hi guys, I was just wondering how ohs has changed you as a person, physically and mentally? Has it made you feel vulnerable in any way or are you more assured?
I suppose i will need ohs at some point, just wondering what to expect when it’s all over.
many thanks.
Rob
be prepared for a long recovery period. I am old, so probably longer than average at about 14 weeks. But it got easier every couple of days so no big deal.
Then I reached a golden day when I was well and truly recovered. Marvellous, brilliant , delightful.
I got my life back. Deaths door to 100% recovered. What more could I want.
Mine was a non metallic valve so absolutely no problems.
I have two annual scans which takes about thirty minutes. Fabulous.
I don’t feel vulnerable. Just very very grateful to the medical teams that prolonged my life for me.
Sooty
6 months on I'd say "more or less the same". I was never symptomatic, so I don't really have new energy or assurance or anything. But I don't feel more vulnerable either.
I'd say the only major change is that I now take my lifestyle choices more seriously.
Good morning....I am two and a half years post op from two valve repairs after severe regurgitation. I've always been very positive about my recovery and very thankful for the operation. My mindset was we are all vulnerable and anything can happen to us on a daily basis. You can be in fantastic health and still he confronted with all sorts of health issues so basically I just get on with life and enjoy it the best I can. Recovery from OHS isnt always text book but I didn't find it as bad as I expected. I think key things are rest when needed but try to exercise daily too...go on the cardiac rehab programme... make lifestyle changes like diet and alcohol consumption...smoking etc. It's not a fast process so don't expect too much from yourself initially but you will notice differences as the days and weeks pass. You are young so if you need the surgery you should recover well from it. All the best xx
Expect the best. I did, and it happened. A swift and easy recovery, felt very good by Week 5, and now six months on I'm living a normal life for a 65 year old and I'm actually 79 (just)!!! A lot of it is to do with attitude, must be positive, and be circumspect regarding exercise after the operation. Listen to your body, rest is important. Don't try and "push the envelope", remember those who are telling you what to do are well meaning but they've never been in your position! "Gently, gently catchee monkey" is my advice. You will get there sooner than you think. Stay positive!!
Hi Rob,
That's a great question. I am only 55 and had my surgery over 5 years ago, now. I am still not 100% physically, but then I was a lot worse prior to my surgery. Mentally though, I do struggle. As you say, I do feel vulnerable. It's not that I worry all the time about my surgery or heart, but I often get flashbacks to the 'dark' times. I also struggle with the day-to-day things that are not often even about me. I worry more about my family, work, the world even. It's difficult to explain, but for me a big opertaion has made me more aware of a lot of things, not necessarily for the worse.
Peter
From feeling weak, vulnerable and old before my surgery, and not knowing why to feeling younger and at a level of fitness I’ve not seen for 15 years, that’s my feeling.
It’s taken a long time, over a year, to regain confidence in doing some things. I still tire more easily but it is a joyous thing to wake and enjoy another day of life. I still take a bit of care over some things.
I was diagnosed 3 weeks before surgery, two weeks after a HA and a week after 2 stents. I’ve got a bovine valve and a single precautionary bypass. I was 70 at the time. Now, just over 21 months later, I’ve done 56 parkrun (a 5k walk/jog/run), I took up doing them 3 months after surgery. I am not and never have considered myself a runner. I also do a cardiac gym circuit class weekly.
Apart from the medication life is pretty much back to normal albeit being careful about diet. Oh, I’ve lost over 11kg since I went into hospital.
I had my entire aorta and the valve replaced 18 months ago, and miraculously recovered but then had a kind of PTSD which w, of course, all in my mind. I’m 87 tomorrow so I am obviously not going to swim the channel or win a gold medal but at least I am living and can lead a pretty much normal life. As far as I was concerned, having faith was the most important path to recovery.
have a very happy birthday 🥳 💪
Thank you so much, I wasn’t expecting that.
I think you have picked up on a very important point - having faith! Knowing and trusting God and His promises makes all the difference. And happy birthday as well!
morning,
I had my surgery nearly 9 years ago, 68 at the time very sick. In hospital for 7 weeks while they tried to get the excess fluid from my body, before being transferred to the specialist hospital for a new aortic valve and bypass.
From the moment I woke up in ICU the feeling of being grateful as never gone, the medical team that gave me a second chance are unbelievable. Not to say I didn’t have hiccups! Would sometimes have a wobble thinking about someone holding my heart!
Recovery was not as bad as I expected, you will be given instructions on how to help yourself follow them, 6 weeks after surgery I saw my surgeon and was discharged from him back to my cardiologist at 6 months saw him discharged back to the care of my GP I have a tissue valve so have an echo yearly, and so far so good.
So for the last 9 years I have been able to watch my family thrive, to say I am grateful is an understatement. So to answer your question I am braver than I thought I was! I am also a survivor, someone who thought was at the end of a really good life but was given more time. Makes you appreciate what is happening round you.
When or if you have to face OHS don’t be too worried, it’s a second chance. I wish you well.
Pauline
had my surgery 11 weeks ago Rob. I’m 53 and up until 12 months ago had a big job with a lot of stress which I managed well. To be quite honest prior to the discovery of my dilated aorta I felt I was invincible. Had a lot to contend with post surgery (my dad died 3,days after my op and I then caught flu whilst in hospital and then I needed a pacemaker fitted). I had no psychosis. I’m a very positive individual. Everybody says how well I look 11 weeks on but I must be honest i do now for the first time in my life recognise that I have vulnerability. It’s taken the edge off my confidence I would say though it’s probably not noticeable to a lot of people. Pain management has been fine - I usually recognise the chest pain is muscular / ligament based but every now and again if I feel something slightly different in my chest I do have a slight worry. Getting to stage now where I want to think about going to the gym again and running but just slightly nervous !
