Surgery 4 to 6 weeks away!!

Passed a huge milestone this week. I met with my surgeon to discuss surgery and got the green light.

I first posted back in Dec 2023 when my routine annual check up noticed a change in my BAV with significant AR.

I’m lucky to have private medical insurance (I’m UK based) so my timeline for surgery is 4 to 6 weeks. Without it I’d be waiting another 4 to 6 months.

A degree of apprehension while waiting for authorisation from the insurance company but they shouldn’t decline. In fact in the handbook they specifically reference heart valve surgery as one of the reasons for enhanced cover following surgery.

I spent 50min talking to the surgeon and left with his personal mobile number for any questions I think of afterwards.

My heart certainly skipped a few beats when I heard the very short 4 to 6 weeks timeline. I’ve been mentally preparing for surgery for a while so currently feeling positive but certainly the pre-surgery nerves will kick in as I get closer.

Hi

SwansCity1912 said:

Passed a huge milestone this week. I met with my surgeon to discuss surgery and got the green light.
...
My heart certainly skipped a few beats when I heard the very short 4 to 6 weeks timeline. I’ve been mentally preparing for surgery for a while so currently feeling positive but certainly the pre-surgery nerves will kick in as I get closer.

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excellent stuff ... you've got this (well, actually, they have, but you can do it).

Wishing you an uneventful recovery

SwansCity1912 said:

Passed a huge milestone this week. I met with my surgeon to discuss surgery and got the green light.

I first posted back in Dec 2023 when my routine annual check up noticed a change in my BAV with significant AR.

I’m lucky to have private medical insurance (I’m UK based) so my timeline for surgery is 4 to 6 weeks. Without it I’d be waiting another 4 to 6 months.

A degree of apprehension while waiting for authorisation from the insurance company but they shouldn’t decline. In fact in the handbook they specifically reference heart valve surgery as one of the reasons for enhanced cover following surgery.

I spent 50min talking to the surgeon and left with his personal mobile number for any questions I think of afterwards.

My heart certainly skipped a few beats when I heard the very short 4 to 6 weeks timeline. I’ve been mentally preparing for surgery for a while so currently feeling positive but certainly the pre-surgery nerves will kick in as I get closer.

Click to expand...

You got this!!

I remember this feeling, being fairly calm about the whole thing but I figured "Well sure, but as the day gets closer I'm sure I'll start getting more anxious." and it just never really happened.

Of course there were moments, but my overall mindset was surprisingly calm and positive. I knew I was in good hands and had good people around me to help in my recovery, and was just ready to be on the other side of it and get on with my life.

I have no doubts that my positive mindset played a HUGE part in the whole process from pre-op to recovery going as smoothly as I could have hoped for.

Surgery was last November, tomorrow I'll surf in the morning and in the afternoon go paddle a few miles with my wife in the outrigger canoe we just got.

So just know that in a pretty short matter of months you'll be back to doing those things that bring you joy. (Provided you do your part in the recovery process... get up and walk, do your breathing exercises, etc.)

You got this!!

SwansCity1912 said:

Passed a huge milestone this week. I met with my surgeon to discuss surgery and got the green light.

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That's great news!

SwansCity1912 said:

I’m lucky to have private medical insurance (I’m UK based) so my timeline for surgery is 4 to 6 weeks. Without it I’d be waiting another 4 to 6 months.

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I'm glad that you have private insurance, so that it will be weeks instead of months. Once a person is severe with symptoms, waiting 4 to 6 months could lead to irreversible damage or worse. Once it's time, best to get it done and not delay.

Wishing you be very best of luck in your upcoming procedure and recovery! We'll see you on the other side!

Greetings SwansCity

It's good to hear you've secured the surgery to be done sooner rather than later. Excellent news.

I wish you all the best in the weeks up to your surgery and beyond.
Will be looking out for your posts as things progress.

Hi @SwansCity1912 - I'm sure the time will pass quickly until surgery and with things to do to prepare for recovery once it's done and you're back home !

I too had my AVR done via private medical insurance which I get via my DH's work....it's far easier to see consultants with it and get tests and surgery done, but really the NHS should be no different.

I’m happy you met your surgeon and you feel good about what’s ahead. The first (maybe only) surgery is a mystery until you go through it. Kind of like giving birth the first time, except it really can kick your butt! I also had to wait 6 weeks before my first surgery in 89, as the surgeon wanted to line up everything and each person for his team. I had been told I had an aneurysm, so I stopped vacuuming for 6 weeks! But I had an intuition since my aorta fell apart in the surgeon’s hands.
All the best nurses and and a good room for your recovery!!

Wasn’t the 4 to 6 weeks I expected but surgery is scheduled for Saturday! Feeling very calm about the whole thing. See you all in a week or so!

Earlier the better, might as well get over it. All the best and you will be absolutely fine, and very soon. Like the rest of us here

SwansCity1912 said:

Wasn’t the 4 to 6 weeks I expected but surgery is scheduled for Saturday! Feeling very calm about the whole thing. See you all in a week or so!

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life (and reality) is not something we can control much of, its good that we get any say in it.

See you in a week or so and just focus on your next job which is recovery, that's something you do have a say in. Do it right, do it steady and take small steps towards the right direction each day. Keep up the walking.

Best Wishes

Wishing you the best! I just had surgery a week ago. I would just say that at whatever point the post surgical days seem really rough that I was astounded at the difference between day 3 and day 5 post-op and astounded again at day 5 and day 7 (today). Stay ahead of the pain! Helps so much with healing. Getting chest tubes out really helped too.

Sending best wishes

All the best for your procedure and we'll see you on the other side!