Thought I would share my story to help those new to the site…..
I had a successful MV repair six months ago over at Oxford (excellent surgeon) – my valve had been prolapsed since childhood but only started seriously leaking last year (NB. I had 2 x covid vaccinations).
Two days in ICU then five days on the cardio ward before going home. You will wake up in ICU very sleepy, in pain and probably slightly delirious along with having several cannulas from the wrists and neck, also drains from your chest and a heart monitor cable.
First tip is whatever you do take the meds and the painkillers as often as required – your heart and rib cage are very agitated and will take some time to settle down.
Don’t forget you have been cut open and the rib cage forced apart so as a consequence all your muscles, tendons and ligaments will hurt for weeks, especially in your back.
You will take a few steps day 2 and be forcing small portions of food down yourself (the anaesthetic can cause nausea) – it gets better quickly. By day 4 or 5 the drains come out and the pain is manageable and you should be walking the ward albeit slowly and your appetite will return. Use the chest cushion to hold against your chest when you cough or sneeze and take the little cushion home with you.
Initial Rehab
Ask to join the local NHS rehab programme – unfortunately in my NHS area (Oxford and Gloucester/Cheltenham) it was only for more “serious heart patients” a bypass or worse! (I found this unbelievable) – I had to create my own programme. The BHF also offers great rehab videos on this site.
Rehab is a slow, ponderous process and you have to be really really patient with yourself. The best thing I was told is that you have to travel your own journey because your body is unique to you and do not compare to anybody else or anything you read in the pamphlets.
I started very gentle walking for up to one mile daily at a time, slowly building my speed, but not walking serious inclines.
I bought a smart watch to help monitor my body and also a blood pressure machine ….. the results help you, your GP and your cardiologist when required (with an apple watch for example the ECG is very accurate and can be emailed) – but don’t become fixated or paranoid about readings as they will vary quite dramatically in the early days.
Also note that a thin sporty person like myself (11.5 stone and 6 foot one) will feel and sense an awful lot more within the chest cavity (heart and lungs) compared to a heavier person who will have more fat around their organs.
After 3 months I could happily walk 6 miles at pace (in 2 sets of 3m)
Voice – maybe peculiar to me but when I am feeling really tired or having an off day, my voice also tends to become weak and a little strained (2 x cardiologists did not have an explanation for this).
Medication
I left hospital with:
5mg Bisoprolol
40mg Astvorstation
Warfarin
Aspirin .75mg
Omazerapole (to protect the stomach from the the aspirin)
I was also self-injecting (blood thinner) for the first 10 days
Medication is really difficult to advise on as you should not self-medicate but if the meds are giving you side effects then speak to your GP/Cardiologist and change them!! Also change when you take them, try evenings as opposed to mornings for example.
Bisoprolol - gave me terrible nausea (even on 1.25mg after 4 months) so I am now on 40mg Atenolol – nausea all but disappeared
Warfarin – my INR was wildly up and down all the time – so I pushed for and got Rivaroxaban 20mg – no checks required
Also, some foods do not sit well with some meds so check (grapefruit, banana etc.) - without exception alcohol in modicum and try to abstain as long as you can.
So, after 6 Months I am on Atenolol 25mg, Rivaroxaban 20mg and Atorvastatin 10mg and hope to be free of all meds soon.
Rib Cage
It does take at least 12 weeks to heal – try and lie on your back to sleep for as long as possible, I suggest at least the first 4 weeks – if you do roll on to a side do not cramp up the rib cage – keep it open with a cushion between your knees and the upper hand/arm on top or behind your abdomen. Also when standing up try to use your legs as much as possible opposed to leverage with your arms.
If you feel/hear the odd click when making certain movements this is normal but really by about week 14 it should be fully healed (mine was).
Consultants reviews
List all your questions no matter how trivial, and if possible insist on (if not offered) an echocardiogram along with the standard ECG etc. it is as much about your piece of mind!
GP
I was lucky that at my local surgery there was a Dr with heart expertise – so it was very reassuring during the first few weeks to discuss my progress and ask any questions - if I had a setback, which I did a couple of times, I was on the phone and into the surgery for an ECG and a check – they are also tuned into your meds.
Ongoing Rehab
After 6 months I can walk at pace up to 6m at a time, I have just tried a short knock at tennis and I am swimming lengths and using my own body weight to exercise with my own monitored programme (no gym as yet).
Again it’s slowly slowly – the only setbacks I have had are when I have tried to do too much, such as too fast up a large long incline. Try to initially keep your pulse up to 120 BPM only going higher for short periods until you feel fitter.
You may find extreme weather effects you, the full/new moon, climate change if you travel abroad.
The problem I have is that my body only reacts to excessive exercise during the course of the next day, on the actual day it copes happily so no obvious early warnings.
Mind games
It is mentally tough – I am a very positive person by nature and throughout life have always been able to compartmentalise stress, worry and especially anxiety……but this took me to places I’d never been before. I was and still am more emotional than pre-op but you have to remember that once you are signed off and the Op’ was successful – it is onwards and upwards.
The heart is a muscle and the chambers/valves etc. have spent months/years adapting to an abnormal bloodflow – so once repaired it needs months to evolve and adjust to a normal flow and this doesn’t happen overnight I’m afraid.
Through this forum it appears that 12 months is the average to return to your normal self.
If anyone has any questions or comments – all welcome, please ping them through.
I wish everyone all the best and thank everyone on this forum – it helps immensely.
NB. There is also a Mitral Valve Repair Facebook Site (with a USA bias but still helpful)
Rgds Stuart.