Hope that helps and if you are worried then reach out to someone for a chat - it’s helped me. Though whilst sometimes I am happy to chat about it and find it therapeutic- other times I prefer not to - no idea why - bonkers !
I also was probably so positive and relaxed going into the op (3 aortic procedures) that’s it’s only lost the event that it’s hit me on how serious this was and what a lucky boy I am.
Anyway hope everything works out for you and remember it’s good to talk !
You’re asking about surgery but you don’t explain why you think you will need it. I’ll break my answer down in parts.
Firstly unless you’ve been diagnosed with heart issues then don’t wish for something you really don’t want, if your fit and healthy keep it up take measures now to avoid surgery at all costs, on the other side if you’ve had a prognosis get yourself as fit as you can to undergo the procedure.
Educate yourself and go to validated sources and get a heads up on the procedure, NHS and BHF good sources, you may ask why because although it will give you an overview of what to expect it will also arm you to ask the right questions to right person when you need answers.
In my case I need a work done on a valve, I was told I was bovine transplant initially however the consultant then told me if it needed replacing then it was going to be artificial how does this make a difference I knew through my initial research that meant having to take warfarin for the rest of my life and that meant constant monitoring, luckily they were able to repair it.
To my actual operation and post op recovery, I’m 67 was as fit as I could be going into my op and I’m now into my 6th week of recovery.
I had a triple bypass and a mitral valve repair, the op should have taken 6 to 8 hours with approx 4 hours in itu for recovery.
I l was still on the operating table 10 hours into the operation and was bought around in itu 14 hours later and was in isolation.
The reason when I l was opened up my oxygen levels dropped dangerously low to a point where it was touch and go whether the procedure would go ahead although I felt well going into hospital I had a viral infection, this meant apparently where I would have had 30% oxygen I was on 70%, when I came to I had tubes, masks monitors constant attention by surgeons and subsequently spent 4 days before being transferred to a ward and still with an oxygen bottle.
Now this is the key I believe to a speedy recovery I went in with a positive attitude, I set myself mental and physical goals.
As soon I could get out of bed I did, I completed every challenge the physios set me and went that bit further, on being discharged I have done as much as I can to get back to normal with the parameters set me.
I have a flight booked for mid April one of my targets to be on that flight which is around 12 weeks post op.
How do I feel apart from a chest infection which is not uncommon after surgery as mucus builds up in the chest and lungs can’t get rid of it as effectively as they aren’t functioning fully.
Everything else appears to coming together, but you have to realise everybody is different physically and mentally, I’m lucky I’m strong in both of those areas, I hate taking medication but realise I have to pre op and even more post op hopefully will be taken off some of these when I meet my consultant surgeon in a couple of weeks.
This is long winded post however if I it has message within it, prevention is better than than cure, heart surgery is definitely a rodeo I don’t want to do again if I can help it for all my positivity I can understand people who don’t come though it well and experience different emotions.
Hi it is all mind games unfortunately I had a Tissue valve and my only nemesis was will I have to have it replaced at some point but I still preferred that to being on blood thinners.The one thing I always thought all along was it did not matter what anyone said to me unless you have been there they don't understand you have come to the right place people on here do understand so good luck on your journey
Rob
I think how you feel afterwards might depend on why you are having OHS. At my cardiac rehabilitation class I met several people who had had actual heart attcks who were all worried that it might happen again. One fellow had only left the house once to come to class and he only showed up that one time. I, by contrast, had aortic valve replacement – I had a bicuspid valve – and there was nothing else that needed to be done, so I don’t have that fear for with my new bovine valve, I am fixed, everything is fine (with the support of medication, of course). Recovery has been steady, I made sure I followed the programme and went to the classes. I did some sweeping too soon, mind, which was a mistake as my sternum informed me. Now almost exactly six months after the operation I am a new man. I am extremely grateful to the team and the NHS for my rejuvenation.
Hi. I had my OHS 6 months ago as well but I am still getting pains on my left, which is worse in cold weather or when it is raining.
How long was it for you to be pain free please? Thanks
Rob, I had my valve replaced when I was younger than you are now and asymptomatic though I had been aware for almost 20 years that a valve replacement may be required at some point in the future. I went into the operation with the mindset that I was like a car going into a garage to replace a defective part, and only had one split second thought while at a good friend's that this could be the last time I would visit her. Post op, once out of ICU I began to feel really well (hadn't felt bad before either) but there were days early on when I did too much and got tired. Before returning to work I drove from London to Wales and back for a short break. I would definitely recommend a mechanical valve for someone of your age - I was advised that as well as having a shorter lifespan a tissue valve would be less well suited to the demands of a younger lifestyle. Warfarin has never been a problem either. For me, my faith in and relationship with God was also a massive positive. When or if the time comes for valve replacement you should feel the benefit quickly. I certainly had no form of emotional trauma, yes, it was a little bit of a surprise when my if became a when, but I never felt worried or concerned apart from that split second thought at my friends. And, btw, my valve celebrated it's 37th birthday over the weekend.
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