Hi guys.
Thought I'd share my experience on here and answer any questions if anyone had anything they wanted to ask.
I'm a 31 year old male, and had an aortic root replacement & replacement aortic valve (mechanical), in Bristol Royal Infirmary (UK) on Jan 25th. I am in a good state of fitness, cycle around 50 miles a week, generally active.
Background
I had history of aortic dissection in the family, both Uncle and Nan had ruptured aortic aneurysms so my aorta has been measured since the age of about 15. Last year it reached 50mm, and I was told it would be a good idea to get the aortic root replaced in order to prevent possible aortic dissection in the future, which was likely based on my family history.
I was also born with a bicuspid valve, and was told that whilst valve sparing surgery was possible as mine wasn’t causing me any problems, it was a better idea to undergo valve replacement as well in the same operation, rather than likely have a secondary valve replacement operation later on down the line.
At no point in my life so far had I had any symptoms or negative side effects of either my bicuspid valve or aorta, this was purely a preventative surgery to future proof myself.
The Operation
The last thing I remember was speak to the anesthetist. I don't remember waking up, I don't really remember the breathing tube. I do remember having blurred visuals post operation.
Burred visuals & stroke
It turns out that the blurred visuals post op were the result of a stroke, a CT scan shortly after the operation showed two small clots on the rear of my brain. It's not certain what caused the stroke, possibly a bleed due to the blood thinners used in the operation, possibly an air bubble that travelled into a brain blood vessel, possibly a piece of debris (calcium) that may have done the same. There is around a 3% chance of stroke in this operation which of course I was fully aware of, so unfortunately I did fall into that 3%.
My sight was very blurred for the first couple of days, and slowly got better. I was unable to type or read messages on my phone for the first 2-3 days after the operation, but this slowly got better. I am now 14 days post op, I have slightly blurry right peripheral vision, which is an annoyance more than anything, but all of the neurological and eye check ups I've had so far, the doctors seem to think that over time my brain will gradually rewire and it should disappear entirely. I find reading slightly more difficult now, but typing is mostly fine.
The 3-4 days post operation
I can't say I was in pain. However, it felt like I had been in hospital for about a week to 10 days. I slept terribly, I was sweating profusely which lead to severe dehydration several times. It seems like the wards in HDU and ICU were constantly busy, there was always noise, bright lighting, disturbances. I hallucinated a couple of times. Once, where a chap opposite me - early 20s - in the bed who had just arrived on the ward, was being told by the nurse about his leukaemia diagnosis, and when he can expect to lose his legs, arms, *****, etc. I found this devastating and recall crying for a period of time having to sit and listen this. It turns out a few days later this guy was actually in from a severe accident on a ski trip.
My second hallucination was a lady giving birth in the corridor next to me, and then the baby bleeding out and the mother having a failed blood transfusion on the floor. I can recall this clear as day, but alas, it didn't actually happen.
It was in this few days that I actually felt very very low. I think a combination of loss of vision, tramadol, post anaesthesia, hallucinations, dehydration and lack of sleep that really got to me. Despite having a very strong disposition and never having any thoughts along these lines, I felt suicidal in a couple of instances, and just wanted to be out of that situation. It felt like it was significantly longer dragging on, I felt trapped, and just felt like I wanted to get out of that immediate situation. I my mind I had reached the end of my tether and just wanted out.
From about day 2-3, my heart rate was very fast, around 120-130 resting, it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. At this point I had convinced myself I would need to go on a pace maker (I already had one wired up to me that I think they had used a couple of times). I recall trying to Google all the things about pace makers etc, I had convinced myself I would need one. However one Beta Blocker tablet, and after half a day or so, my heart had slowed to around 90 or so resting, which was considered good. From then on, my heart rate controlled itself and has been fine since, of course I didn't end up having that pacemaker fitted.
One of the biggest surprises to me was how out of breath I'd get doing anything. Getting up and going for a wee, and going back to my bed, and I'd be knackered. Cleaning my teeth - surprisingly out of breath.
Coughing is painful, just need to ensure that you’ve got a pillow or curled up towel held tightly against your chest if you need to cough.
Day 4-7 Afterwards
This was when things started to improve dramatically. I had started sleeping better, my vision had started to clear up, I wasn't in any pain, I was off the tramadol, and was starting to feel a bit more human.
Having the drainage tubes removed on day 4 was a bizarre and slightly painful experience as many people have noted. If feels like a deep negative pressure, like someone is sucking heavily through a straw from your chest, and then they pop out with a nice sharp, stabbing feeling once they’re out. It wasn’t by any means agonising, just very weird and unpleasant.
