Heart valve replacement

[Maydayuk]

Hi all, I'm not feeling good at the moment. I've been experiencing hr 146 then 53 so erratic. Dizziness heavy discomfort in my chest. I contacted 111 a ambulance was sent. I'm booked fir a ct angiogram and blood thinning injection.I have severe aortic stenosis, awaiting valve replacement. If anyone can advise if it's common to have this erratic change in HR. Is it a sign of a clot.

[Yumz199725]

I'm so sorry to hear what your going through 💔, I recently went through something similar my heart rate would race to 147 just from standing up while I was in hospital attached to a heart monitor 🫀, I have moderate to severe aortic stenosis and regurgitation so will soon need valve replacement surgery also x are they keeping you in hospital?? Hope you start to feel a bit better soon ❤️.

[Maydayuk in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi Yumz, no I'm not in hospital I was sent home with blood thinning syringes. I have my ct angiogram this Thurs. Believe it or not no beds. To be honest with you I'd rather be at home, it's just unsettling not knowing what your hearts doing. I was in hospital 2wks in March. At that time I was moderate to severe but in 6 months it's now severe. I received a letter just over a month ago to say I'm now ready for surgery. All the best for yourself.

[Ageingfast]

very disconcerning for you.

But hang on in there and they will sort you out.

Before replacing your valve you will get three tests. These three tests are done as an outpatient appointment. Then they will do the op as an inpatient.

Test one is an angiogram, test two is a hand held scan and test three is a lung function test. Then they will call you in for the operation.

I had all three as an inpatient but that is unusual.the hand held scan and lung function are painless and quick. The angiogram is mildly painfull and up to one hour. But nothing compared to the pains you are already having.

Then the good news…..the replacement valve is under such strong anaesthetic that you won’t know a thing for many hours or even a couple of days. The operation is very safe. Then you get a long period of recovery, at home.

It is a life changing improvement. Wonderful, marvellous, fabulous. All the frightening symptoms will be gone. You get given your life back.

My surgeon wanted the tests done just before operating. So the waiting shouldn’t be long now the first test is set up.

And his success rate was better than 99%.

I had open heart surgery. Some patients have a TAVi instead. But I can only tell you about the OHS as I didn’t have TAVi.

Sooty

[Maydayuk in reply to Ageingfast]

Thankyou, the information you've given me as been so informative just what I needed to hear. To think maybe soon I'll be back to my old self.

[Ageingfast in reply to Maydayuk]

Yes, back to your old self. I had been suffering for years, not really grasping what was wrong. So when my golden day arrived it was much better than I could have dreamt.

I hope you can ride out the wait for the op, then I hope you will make every effort during the long recovery time. I had one week in the hospital then another 12 weeks recovering at home. But I am well in to my 70s so recovery was slow.er than a younger person.You essentially need care during the first weeks at home. But every day felt a bit better. Every day a little stronger. If only every illness was this good !

[Silvertail]

My husband was recently getting very breathless so went to the Emergency Dept. It was then found his heart rate was going from the 40s to 140s. Tests found his mitral and tricuspid valves had severe regurgitation. He is soon going to have a mitraclip placed in the hopes it will regulate his heart rate. (He is not a candidate for OHS.)

[Maydayuk in reply to Silvertail]

I also have a leaky heart with my severe aortic stenosis and knowing you're ill and being told they can't operate till specific perimetres have been reached, this is hard to understand. So you carry on taking the meds until that time comes. The best treatment is to carry on doing things you love and distract yourself. No ones the same, it could be weeks, months or years. I was hospitalised in March for two weeks the surgeons deliberated on doing the surgery. They did tests and decided to change my meds. No surgery, it's been 6 months now I had a new echo and I'm ready to have OHS. Take care.

[Silvertail in reply to Maydayuk]

Thanks for your reply. My husband is feeling much better these days since they've got all the fluid from his lungs and put him on different meds. We decided to go private which has made a huge difference. Fortunately we kept our private health insurance. I hope you get your surgery in good time.

[Maydayuk in reply to Maydayuk]

Had my pre op today. Operation due next week. Valve replacement.

[Anothernewbie]

The rapid variation is heart rate may well be atrial fibrillation, I know mine is. One of the causes is a faulty heart valve, so your heart rate may well settle down after your op. I have mild tricuspid regurgitation and so far my A.Fib episodes have been few and far between. The blood thinner stops clots forming. You to cold ask if you have one, but be prepared for a don't know answer.

[Maydayuk in reply to Anothernewbie]

I get a lot of unsure answers to my questions this isn't the first time they've told me I have a clot. Hopefully my angiogram gets more useful info, that helps.