One year post op mitral valve repair 😁

[Cornishbeach]

Well that year went quickly! The photo popped up on a memory today and I thought I would post here just to give anyone who is facing a similar operation, or has just had one, a bit of support and encouragement. It shows the pre op ward where the sleepless night and interminable wait for the trolley took place but also shows the toast I had the morning after my surgery - I had survived! I was lucky enough to have surgery that went well and a reasonably uneventful post op recovery. It wasn't easy at the time but a year on I feel great and we have just come back from our first holiday abroad in 3 years.

I had a lot of support from this forum so thank you and I hope this post helps others a little. Massive thank you as always to our NHS for getting me through it all.

In comparison to the war in Ukraine this seems a drop in the ocean to the heartbreak they have had to endure and my thoughts are with them as it continues.

[LadyPumpkinseed]

Thanks so much for posting - wonderful to share how you’re doing a year on, so glad that it’s all going well for you and great you’ve had a holiday!

[Laguna23]

Such a positive outcome, it’s wonderful to hear how well you are doing and back on a plane too! especially when there were moments on your journey you must have thought that highly improbable! Thanks for sharing x

[Cornishbeach in reply to Laguna23]

And not to mention showing off a scar! 😊

[Yumz199725]

Ah thanks for sharing ☺️. I'm sure most of us have either been through are will be going through something similar so very encouraging thanks!

[devonian186]

Well done. So its a year since the operation and you have managed the strains of getting abroad.?

Had you felt up to it for some time or only in recent months?

We have been away in this country in the car as it is my 'comfort' base. We have a 2 hour train journey to stay in Bristol planned for next week. Getting abroad seems a lot of activity at the moment though, as that means suitcases, travel to the airport, parking, checking in, waiting, boarding the flight, then lots of actions to get to the other end. Stringing them all together at present is a little beyond me at present so lets see how I manage with our 2 night Bristol exedition.

[Cornishbeach in reply to devonian186]

I certainly couldn't have done it 6 months ago without worrying but it was actually all OK as I feel so much better now. I was a bit worried about an 8 hour flight and it was going to be interesting to see if my ankles would swell. They didn't seem to thank goodness. I made sure I moved my legs a lot and walked around a couple of times and put them up for half an hour mid flight on my husband's lap just in case. I'm due a 'heart failure' check up next week with bloods and practice nurse so hoping all good. Also due a cardiologist out patient appointment as its one year on and he wa hoping to discharge me if all well. I'm hoping I get another echocardiogram to check it's all behaving and my left atrium has reduced in size.

[HHH2017]

so lovely & positive to read your post this morning. 1st anniversary of many 🎉 and hopefuly the last anniversary we witness for Ukraine 🙏🏼

[Cee-Cee1]

Many congratulations on your 'hearty' anniversary Cornishbeach. Wishing you many more years of health and happiness to come. Thank you for posting such a positive post too. Carol x