My first shower was on day 5 after surgery, and it was magical. It was very tiring, but felt amazing.
By day 7, I was easily walking about, walking out of the ward and down to the main hospital area, walking around M&S in the hospital, and generally feeling more normal.
Day 8-13
On day 8 my dressing was removed from my chest and stitches taken out from where my drainage tubes were, that was nice and straight forward and pain free.
The next few days were more frustrating than anything. Because of my stroke they wanted to be very careful of another bleed on the brain, so they were very slowly upping my INR. I was on a Heparin drip, with warfrin tablets on the side to ease it up. It took around 5 days to fully get to my target INR, which was so frustrating to wait because other than that, I was all good.
I then needed one final CT scan and angiogram (dye in the blood to test your heart function). Annoyingly there was a two day wait for this, and then two days of intense NHS strikes which slowed it down even further.
As soon as the CT scan results came back on day 13, they were all fine, and I was discharged.
Day 14-15 at home
In total I was in hospital for 13 days. I would say an extra 3-4 days added because of my stroke, and a further 3 days to get my INR up to the right level.
I came home yesterday, so been at home for two days. I feel like a different person vs what I felt 7 days ago. I mostly feel an incredible sense of appreciation for my sight and mobility, which I could have lost entirely from the Stroke. I was walking home from Lidl earlier (one of the most enjoyable trips I’ve ever had) today after picking up a few bits, and suddenly got very emotional – in a thankful way – just really appreciating the contrast of how I felt shorty after my op vs the little things getting back to normal I’d normally take for granted.
I am in virtually no pain, my chest is healing well. I take a couple of paracetamol before bed as my shoulder muscles still feel a bit tight, and sometimes my chest as well, so it just takes the edge off.
I can do normal daily thing perfectly without pain - washing up, making dinner, laundry, showering, cleaning etc. I’m lucky to have amazing friends and family around me but so far trying not to lean on them for anything, and so far haven’t needed to.
Today I've walked around 4 miles - into town for my blood tests, to the eye hospital, to the supermarket, to run a few errands etc. I feel like each day I am able to do more and more and my stamina is building very quickly.
Thought I'd share my experience on here and answer any questions if anyone had anything they wanted to ask.
I'm a 31 year old male, and had an aortic root replacement & replacement aortic valve (mechanical), in Bristol Royal Infirmary (UK) on Jan 25th. I am in a good state of fitness, cycle around 50 miles a week, generally active.
Background
I had history of aortic dissection in the family, both Uncle and Nan had ruptured aortic aneurysms so my aorta has been measured since the age of about 15. Last year it reached 50mm, and I was told it would be a good idea to get the aortic root replaced in order to prevent possible aortic dissection in the future, which was likely based on my family history.
I was also born with a bicuspid valve, and was told that whilst valve sparing surgery was possible as mine wasn’t causing me any problems, it was a better idea to undergo valve replacement as well in the same operation, rather than likely have a secondary valve replacement operation later on down the line.
At no point in my life so far had I had any symptoms or negative side effects of either my bicuspid valve or aorta, this was purely a preventative surgery to future proof myself.
The Operation
The last thing I remember was speak to the anesthetist. I don't remember waking up, I don't really remember the breathing tube. I do remember having blurred visuals post operation.
Burred visuals & stroke
It turns out that the blurred visuals post op were the result of a stroke, a CT scan shortly after the operation showed two small clots on the rear of my brain. It's not certain what caused the stroke, possibly a bleed due to the blood thinners used in the operation, possibly an air bubble that travelled into a brain blood vessel, possibly a piece of debris (calcium) that may have done the same. There is around a 3% chance of stroke in this operation which of course I was fully aware of, so unfortunately I did fall into that 3%.
My sight was very blurred for the first couple of days, and slowly got better. I was unable to type or read messages on my phone for the first 2-3 days after the operation, but this slowly got better. I am now 14 days post op, I have slightly blurry right peripheral vision, which is an annoyance more than anything, but all of the neurological and eye check ups I've had so far, the doctors seem to think that over time my brain will gradually rewire and it should disappear entirely. I find reading slightly more difficult now, but typing is mostly fine.
