Eight months since my Mechanical AV

[Crackerchops]

Eight months, time flies when you are recovering! I have been attending the cardiac rehab centre in Coventry who have been fab. They support you with everything from your fitness plan, medication, medical appointments and your mental health. I still have problems but these are not related to my op. I have problems chewing and swallowing my food and have to have a sip of water to aid with the swallowing. My speech tends to go slurry with weakness in my face. I've seen the neurologist, Speech and Language and the dietitian. No answers and investigation from blood results show my iron levels are very low, so I will be going for an iron infusion. As for my scar it looks good and the ticking of the valve keeps me alive!! 😀

[jersey-jazz]

Hi! Was it your aortic or your mitral valve that was replaced? I see that it has been two months since your operation. How are you feeling now? Are you still getting rehab? I hope the two months has taken you from a weak state to one that is strong and healthier. Also, I hope that you have got the iron level leveled out and that facial and swallowing problems have been sorted.

[Crackerchops in reply to jersey-jazz]

Hi,

I am still going to rehab but now paying for it as my 8 weeks has ended it seems daft not to continue. My fitness level is up 53% from when I started so that's good news. There are still problems but nothing that holds me back!! I get breathless and need to stop take a few minutes. I think this is due to my pacemaker having to pace all the time. I am waiting for an upgrade so we will see.

As for the swallowing and speaking problems, I had an iron infusion and this seems to have improved these conditions. Strange how the body reacts to changes. I now have one Guinness a night to help with the iron increase. 😜 Shame I can't get it on prescription. So fingers crossed things are starting to move in the right direction.

Thanks for your concern and all the best in 2023.

[jersey-jazz in reply to Crackerchops]

Crackerchops---You didn't tell me which valve got replaced. I've been told that I need to replace the aortic valve. Please see my posting, elsewhere.. There has been no reply to it, so far. What's going on here?

[Crackerchops in reply to jersey-jazz]

It was my left aortic valve replacement with a mechanical device. Most of the time I can hear it ticking! This is quite reassuring but can be worrying when I don't hear it. 😮 The downside is been on Warfarin for life and having to do blood prick test every month using a machine to give my INR reading. Get back to me if you want more info.

[jersey-jazz in reply to Crackerchops]

Thank you for replying. I think that I am sort ready for the big event. The more I communicate about it, the more relaxed I am.

[NotanAstronaut]

Sadly, I think it's urban myth re iron in Guinness but there are other reasons to drink it!