Mitral valve repair

[honey1958]

Hello allI would like advice or information from anyone who has been through this.

I've had mild to moderate mitral regurgitation for 30 years with no symptoms.

However last couple of years things have worsened. I have developed atrial fibrillation and heart failure and my mitral regurgitation.is now borderline severe

I have been advised mitral valve repair via open heart surgery is needed

Obviously worried but my biggest concern is the recovery period

I live on my own. My only family living close is my daughter but she has a young baby and another child.

What should I expect in terms of recovery and realistically what help will I need and for how long?

Many thanks for reading my long post x

[Fjr1300]

Hi I had a septal myectomy to thin the heart wall and they repaired the mitral valve. It took about 6 weeks to feel more normal but most of the time you have to get your lungs going again. I am now 4 years in and everything is fine just take it steady and build up the walks. It's fine try not to worry all the best.

[Dozival]

Hi, I had a mitral valve replacement just over 3 weeks ago. Luckily I live with my husband but I think if I lived on my own I'd manage OK by this stage. Bear in mind you're not supposed to lift anything heavier than half a kettle. Good quality ready meals are useful. The thing I couldn't have managed alone is putting on and taking off the horrid compression socks - will you have to wear them? Will your daughter do bits of shopping for you? Or can you do an online shop?I think the key is preparation and certainly the first week at home is likely to be a challenge but I've definitely been finding each day a little easier.

By the way, they sent me home with a month's supply of iron tablets, which are known to cause constipation (tell me about it) so it might be worth laying in some mild laxatives.

All the very best. It's good to get it over with!

Val

[Beatles1956 in reply to Dozival]

Hi DozivalDid you know that you can get a stocking applicator, on prescription? Ask your GP or nurse.

[Dozival in reply to Beatles1956]

No, I wish I'd known that. Thanks.

[Dozival in reply to Beatles1956]

No, I wish I'd known that. Thanks.

[Larneybuds]

Good morning....I am coming up to one year post op on my mitral valve. Firstly....whilst in hospital any pain is very well managed by the staff....they will have you out of bed and walking a few steps usually the day after op. The best thing to do initially is the chest and breathing exercises they give you as it is important to keep your lungs clear. The hospital will give you instructions on the dos and don'ts for when you get home and initially you must be very careful not to over do anything and be extra careful about carrying or lifting anything. It is vital to do exercise and to be as mobile as you can....little walks....building up daily. Don't expect too much from yourself....recovery can be a bit of a rollercoaster but stay focussed and determined if you can. Recovery is different for everyone and it's not always text book. Some feel better fairly quickly...others can take longer as we all manage our days differently depending on our circumstances. If you want to pm me please feel free to do so. I wish you all the best for your op....try to stay as calm as possible...the staff and surgeons are brilliant and you are in extremely capable hands. All the best x

[honey1958]

Hello all and thanks for the helpful replies.Gosh didn't know about compression socks!

Being thick here but why do you need them?

I'm particularly concerned about showering and hair washing/drying as I have heard you can't lift your arms?

I've been told to expect a week hospital stay. On coming home will I need to arrange someone to stay with me?

Many thanks

[Dozival in reply to honey1958]

Compression socks are part of the effort to minimise the risk of a DVT. I don't know if all hospitals follow the same protocol. Regards showering, I haven't needed assistance. I was surprised how quickly the wound dried up and the advice I was given was to make sure no soap/gel came in contact with the stitches, but splashes of plain water didn't matter.

Of course, everyone's different and hospitals vary. I hope you get the chance to ask all these questions. Good luck!

[Magpie99]

Hi. For showering, it's about keeping your surgery wound dry. So you can use a hand held shower head to do the lower half of yourself. Use a damp cloth to clean higher up, avoiding any water near the sternum. You become quite adept very quickly

[Magpie99 in reply to Magpie99]

Forgot to add. You can cover your shoulders with a towel and bend over forwards to wash your hair. I used the basin at first

[honey1958 in reply to Magpie99]

Thankyou Maggie. I thought it might hurt to bend forward to wash hair and lifting up your arms?

[Autumn_Leaves]

Nothing to add as there are people far more knowledgeable than me who have already replied. Just wanted to wish you well and hope it all goes smoothly. Most importantly, that your recovery brings improvement in the AF and heart function, and a better future for you x

[honey1958 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thankyou Autumn_Leaves for your kind comments

[Magpie99]

I found it didn't hurt if you bend forwards so you're not elevating your arms in the way you would standing upright. It's also a good way to put on clothes such as t shirts. Hope that makes sense

[Davewm]

Hi honey1958.

I had a Triple Bypass and Mitral Valve Repair at Basildon Cardiothoracic Centre in 2019. I was in hospital for 8 days and then discharged back home.

My recovery went reasonably well. I think it’s fair to say that it always takes longer than you think it should but with patience I’m sure you’ll get there.

Luckily I had my wife to help me. The worst job (according to my wife) was the daily fitting of the compression stockings. I’m not sure how this would work if you live alone so it may be worth checking out!

All the best for the future, kind regards

David

[RubyShoes10]

Hello Honey, I don't know if you've already had your surgery but just in case you're still waiting, I wanted to answer your question. My thoughts are that it will be very challenging for you to cope on your own in the initial period after you arrive home. Perhaps your daughter (and her children) could stay with you for a week or two. It might be more convenient for her and more reassuring for you. You will likely feel very weak initially although it definitely improves hugely with rest and walks.

I left hospital 5 days post surgery and my husband took a week off work for my first week at home. I relied on him a lot for meal prep, cleaning my wound, generally helping with things but I was able to shower on my own a couple of days after getting home and could get myself out of bed as soon as came home.

What I learnt is that recovery is not linear. You can feel much better one day then crappy the next but generally you'll see weekly progression. I'm over 4 months post surgery now (mitral valve repair) and life is so much better. I wish you every success with your surgery and your recovery.

[honey1958 in reply to RubyShoes10]

Hello RubyShoes10 thankyou for your reply.Not had surgery yet but scheduled for October 20th.

I appreciate your frank reply that I'll need help when I come home. Yes will discuss my daughter coming to stay. Good to hear you could shower yourself and get out of bed soon!

Glad you feel so much better now 4 months on. Did you feel bad before the op?

What I can't get my head round is that I feel well now so can't really accept such a big op is necessary. Doctors have assured me it's needed though as my heart is currently compensating it won't for ever and in time I will develop symptoms

Thankyou for your good wishes x

[RubyShoes10 in reply to honey1958]

I understand your feelings. I was born with a deformed mitral valve but it wasn't diagnosed until i was an adult. I lived all my life with palpitations and odd heart beats but I never knew this wasn't 'normal'. When my cardiologist told me last year i needed OHS, I had been feeling better than I had in some years. It was a complete shock and I kept saying to myself 'but i feel fine'. It's only since having the surgery (I'm 5 months out) that i realise how i much i had become used to my symptoms and how 'normal' and 'fine' they felt to me. Maybe this isn't the same for you at all but i have heard many people say they didn't know how bad they were until after their surgery.

Just a thought. I wish you every success and good health. Best wishes.