ongoing treatment : greetings all, I am... - British Heart Fou...

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ongoing treatment

highburyted profile image
19 Replies

greetings all, I am still in hospital after having my valve op cancelled due to being too ill.

To date, they have got a ton of water off my lungs which was making me suck air like a goldfish. I am also losing weight which I am very pleased. My COPD is a little better. This is what I wanted although not in the way I got it, I never believed that I come come in at a certain time and be operated on a few hours later. I wanted them to have a very good look at me before they did it and this is what’s happening. They said they r trying to optimise me for the best way forward with the surgery.

One poor note, over the w/e I did breakdown with a nurse because I had a look at myself after showering and said to myself the drs cannot helped me with this ( the weight gain, and skin folds )where I had lost 9.5st before the valve kicked in. The nurse said quite a bit of my weight gain was caused by the water retention

However I am glad to be here and I’ll keep you posted on what they decide.

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highburyted
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19 Replies
highburyted profile image
highburyted

thank you, I mentioned this site to the ward sister who’s never heard of it but said it sounds very good. She’s gonna have la look.

Yumz199725 profile image
Yumz199725

Aw hi and thanks for updating us, sounds like there was a alot of fluid on your lungs you poor thing 💔. Hope your able to have your operation soon take care x

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Yumz199725

thank you

Blackcatsooty profile image
Blackcatsooty

it sounds good to me, that they are letting you stay in hospital. I am hoping that you are postponed not cancelled, although hospital speak often uses cancelled when they mean postponed. More relevant to us football followers.

I am keen to hear how things go. I never gave fitness much of a thought. For me it was op urgent, urgent, urgent. I know the surgeons want a clear run, after all they invest huge time and energy for each OHS.

And you need to be fit and willing when it comes to the rehab.

Your excellent attitude will stand you in good steed.

Are you sure you are an Arsenal supporter ??

I jest of course.

Best wishes

Sooty

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Blackcatsooty

hello

Yes I’m still an Arsenal supporter, life long, was a season ticket holder for 35 yrs until this heart prob kicked in. Although I have to say I hate the Emirates, the stadium was built for corporate now the common man and I still do not feel like it’s a fortress as Highury was.

Regarding my condition when they bought me in for the op I knew I wasn’t well and they soon found out and cancelled it with a view to getting me better whilst here and doing it then( bad thoughts will prob reappear) I cannot believe the water they’re getting off me, apparently I’ve lost 1/2 stone since I’ve been here, 5 days

I appreciate your interest

Cat04 profile image
Cat04

Pleased you are being well cared for and hope that you are soon fit for your op 😊

Bingo88 profile image
Bingo88

So pleased to hear everything is going better for you. The water on your lungs being removed must be a big help to your organs working better and the weight loss is so good. Hope you get your valve operation soon and then ready for the new season because I will be putting a bet on Arsenal for the Premier title next season. He has done a fantastic job so far. Take care and keep Positive. Brian

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Bingo88

thank you

Wooodsie profile image
Wooodsie

Good to hear you are feeling more positive highburyted. Its a good job they kept you in. I hope you are talking to your fellow bed companions now too 🤞.

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Wooodsie

thanks, haven’t really spoke to any other patients, I’m feeling much better and cannot believe how much fluid they’re getting off me. I developed the valve problem during the very first covid lockdown , where gp’s decamped to Mars and in all that time I was never able to see or really speak to one, so I think I was holding 3 yrs of water retention finally landing badly on my lungs which made me suck air literally like a goldfish.

I feel for the hospital staff because at least half of what they are doing should have been done by Gp’s, it’s very unfair and extremely time consuming for them.

As it stands I have no faith no with my surgery whatsoever and if I get through this I will ask for a big meeting to find out why they let me get close to deaths door.

Sorry about the rant

Plum53 profile image
Plum53

Thank you for update HighburyTed I think you were having a down moment when you looked at yourself we all have them . Try to think of all the positive things in your life . That’s what I do. You are in the right place and hopefully soon you will be fixed and on the road to recovery. All the best

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Plum53

thank you

Thanksnhs profile image
Thanksnhs

Hi I am glad to hear they got all that fluid off your lungs and your feeling all the better for it especially with the weight loss, I hope you continue to get well enough for them to operate and you are all ready for the new season to start, my partner a big Glasgow Rangers fan, it cannot come quick enough the way he gets carried away watching football it's a good job I have the heart condition and not him 😅

Anon2023 profile image
Anon2023

hi. Hope you are feeling better this morning. I’m pleased that they got that fluid off your lungs, it must be really helping you to breathe. Fingers crossed that you are well enough for your valve op soon. X

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Anon2023

thanks

Just had drs round, they r saying at the moment things are going satisfactory, to me of course the way I’m feeling I thought they would say better. I may be lulling myself into a false sense of security. They are arranging breathing tests which will decide surgery or tavi. I am breathing better so the tests should be better.

Only downside was when he was describing what they do to get to the valve, I.e. the breastbone- so I got a little juddery then.

I know there are people on Facebook who have COPD and have had the valve done, but I’m not on that site, so I’m still searching for someone from here

highburyted

Anon2023 profile image
Anon2023

hi. I didn’t have copd but I had severe pulmonary hypertension and they still operated on me, so fingers crossed. Dr’s are notorious for being cautious in what they tell us so please don’t be too upset. I remember before my first ohs they went through all the risks etc and gave me a graphic description of the sternotomy. They then asked me to sign the consent form. I asked them not to repeat themselves before the second op but they said they had to so that I could give “informed” consent I.e it’s about avoiding litigation. It’s a big op but they do it everyday. X

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Anon2023

hi

I know they r good it’s just my own brain doing overtime, I had an op about 30 yrs ago in my prime, on coming round the first I heard was “ thank Christ he’s back” and apparently I pulled all my tubes out whilst under!!!

However I was having one hell of a social life at that time and this impacted on the surgery

Highburyted

Anon2023 profile image
Anon2023 in reply to highburyted

that must have been very traumatic hearing that but it doesn’t mean that it will happen again. I get that you must be feeling incredibly anxious though. I felt exactly the same as, I’m sure, everyone facing heart surgery does. They will look after you and the mortality rates on valve ops is very low. I had huge complications before my second surgery and I was at deaths door, I still managed to pull through and was discharged from hospital 10 days later. X

highburyted profile image
highburyted in reply to Anon2023

thanks for that

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