Valve replacement

[Tuquoiselover]

General advice on what to expect after aortic heart valve surgery please

[Blackcatsooty]

about one week in hospital.

Six weeks of careful rehab, at home. Pretty much incapacitated. But walking daily required.

Six more weeks building up strength.

Then you have your life back !

Hope this over simplified outline helps

Sooty

[Tuquoiselover in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Thanks. I will have to accept not doing my usual activities and fitness at least for 6 weeks then! Walking every day will ar least be possible!

[Blackcatsooty in reply to Tuquoiselover]

I assume you will have open heart surgery as opposed to a TAVi.

Most patients are laid up for at least 7 weeks. And for those of us in our 70s it is likely 12 weeks.

No lifting anything heavier than a half filled kettle. Nothing lifting over head are examples of your convalescence.

I got to grips with lots of seed sowing but above all daytime TV.

But it was so worthwhile, the fabulous surgeons gave me my life back.

Best wishes

[Comfs]

hello the recovery is about 2-3 months after getting your valve replaced but it can take longer it just depends on the individual and the circumstances after surgery, I’m on to my 4th valve replacement and I’ve been in recovery from my last one for 8 weeks now.

Gradually you feel like you can start getting back to normality round about 6-8 weeks but like I say it’s different to everyone.

You just need to be really careful about your chest as that’s what will need to heal, so a lot of resting will be needed. It takes me about 4-6 weeks to be able to walk properly again and doing daily things in the house as you need to be careful lifting.

Hope this helps and I hope you get sorted

[Taviterry]

We've had several new threads about this recently, and some of various vintages are noted on the top right-hand side of this page as "Related posts".

Are you having a SAVI (with your chest being opened) or a TAVI (with the new valve being inserted up a vein near your groin)? The latter is for frailer people, though I walked for seven hours a week before mine. The day after the op I walked for 80 minutes around the hospital in half-a-dozen careful stages, and after three weeks was given the go-ahead to resume gardening. The DVLA requires that one does not drive for four weeks. I was completely self-sufficient after my discharge (just two nights in the hospital) but stayed with a cousin for five days just in case.

Your medical team and your health authority website should give you more information

[Leonardo1]

hi

Sooty puts it pretty well - 6 weeks of a slow life then gradually build up to a highly better quality of life !

But do what they tell you post op - get up move walk walk and walk - it’s the last thing you truly feel like but getting moving is your best way forward to a good recovery .

Good luck and focus on the future !

Ch

[Rhinos67]

Everyones journey is different. I was in hospital for 3 weeks despite them expecting everything to be plain sailing.All OK now but if there's anything specifically you want to know please ask.

If you aren't already a member of the Facebook group UK Aortic and Heart Defects Pre and Post surgery then well worth joining. Lots of support and reassurance from others who have had surgery for those who are waiting.

Joanne

😊

[Tuquoiselover in reply to Rhinos67]

As I am extremely active currently, I am worried how limited I will be after open heart surgery, which is the only one they have suggested for me, as they say the other is for frail people. I know I should be able to walk, but I fear nothing else. Such as pilates, weights, body combat! How did you get on?

[Rhinos67 in reply to Tuquoiselover]

You will be OK but need to give it a little time. I do Pilates, Step, Zumba and workout in the gym. No contact sport though because I'm on Warfarin and I would bruise. I regularly walk 5 miles a day at work and did 7.5 miles yesterday 😊

[Tlyna]

I had it done by TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) in January. The moment I woke up after I felt great, no more shortness of breath, no pain or swelling though some of both of those are typical but not bad. I went home the next day and have been doing great ever since. I was in really bad shape before the surgery, could barely breathe or walk. Although I had severe aortic stenosis I didn't have any plaque in my arteries.

My parents both had to have aortic valve replacements but theirs were before TAVRs came about so they had open heart surgery. Dad lived almost 22 years after his and would have lived longer but refused to take the diuretic he needed so died unnecessarily. Mom is still around 30+ years after hers despite having emphysema before the surgery (smoked right up to the morning of surgery) and is oxygen dependent now.

I was up on my feet that afternoon, not much but could go to the bathroom and around my room. Walked the hospital hall the next morning before discharge. Supposedly needed someone at home for the first day but I really did everything for myself as I was feeling a lot better and stronger. I did take care not to lift much (more than 1 lb or so) or bend down too much that first week. I am still in cardiac rehab but dong great there. You will feel so much better after.

[Jantech in reply to Tlyna]

Thanks so much for your uplifting post. I am catastrophically anxious after my moderate aortic regurgitation diagnosis and dread the future. You have given me hope.

I cannot tell you….

[Tlyna in reply to Jantech]

You will be fine. I was scared too but I talked to others who had the same surgery including my neighbor across the road from me. She even had the same surgeon and cardiologist. None of them had a problem with it nor knew of anyone who had and being a major senior area there are a lot of cardiac rehab patients in these two towns. My own city is often given the nickname "God's Waiting Room" .

[Jantech in reply to Tlyna]

I bet I could guess whereabouts you are! Anyway your kind words have made me feel hopeful. I am in the depths of despair. I am trying to climb out.

Thank you, thank you again

[Tlyna in reply to Jantech]

Lol, yeah that nickname kind of gives it away. Still it is a lovely place to retire to.

[Hiking_Girl]

I was in hospital for 7 nights after OHS, and 3 days after I got home I walked 8000 steps along the sea front at Portsmouth. I remember a lot of neck and shoulder pain, so keep on top of that - take the painkillers regularly, before you need them. And avoid deckchairs unless you've got someone to haul you out of them. Good luck.

[Tuquoiselover in reply to Hiking_Girl]

Thank you for your response, I love walking, so that is positive, hopefully I can walk as far as you did and as quickly! It did cross my mind how difficult it will be for me to get out of our sun loungers!