Newly diagnosed as requiring Aortic valve replacement

Anyone know how long it takes to get a valve replacement , when your considered severe with life expectancy of 3 yrs?

I live in Scotland

Thanks

[Hanibil]

had mechanical valve 2005 at age 48 absolutely brilliant 20 years on still going strong

[Taviterry]

That's tough, I'm sorry. But it's impossible for us to say how long you can expect to wait. I would like to think that your clinical need would put you at the front of the queue. FWIW I was diagnosed with a dodgy heart valve in January and had severe aortic stenosis confirmed in May. I had the impression that I would have to wait six months for an op at a London NHS hospital, four months for one in Oxford. The surgeon had suggested that I didn't need it urgently and that I could wait a while; in fact I walked for six hours a week before the op (but was very conscious of the strain when I carried an overnight bag from a boarding house to the hospital ten minutes' walk away).

You could try contacting the consultant's PA/secretary to ask - they cannot be anything but sympathetic.

I wish you well.

[Ageingfast]

my op was delayed until I was just a few weeks from death. I too was bicuspid and the valve had became stenosed. The stenosis was classified as mild, then three years later moderate, then just one year later severe. Once it reached severe I was sent for the pre op tests followed within days by the op.

The terminology for you sounds a bit odd. Three years to live but severe stenosis. Maybe different health authorities use different terminology.

A key indicator for me was when I started to stumble forward as opposed to backwards.

covid was raging so I did not follow the normal pattern for admission to hospital.

It’s a wonderful op. Amazing staff. And after a lengthy rehab (three months) I was totally recovered and full of beans. They really did give me my life back.

Sooty.

[BicuspidBloke]

I was diagnosed late Feb 2022 and operated on in early August 2022. My case was "urgent but not emergency" so was always happy to be led by the professionals. After the op the surgeon told me I "was days away from a catastrophic event"... so that was nice! I was also told they had aimed to do me in July but Blackpool had a spike in emergency cases.

So basically four to six months. They have a grid for operations during each week - some are filled by the urgent cases like mine, some are filled by the lower-level cases to stop them becoming urgent, some are left blank for emergencies (ie ambulance) and some are set aside for private ops.

The other factor is bed blocking. They wanted to discharge me from ICU after 24 hours because I was fine but the wards were all full. So because they had no ICU beds because there was nowhere to move those healthier people on to I presume they had to cancel some ops.

The waiting list is a very active thing and discussed regularly with the cardiac teams. The NHS at Blackpool was great but I suspect it will be even better in Scotland.

[080311]

morning,

I too live in Scotland and had a replacement Aortic valve and bypass 8 years ago, it was emergency surgery so can’t say what the wait time is. I was 7 weeks in hospital before being moved to the Golden Jubilee.

If you have a diagnosis like that I am sure it’s not going to be very long. Where are you in Scotland?

Having the surgery will give you a new lease of life, I thank my medical team every day for giving me a second chance.

Best wishes

Pauline

[Leonardo1]

hi - I was diagnosed in the September and had my valve replaced in the December . My Gp who first identified it told me to ring and chase appointments which I did as once diagnosed I had to have various tests before the actual ohs .

If you are waiting call the department concerned and tell them you can do short notice or cancelled appointments thst can speed things up .

Good luck x

[highburyted]

hi

I had my aortic valve replaced last year, Aug 2023. It was diagnosed in march 2020, so I had over 3 yrs of living with it.

I was told it’s about 5 yrs if nothing is done about the valve.

I was extremely high risk due to COPD and overweight due to not being able to exercise but they did it. They are brilliant.

The period waiting will cause you distress but I believe today they should get to you quicker. Highburyted

[Rhinos67]

I was told that I had about 12 months life expectancy when I was diagnosed in Oct 21. I had my surgery at the end of April 22. All is good now 😁

[Jedi14]

I think you will find that the care system is much better in Scotland compared to other parts of the UK!

I have every confidence that you will be moved up the waiting list soon, let us know when you've got it done. Thanks.

[FITQ]

My 'severe' diagnosis in April, just on the list September, with an estimate of 9-12 months ! so up to 18 mths total here in the south.