Heart Surgery Valve repair/replacement- anyone had it

Forums › Health and fitness › Heart Surgery Valve repair/replacement- anyone had it

Morgenmuffel

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#250660 20-May-2019 18:26

Ok last year I got quite ill, turned out i had an infection in my blood which got to my heart and has damaged a heart valve Endocarditis, so at some stage soon they will be cracking me open and fixing it.

Anyway i am on a list i assume so god knows when it will happen, But they did say once it was done it will take 3-4 months minimum before i get back to even a vaguely normal routine.

Now the doctors gave me a big explanation etc about the surgery etc i understand all that side but its the little things that i don't want to waste Drs time asking that i want to ask here and also because this is a shade anonymous

1) If my chest is wired together and i am not supposed to move for the first little while, how do i take a dump etc

2) 3 to 4 months of doing nothing might kill me, I am not a person who can sit around for a long period, yes i can read books, play games watch movies etc but i need to get up and move around every few hours, give the garden a quick dig etc, some sort of physical thing in between the sedentary stuff or i go stir crazy

3) Streaming TV Box, I have Netflix and prime (the NZ versions) plus i watch the TVNZ and TV3 ondemand thingies is appleTV 4 still the best to watch these all, as i can't seem to find another device that does them all 4, I will be purchasing one soon, tossing up between 2nd hand and new and if i am going to be laying around doing nothing, i will need something to watch

4) I have a will and all that sorted from years ago, but if it doesn't work and I die, once they have taken out all usable parts they want, can i just get them to throw the body in the incinerator or out for recycling, yeah OK I realise that they probably aren't allowed to do that, but whats the cheapest form of disposal (Top tip: don't look up disposal of body on the internet), i kind of like the idea of Alkaline Hydrolysis as it seems more energy efficient and generally cooler, but is that even allowed here?

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#2241813 20-May-2019 19:54

Have had a mum who had a valve done, and a Father-in-law that had a 3 or 4 bypass....

They were up and moving within a week or two, ( certainly not flat on their back or slumped in a chair for months,), sure they were much slower, but they were mobile....

Within 6-8 weeks they were pretty much both back to normal ( save the major physical exertion)

THere are plenty of recovery guides

here's a local one...

http://www.heartcarecentre.co.nz/core/node/38

Bung

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#2241832 20-May-2019 20:25

Your chest may be wired together but you are certainly not immobile. Use your time now to practice getting up out of a chair etc using your legs without pushing up with your arms.

I've had a valve repair. Even in intensive care recovery you are encouraged to get out of bed into a chair. YMMV but I've had plenty of mileage wandering the corridors 6th floor Wgtn Hospital. You aren't lying around doing nothing. I've still got the (unread) book I thought I'd get a chance to read. It is a shock temporarily feeling about 20 years older though!

Batman

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#2241834 20-May-2019 20:36

ask @geektastic

loceff13

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#2241871 20-May-2019 21:28

Your family will have the choice of donating your organs or not, for whatever reason thats the way it works here with next of kin having the final say. So in that case you need to inform them of your wishes and hope they comply if that happens. In terms of body disposal methods(burial/cremation etc) you should speak with a lawyer, if it's not in writing(notarized etc) your family would choose so again you might want to inform them.

jnimmo

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#2241886 20-May-2019 22:06

In terms of 3 & 4... Apple TV 4 is definitely my favourite streaming device with apps for TVNZ, TV3, Netflix and Lightbox as well as BBC, 4oD and SBS, although there is still no Neon app which should be pretty embarrassing for Sky. Chromecast would be my next choice (if only wanting to stream NZ content).

I'm not sure anyone is doing alkaline 'water cremations' here yet but was interested to read about it earlier in the year https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/110766202/dissolve-the-dead-firm-plans-to-import-ecoburial-machine

Geektastic

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#2241958 21-May-2019 00:33

Morgenmuffel:
Ok last year I got quite ill, turned out i had an infection in my blood which got to my heart and has damaged a heart valve Endocarditis, so at some stage soon they will be cracking me open and fixing it.