The 3-4 days post operation
I can't say I was in pain. However, it felt like I had been in hospital for about a week to 10 days. I slept terribly, I was sweating profusely which lead to severe dehydration several times. It seems like the wards in HDU and ICU were constantly busy, there was always noise, bright lighting, disturbances. I hallucinated a couple of times. Once, where a chap opposite me - early 20s - in the bed who had just arrived on the ward, was being told by the nurse about his leukaemia diagnosis, and when he can expect to lose his legs, arms, *****, etc. I found this devastating and recall crying for a period of time having to sit and listen this. It turns out a few days later this guy was actually in from a severe accident on a ski trip.
My second hallucination was a lady giving birth in the corridor next to me, and then the baby bleeding out and the mother having a failed blood transfusion on the floor. I can recall this clear as day, but alas, it didn't actually happen.
It was in this few days that I actually felt very very low. I think a combination of loss of vision, tramadol, post anaesthesia, hallucinations, dehydration and lack of sleep that really got to me. Despite having a very strong disposition and never having any thoughts along these lines, I felt suicidal in a couple of instances, and just wanted to be out of that situation. It felt like it was significantly longer dragging on, I felt trapped, and just felt like I wanted to get out of that immediate situation. I my mind I had reached the end of my tether and just wanted out.
From about day 2-3, my heart rate was very fast, around 120-130 resting, it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest. At this point I had convinced myself I would need to go on a pace maker (I already had one wired up to me that I think they had used a couple of times). I recall trying to Google all the things about pace makers etc, I had convinced myself I would need one. However one Beta Blocker tablet, and after half a day or so, my heart had slowed to around 90 or so resting, which was considered good. From then on, my heart rate controlled itself and has been fine since, of course I didn't end up having that pacemaker fitted.
One of the biggest surprises to me was how out of breath I'd get doing anything. Getting up and going for a wee, and going back to my bed, and I'd be knackered. Cleaning my teeth - surprisingly out of breath.
Coughing is painful, just need to ensure that you’ve got a pillow or curled up towel held tightly against your chest if you need to cough.
Day 4-7 Afterwards
This was when things started to improve dramatically. I had started sleeping better, my vision had started to clear up, I wasn't in any pain, I was off the tramadol, and was starting to feel a bit more human.
Having the drainage tubes removed on day 4 was a bizarre and slightly painful experience as many people have noted. If feels like a deep negative pressure, like someone is sucking heavily through a straw from your chest, and then they pop out with a nice sharp, stabbing feeling once they’re out. It wasn’t by any means agonising, just very weird and unpleasant.
My first shower was on day 5 after surgery, and it was magical. It was very tiring, but felt amazing.
By day 7, I was easily walking about, walking out of the ward and down to the main hospital area, walking around M&S in the hospital, and generally feeling more normal.
Day 8-13
On day 8 my dressing was removed from my chest and stitches taken out from where my drainage tubes were, that was nice and straight forward and pain free.
The next few days were more frustrating than anything. Because of my stroke they wanted to be very careful of another bleed on the brain, so they were very slowly upping my INR. I was on a Heparin drip, with warfrin tablets on the side to ease it up. It took around 5 days to fully get to my target INR, which was so frustrating to wait because other than that, I was all good.
I then needed one final CT scan and angiogram (dye in the blood to test your heart function). Annoyingly there was a two day wait for this, and then two days of intense NHS strikes which slowed it down even further.
As soon as the CT scan results came back on day 13, they were all fine, and I was discharged.
Day 14-15 at home
In total I was in hospital for 13 days. I would say an extra 3-4 days added because of my stroke, and a further 3 days to get my INR up to the right level.
I came home yesterday, so been at home for two days. I feel like a different person vs what I felt 7 days ago. I mostly feel an incredible sense of appreciation for my sight and mobility, which I could have lost entirely from the Stroke. I was walking home from Lidl earlier (one of the most enjoyable trips I’ve ever had) today after picking up a few bits, and suddenly got very emotional – in a thankful way – just really appreciating the contrast of how I felt shorty after my op vs the little things getting back to normal I’d normally take for granted.
I am in virtually no pain, my chest is healing well. I take a couple of paracetamol before bed as my shoulder muscles still feel a bit tight, and sometimes my chest as well, so it just takes the edge off.
I can do normal daily thing perfectly without pain - washing up, making dinner, laundry, showering, cleaning etc. I’m lucky to have amazing friends and family around me but so far trying not to lean on them for anything, and so far haven’t needed to.
Today I've walked around 4 miles - into town for my blood tests, to the eye hospital, to the supermarket, to run a few errands etc. I feel like each day I am able to do more and more and my stamina is building very quickly.
