Open heart double valve replacement surgery.

[44yearoldscared]

Hi all, I'm just trying to get help with understanding how I should feel after the Op ? Does the values make a noise? Do you get to leave hospital after a week to recover at home? Also worried about taking that warfain for the rest of my life. I've been told very little about my illness. 1st it was oh it's this value no no it's that value! Oh no it's both . Oh actually it's the whole left side of ya heart ! . U need this Op otherwise your die. Errmmm or nice one. Never stayed in a hospital never had a Operation before! And get told this over a 2month period.

I struggled staying in the hospital over this time and discharged twice due to the sitting about doing nothing and nothing being done.

I'm currently at home against the doc's wishes . Waiting for KINGS COLLEGE. They want me up there to do this Op ASAP but put me bk so didn't want to spend weekend in hospital again. I take my hat off to all of you that have been in there longer than 5 days I couldn't do it.

Anyways yeah just want some answers to my questions at the top. Any replies to this ramble would be greatful. This is 1st time I have done anything like this. Hope I did it right and not upset anyone.

Many thanks .

[PadThaiNoodles]

Usual hospital stay is 7 to 10 days. I got stuck for 11 days because I'm fairly sensitive to warfarin and it took a while for my INR to stabilise. I'm also a pretty poor hospital patient (due mostly to social anxiety), but managed to make it through.

Note that open-heart-surgery also predisposes you to mood swings. The silver lining is that most of the others in your ward will have been through the same, so at least you won't be the only one with some teary episodes (and the nurses should be very good about it; at least mine were).

Your memory and vision also take somewhat of a hit. The order of things that happen in the first few days in recovery are likely to get all jumbled, and you may get flashing light visual disturbances in your peripheral vision. All pretty common side effects as I understand it. Just roll with it.

The warfarin is a bit of a pain in the ass because you have to get your INR monitored at a warfarin clinic. I spent 5 weeks going in twice a week, but most people stabilise more quickly and end up going in once a month or so. (There are also home monitoring setups you can get on that do it on a finger prick similar to what diabetics use for blood sugar monitoring.)

The mechanical valves are likely to make your heartbeat more noticeable. I'm very skinny so it may be more so in my case; I understand some people can barely tell.

Once home I saw the biggest improvements in how I felt in weeks 4 and 5. You're a good 15 years younger than me though, so might get there quicker.

Good luck with it, and keep us posted on how you get on!

[Bumpitybump]

Good for you reaching out and asking questions. I don’t think any of us like staying in hospital but, if you can, I would try to take their advice. I had a valve replacement in July, not at Kings, I did hear that if they keep you in hospital before the Op you are likely to be prioritised for the operation. I had a tissue valve but I am confident it will be the same, you won’t know any difference in the working of your heart. (Post op I did get Atrial Fibrillation, which is another story and I am finding my way through that) For me, there was surprisingly little pain in the operation site and wound etc but I did feel like I had been run over by a bus. They talk about your heart going through trauma because it is a massive operation. I was in hospital for six days. When I woke up I had all sorts of drains, monitors, cannulas etc and they removed them all over the following five days or so. I confidently walked out of hospital and have been getting stronger as time goes on. You might feel surprised how vulnerable you first feel post Op but don’t worry, soon be back in action. Post Op I would behave your self and do as you are told, not my normal approach to much in life but the staff are really good at looking after you and want to get you as well and strong as possible. Very best of luck.

[Hanibil]

Hi I had an aortic mechanical valve in 2005, at age 48 you will for a little time after the operation hear the valve , but that will stop in time. As for taking warfarin it will present no problems get your self a home tester this will reduce your hospital visits to around two a year , you prick your finger ring the inr clinic with the result and they tell you the amount of warfarin to take. Your valve should last for a very long time probably for the rest of your life. As for life after the operation I am 68 now and still ski and mountain bike. Best wishes.

[Ageingfast]

typical stay in hospital after the op is a week or a little less. I didn’t know anything for two or three days, the anaesthetic being very strong.

Many hospitals give you a single room after the op.

You need care when you get home. But the great thing is that you will be a bit better every day or two. And after a few weeks….wow…you get your life back. Magical op. Brilliant staff. Put your faith in the staff.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Julie_O]

hello there,

I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis and stage four heart failure. I was also told if I didn’t have the surgery, I would die in about 3-6 months.

On February 19th 2021 I had the operation to replace the aortic valve but ended up needing the mitral valve as well and part of my ascending aorta too because it was much worse than they thought. I had mechanical - I was only 49, so wanted something that would outlast me.

How I should feel after the Op ?

Well I will say is that it isn’t very comfortable at first. Now , when I came round from my operation they had put ointment in my eyes during the operation to keep my eyes moist. Ask the nurse to wipe them for you. I also bought myself some bras with no underwires just to be comfortable.

Does the values make a noise?

Yes, I have two and they go “tick tick” sometimes it’s really loud, especially if I open my mouth! 😂

Do you get to leave hospital after a week to recover at home?

I went in on a Wednesday, had my OH Surgery on Friday, and was discharged the following Thursday so ues. We were out of our depth, please be prepared for pain and fatigue. Before they would let me go home I had to successfully complete the stair test, which was basically walking up and down a flight of stairs.

Also worried about taking that warfain for the rest of my life. I've been told very little about my illness.

Look, it’s not pleasant I will admit, but it’s definitely better being alive isn’t it? I had my OH Surgery done at New Cross in Wolverhampton, which was excellent and I am sure you’ll be in safe hands.

Good luck, not that you’ll need it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, write them down if you have a tendency to forget them, no question is too silly.

You got this! 👌🏼

Jules