Presently in Ipswich hospital awaiting a bed at Papworth Hospital for aortic valve replacement.
Admitted as an emergency 3 wks ago, needed pacemaker and blood transfusion immediately, now waiting for a bed at Papworth for aortic valve replacement.
Would be interested to hear from anyone in a similar situation, particularly how long a wait and how to occupy oneself during this long wait in hospital.
Thank you and best wishes to all
Hello 
I am so sorry you were rushed in 3 weeks ago now waiting for a bed at Papworth so you can get you valve replacement done I really do hope a bed comes free soon
It must be very hard been in Hospital all that time and even though I have not had the same experience I did have a triple Bypass
I hope you can have visitors and if so maybe any of the following brought in might help to pass some time away
A good Book or two
Writing material you may fancy keeping a journal of your experiences and the journey you are going through
Puzzle books
Colouring books adults do a lot of them now they say it is good to help relax you to
Not sure if you can knit or crochet ?
Not sure if you can sew you could do some simple cross stitch and can make some really nice pictures which you could frame later even give as Christmas presents
Some art things you could make homemade Christmas cards etc
You obviously have the use of the internet to keep in contact
I hope others will have some more suggestions and you can come and talk with us anytime and I hope you will let us know how you are and keep us updated x
hello. I was also in the great PAPWORTH hospital in 2019 for a mitral valve replacement after a spell at the West Suffolk hospital beforehand and then transferred up to PAPWORTH. It is a great hospital and you will have good care so don’t worry about it. I was in hospital for about four weeks and I at least could have visitors. You will probably have a room to yourself with a telly that you didn’t have to pay for too. You will be in critical care at first but only for about three days. Lots of rehab will happen almost immediately after you get back to your room. When you get home you will be asked to join a rehab team at your local hospital probably Ipswich. They will contact you about six weeks after you return home. The rehab is for six weeks and you do what they think is the right for you. It is run by cardio nurses who now their stuff. I hope this info has helped and good luck.
From Pat 🌞🌻
Hello Pat
Toy have replied to me instead of the poster
Just thought I would let you know as you have given a great reply , very reassuring
I hope you are keeping well x
well said pat bang on information 👍
Hello Heartstogether,
A bit like you I was in hospital for 7 weeks before being transferred to the heart hospital ( Golden Jubilee) I live just outside Glasgow. Had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 6 years ago. Like you classed as an emergency, my heart was struggling so much that it couldn’t pump hard enough to get rid of my fluids, ended up on a drip twice a day to get rid of this fluid lost 69lb in weight! not a great way to lose weight. Also like you had to have blood transfusion.
Passing the time isn’t easy though I did have the best MOT being prodded and poked 😂 including cameras put where cameras shouldn’t go!
My kindle was my life line went through so many books! By the time I was transferred I was so ready to face the surgery just wanted to go home. As I have said this was 6 years ago and am grateful every day to the medical staff that gave me my life back.
You will be ok just remember to follow all the instructions you will be given when you get home. You will be on the heart mended road.
Any questions about the surgery just post and someone will be along to try and help, there are so many of us here that are where you are now.
Best wishes Pauline
Guessing you're stuck in D Bay with a host of cables stuck to you?
They've not mentioned Basildon then?
I was in a similar poisition 2 years ago in July - and I was sent to Basildon where it was discovered my Aortic Valve was fine, it was my Ascending Aorta that had dilated to almost bursting point. So I got a new/ refurbished/ rebuilt Ascending Aorta and a CABG x 3.
I hope you get a bed soon, because as lovely as the staff were/ are in Claydon Ward - it's only a fun place to be if you're mixed with a great bunch of patients.
Also, the stress you must be experiencing will not be helping either. Good luck with it all and will keep an eye out on your progress.
in Claydon, A bay now, not monitored since pacemaker done, just waiting, the patient group keeps changing. Basildon not mentioned, referred to Papworth. The staff on Claydon are great and I am very grateful but waiting with no end date in sight is very hard work.
Thanks for your response
So you do have at least have the chance to walk about and have a shower etc. 3 trips I had to Claydon and always in D Bay 👍 I had my iPad and phone with me, and used the free WiFi to FaceTime with family etc.
Papworth would’ve been interesting, as long as I able to look out of the window at the trains (yes, I’m sad).
Hope you sleep well.
thanks for the link that was really helpful
Well, I would avoid the news on tele, books are a must, something you often wanted to read but didn't have time. While waiting for my job I did do some breathing and meditation exercises-for many years thought it was a load of tosh then discovered that it wasn't, anyway different folks have different needs. I wish you all the very best and hope for a speedy recovery. It has taken me a year but some people are much quicker all the best Ron 👍
All the best with that..
Hi, just wanted to wish you good luck x
Thank you all for your good wishes and suggestions, meditation, reading and being patient will be my main coping strategies I think. Will keep you updated.
Hi, it’s exactly a year since I had my unexpected valve replacement carried out at Papworth. I too was in Claydon ward at Ipswich. Went in mid August, got home 26th September. The Staff at both Hospitals were fantastic, I have to say as I spent more time in Ipswich there was quite a bond with the staff there. Folks come and go, take time to talk with them, this helps pass the time. Puzzle books, kits of anything, these wooden models I found good, and Lego if you can get it. If you’re near a window there was often a Robbin that would make an appearance. I was in the top left corner with a window over looking the car park, can’t remember the ward letter could have been C? Watching the comings and going’s of the cars was something and how some folks abandon their cars , and depending on who parked where often, got to watch the odd football match on a Saturday being played on the school field from the window. Also got to see a few helicopters land and take off there.
Sky go on my iPad Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer gone fishing on Iplayer, was a great help to me.
Once they have sent you to have your teeth checked, it’s a thing, this is one of the last tests, soon after this you will be on your way. I’m sure they will not remember me but say hello to all the staff from Paul. Make sure to have a good laugh with them, as you may have seen some of the patients are not so endearing towards them and they have a lot to put up with in many cases. Visiting was very restricted to once a day by the same person an always a high point, make the most of this. I wish you all the very best, it’s a completely different ball game when you get to Papworth, however you are in the hands of some if not the best in the world. 👍
You may not feel like it but take time to plan things that you would like to do once recovered, they don’t have to be big ticket items but something that you can list out and keep. When you get home it takes quite a while to get back on your feet and doing what you once did, some things take longer, confidence is one of the things I found I needed to win back, still do with something’s.
Kind regards
Paul
Paul
Thanks for your detailed response, it’s good to hear from someone who has had the same experience. Looking forward to getting to Papworth and coming out the other side.
I was in Papworth for 4 weeks in January, very good hospital as you would expect. One thing to be aware of is they are all single rooms which sounds great but I was confined mainly to bed and visiting was limited so it can feel a bit isolated.
I took plenty of books in and zipped through them all and had to buy more. Make sure you have something to keep you occupied!
Terrible coughing while waiting for an aortic valve replacement 
I year since my aortic valve replacement
Waiting list for open heart surgery - AortIc valve replacement & aortic root surgery
Long wait is almost over
mitral valve repair wait