Anyway i am on a list i assume so god knows when it will happen, But they did say once it was done it will take 3-4 months minimum before i get back to even a vaguely normal routine.

Now the doctors gave me a big explanation etc about the surgery etc i understand all that side but its the little things that i don't want to waste Drs time asking that i want to ask here and also because this is a shade anonymous

1) If my chest is wired together and i am not supposed to move for the first little while, how do i take a dump etc

2) 3 to 4 months of doing nothing might kill me, I am not a person who can sit around for a long period, yes i can read books, play games watch movies etc but i need to get up and move around every few hours, give the garden a quick dig etc, some sort of physical thing in between the sedentary stuff or i go stir crazy

3) Streaming TV Box, I have Netflix and prime (the NZ versions) plus i watch the TVNZ and TV3 ondemand thingies is appleTV 4 still the best to watch these all, as i can't seem to find another device that does them all 4, I will be purchasing one soon, tossing up between 2nd hand and new and if i am going to be laying around doing nothing, i will need something to watch

4) I have a will and all that sorted from years ago, but if it doesn't work and I die, once they have taken out all usable parts they want, can i just get them to throw the body in the incinerator or out for recycling, yeah OK I realise that they probably aren't allowed to do that, but whats the cheapest form of disposal (Top tip: don't look up disposal of body on the internet), i kind of like the idea of Alkaline Hydrolysis as it seems more energy efficient and generally cooler, but is that even allowed here?

Ouch. Feel free to PM me any time if you have questions you don't want to discuss publicly.

1) You'll be in bed at the hospital for a while so they'll manage that for you. By the time you get home you'll be mobile enough for that. Just don't laugh. Or sneeze. Or cough!

2) You won't be doing nothing. It's going to take a couple of months to get really mobile again but you will be able to go with people for a coffee or whatever. At first short trips will seem really hard but exciting and they'll be encouraging you to walk as soon as possible so that will help as it's a challenge at first. Walking will seem really hard for a while. I remember walking 200m to a bench and having to sit for 30 minutes before I could walk back.

3) Be prepared for the psychological impact of someone messing with your heart. It's bigger than they tell you so make sure those around you know you'll be a bit sensitive for a while and will need support of family etc

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gasgob

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#2241974 21-May-2019 04:41

I had my Mitral valve replaced at a young age (long time ago). Your queries have been answered above but just to add, a positive mindset helped me before and after so stay upbeat, positive and grateful, it's amazing tech going inside, another chance of living a healthy and amazing life!

I'm very Grateful for an additional 33yrs of life and counting!

Morgenmuffel

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#2243252 22-May-2019 18:10

Cheers for that Guys, i do have a fairly physical job (Storeman, so a lot of hefting stuff round) and i am prepared-ish for a slowish recovery and being tired, i had a little bit of that last year after being crook, walking to the letter box was a treat, just the fresh air and breeze was amazing and that was only after being in a hospital bed for a week.

My main fear is that I will get bored and do something dumb by pushing harder than i should, so i have a tonne of quirky little computer games and books ($1 bookfairs are awesome), and am looking up reviews on movies etc.

Did you guys find something to keep your hands occupied, my late grandfather spliced ropes and cords etc when he was laid up, I just want to find some small physical outlet as despite being exhausted and having no strength after the illness, it was the frustration of not doing anything useful/contributing that i found the hardest.

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

tdgeek

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#2243254 22-May-2019 18:28

I had a bypass. Dunno where that came from. Id go for a walk at lunch, my right ankle got tight, no biggie, but weird. Went to the doctor after a while. He arranged an angiogram. One artery was 100% blocked but it grew out other branches. I played table tennis at a competiive level, no issue. I walked to work, got a few cold chest issues assumed that was cold air.

But as one artery was 100% blocked I had a bypass. CABG. In private hospital 6 days, had to sleep sitting up. UGH. Came home, had to sleep sitting up. Well 45 degree sitting up. Off work 6 weeks. Another 6 weeks can't ride my motorbike. Then it was so annoying, BUT it was needed.

Tks to the staff!

