mitral valve needing replaced 6 weeks post surgery

[fiona-sea]

I had my mitral and aortic valves replaced with mechanical ones 6 weeks ago I also had a myectomy cutting away of heart tissue due to a congenital heart condition.

I became unwell breathless last week and have been admitted into a cardiac ward where they’ve told me that my mechanical valve is leaking because some of the stitches have loosened. The mitral valve will have to be rereplaced and this will require open heart surgery again . I’m so disappointed ,scared and worried that this can happen again . I would really appreciate any advice .

[lmo90]

I absolutely empathise with you here, that is definitely the worst-case scenario of something having gone wrong and they need to go back in to fix it again.

What I will say is that you were brave enough to do it the first time and that definitely won't have changed going into it the 2nd time.

I had my mitral valve replaced and thankfully they didn't need to go back in but there was a scare with my old valve potentially still having some form of infection on it which could have resulted in them having to go back in if it were true, so I had to stay an extra 2 weeks and have many tests and blood cultures, so at that point I was going through all the same despairing emotions, but ultimately I came to peace with it and I hope you can find that same peace knowing that you've done this once before and you can certainly do it again.

The benefit knowing how the process works should hopefully give you a little respite as it's always the fear of the unknown that worries people the most.

I think the chances of it happening for a 2nd time, let alone a 3rd time are very slim, and even though they're very thorough being heart surgeons you'd expect they'll be extra thorough to make sure they're not going to put you through the traumatic process for a 3rd time.

I wish you a successful surgery and recovery, you've definitely got this. Don't suffer in silence, reach out to as many people as you can, it definitely helps.

[fiona-sea in reply to lmo90]

thank you

[Anon2023]

hi. I really felt for you reading your post as I have been in a similar situation. I had to have my mitral valve replaced within 4 months of the first one being fitted due to endocarditis. I was very ill and had been in hospital for 2 months before the second op. All I can say is that it felt easier the second time around as I knew what to expect and my recovery was quicker although I had been at deaths door before. I completely understand why you are feeling so scared but the op is routine to the surgeons who do it day in and day out. I do think you need to ask the surgeon how it happened although you may have just been incredibly unlucky. I’m thinking of you and hoping that all goes well with your second op so that you can get back on the road to recovery. Xx

[fiona-sea in reply to Anon2023]

thank you for sharing our kind words and experiences with me

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Fiona-sea,

I am so very sorry to hear that you will need this second surgery so soon. I can understand your fear and confusion.

I cannot offer any suggestions or personal experiences to share. I did think that the comments from Anon2023 and lmo90 were helpful.

I do wish you the best outcomes for this second surgery. You deserve to feel better and to be able to start a more “normal” life as soon as possible. ❤️

[fiona-sea in reply to Smitty1956]

thank you for your kind words

[Samsoncat]

I'm in hospital recovering from mechanical mitral valve replacement from last week. Totally feel for you in having to go through procedure again.