with it. No idea what its like these days, but, I used to wander around the hospital to the shop and canteen, so I made sure I had money with me.
Thank you for your lovely support messages and advice.
Ok now I am at Barts in a ward. They gave me a en-suit room, food (3 options to pick from), ice cream and even chocolate cake. Everything is checked again and number provided with wrist band. One word can describe the staff so far: amazing.
Operation was gonna be at 8am originally. Now I am told told it has been moved to 1pm. But times can change by morning.
Registrar came and explained everything about the operation. I asked any question in my mid to him. Then signed the consent form.
A nurse told me to shave all hair in body including arms and legs 😳
If I knew earlier I would bring some fruits and snacks with me. But dinner was very nice. I was told not to eat anything after 12 at night. I can drink water though!
Got a book to read and phone reception is great for internet use.
So far things going great. I hope I will be able to update with good news after the op as well.
A nurse asked me to shave, but I kept getting interrupted by others. In the end he did it himself, which saved me a job. Half way through an anaesthetist walked in to do her bit, so there I was half shaved in undies talking about anaesthetic whilst original nurse waited to finish the shaving. It's one hell of an experience major surgery!
When you come round from the op start drinking water. Your throat will be sore and this will help clear the anaesthetic from your system. You will be fitted with a catheter so the staff will be able to measure how much you are passing. You will have a cannula fitted in your neck that they will be using to inject different drugs this is hooked up to a number of pumps behind your head. Ask them to shave under your left arm. This is where one of the drains is and the dressing will pull the hair. Good luck and see you when you wake up. They do cover you with iodine so this so this will be a bit of a shock when you come to have a bed bath on day three. The wipes will be brown!
Glad you are home and doing well. My op was cancelled as there was no bed so going in for round 2 next Thursday. Your updates were very reassuring. Thank you.
My Laptop was a godsend. Logged into the hospital WiFi and could watch anything I wanted, watched a few BT Sport football matches for instance. Had headphones plugged into it so not to disturb anyone. I spent half my time sleeping tbh, it seriously takes it out of you!Hope all goes well.
Ok here I am in a ward after a day and a half in ICU. They didn’t think i needed a ward in between them (high dependency unit i think). I started walking yesterday and was able to pass urine by myself. No bowel movement yet. Care is amazing at Barts. Food is great too.
I realised just before the anestecist put me to sleep someone saw me a bit anxious and came to my ear and said: “you know this is our day to day job. We know what we are doing. You will be just fine. Don’T worry at all”. That was god given reassurance.
I noticed its all in your head. Once you trust yourself things are getting better quicker; positive thinking.
I am sorry i won’t write long as I am very tired. So far i an doing ok. Bless you all.
Lots of hugs to you all.
So pleased to see your message, and glad everything went well. Wow, walking so soon after your op. That's amazing! I remember my son's consultant telling him he was just like a plumber, who fixed leaks every day. It's easy for them to say, but we wouldn't be human if we didn't worry about something going wrong. A positive attitude does help though, and I'm sure you will soon be on the mend, and much better than you were before. Keep us updated. Take care and don't overdo it
I forgot to add make sure you take ear plugs to sleep well. The ward i am in is extremely noisy. 2 nights no sleep. And it effects immunity to recover fast. My wife is getting me ear plugs today hopefully 🙏
My two essential items for a hospital stay are industrial strength earplugs and a black out eye mask. With all the comings and goings 24/7, and lights going on and off, it's impossible to sleep. I had to laugh when my consultant said they would keep me in one weekend so I could rest. It's the last place on earth you can rest! I went home to relax on my own sofa in peace and quiet. Hopefully, you'll be back home soon and you can catch up on your sleep. There's nowhere like your own bed. I hope you get some sleep tonight.
It will take time, but don't try to rush it. Your body will tell you when your ready to take the next step, and there will be days when you think your going backwards, but hopefully that won't happen too often. Have they given any indication when you will be allowed home yet? That's probably quite a scary prospect at the moment, but you'll soon settle into a new routine, and if needed, help is only a phone call away.
It looks like i might be going home tomorrow. Originally they were gonna send me today but one doctor said it could be a bit too early! Lets wait and see.
Fingers crossed. Your wife will be relieved, having you at home where she can see for herself how you're doing. I'm dreading the thought of not being able to visit my son if the visiting ban is still in force when he goes in.
Care is superb. Don’t even stress for a second. I was worried about that as well. But its a 5* treatment from food to staff care. Just too great to worry. That should not bother you at all.
I've heard a lot about Bart's, but we're in the midlands and my son's going to the nearest Heart and Lung Centre. I used to work on patient transport there, so I know quite a few people who had their treatment there, and it has a good reputation in this area, so I'm pretty sure he's in good hands, but mum's worry, no matter what age their "kids" are. What he's been through the last couple of years hasn't helped. I spent days by his bedside when he was on life support, and I never want to go there again. It didn't do my stress levels and AF any good at all.
You might feel a little anxious about first walk at home, without any staff around. I had my wife with me, and we decided before we went out how far we would go. Felt really good to have achieved that, then stepped it up gradually, using a tracker app to see how far we have done. Key to it is to take it steady, don't try to do too much at first, and you'll be fine.
Thank you Judi. All good so far. Having my showers, walking around and so on.They are waiting to balance my INR levels. Once its all good they will send me home.
Hi,Yesterday evening I was discharged so I am home. They could have keep me for another day or two but sadly the hospitals are overstretched and they needed the beds for other patients. They made my anticoagulant clinic bookings, gave my medicines, and then send me home. now I will be visiting the anticoagulant clinic every 48 hours until the warfarin settles down. But afterwards the visits will be expanded to 2 weeks then three weeks and probably up to 6 weeks.
In terms of how I feel is that I am feeling great at home and today I woke up to a brand-new life getting my reading back started walking in my garden already. So if there is anyone who is anxieties about valve changes please do you not worry too much and keep a positive attitude.
These guys are professionals And they know exactly what they’re doing. And I want to thank everyone with their kind sport from the beginning to the end of my operation.
Great news, Megaladon. Just take things steady, don't try to do too much, too soon. Build up gradually and you will be happy to look back and see your progress.👍
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