I recall having to suck in this device, make the balls rise (not a gay thing :-) ). It was tough, walking around was tough no air, but it came right. Glad it was 2014 and not 1614

tdgeek

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#2243265 22-May-2019 18:51

Geektastic: 1) You'll be in bed at the hospital for a while so they'll manage that for you. By the time you get home you'll be mobile enough for that. Just don't laugh. Or sneeze. Or cough!

3) Be prepared for the psychological impact of someone messing with your heart. It's bigger than they tell you so make sure those around you know you'll be a bit sensitive for a while and will need support of family etc

Yep!

My doc said the heart gets upset when its touched. So it reacts. In my case, my lungs were an issue, they compress them flat to access the heart, so it takes time for them to inflate. H

There was a thread today about punctures, no, not quite like that!

tdgeek

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#2243268 22-May-2019 18:57

Morgenmuffel:

Cheers for that Guys, i do have a fairly physical job (Storeman, so a lot of hefting stuff round) and i am prepared-ish for a slowish recovery and being tired, i had a little bit of that last year after being crook, walking to the letter box was a treat, just the fresh air and breeze was amazing and that was only after being in a hospital bed for a week.

My main fear is that I will get bored and do something dumb by pushing harder than i should, so i have a tonne of quirky little computer games and books ($1 bookfairs are awesome), and am looking up reviews on movies etc.

Did you guys find something to keep your hands occupied, my late grandfather spliced ropes and cords etc when he was laid up, I just want to find some small physical outlet as despite being exhausted and having no strength after the illness, it was the frustration of not doing anything useful/contributing that i found the hardest.

When I came home, I'd go for a walk around the block, a few times a day, its not like you are an invalid, just "slow motion suits right now"

So, just potter around, your body or tiredness will let you know. Binge movies, get some fresh air, dont push it. If you feel like a 30 minute walk, do it.

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Geektastic

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#2245854 26-May-2019 14:23

tdgeek:

Geektastic: 1) You'll be in bed at the hospital for a while so they'll manage that for you. By the time you get home you'll be mobile enough for that. Just don't laugh. Or sneeze. Or cough!

3) Be prepared for the psychological impact of someone messing with your heart. It's bigger than they tell you so make sure those around you know you'll be a bit sensitive for a while and will need support of family etc

Yep!

My doc said the heart gets upset when its touched. So it reacts. In my case, my lungs were an issue, they compress them flat to access the heart, so it takes time for them to inflate. H

There was a thread today about punctures, no, not quite like that!

I would agree with your doctor.

It is a big thing and goes on a while - my surgery (which was not just valve replacement) took 8.5 hours, followed by 2 days in a medically induced coma in ICU. All of that has a fundamental effect on your mental and physical being.

As to OP - I caution you not to return to work too soon. I think I went back at 6 or maybe 8 weeks and that was too early. Different strokes for different folks etc, but going back messed me up enough that I ended up resigning and making my life very different. Allow yourself more time than you think. It won't do you harm.

old3eyes

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#2245859 26-May-2019 14:55

My M-in-law have one done with the Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). method. She was out of hospital in a couple of days and it's all been good after having to take it easy for the first month. No open heart surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a way of putting in a new valve without removing the old damaged valve. This procedure is used when open heart surgery may be too risky for an individual. The TAVI approach delivers a fully expandable replacement valve to the valve site through a catheter. Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the old valve out of the way and the tissue in the replacement valve takes over working as a valve."

Regards,

Old3eyes

Morgenmuffel

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#2246605 27-May-2019 17:08

Yeah i saw that trans aortic doohickey one, but from what i understand my valve is repairable (they hope) so you've got to go in through the chest

Too be honest I would rather have a repair over replacement even if the surgery is more involved as if it works I won't need to be on medication for the rest of my life.

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

old3eyes

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#2246616 27-May-2019 17:35

Morgenmuffel:
Yeah i saw that trans aortic doohickey one, but from what i understand my valve is repairable (they hope) so you've got to go in through the chest

Too be honest I would rather have a repair over replacement even if the surgery is more involved as if it works I won't need to be on medication for the rest of my life.

The M in Law is not on any rejection medication.

Regards,

Old3eyes

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