H
hsilvers
On Wednesday, March 26 I went from pre-surgery to post surgery status and had my severely stenosed aortic valve replaced. I am now happily returned home, feel a bit like I got run over by a truck, but am getting better every day.
I thought you may want to hear some of the details of my experience because I sure went into this more confidently after reading of others.
The surgery is actually the easy part. I went in at 7:00 am, they took a blood sample, gave me some kind of sedative, put me in a nice pre-warmed bed, and before I knew it - I was wheeled off to the operating room.
One of my biggest concerns had been the choice of valve. I did not get to meet my surgeon until the day before the surgery and had resolved to make the final decision after I spoke with him. I had been thinking that I could go either way - depending upon his experience and recommendation. That proved to be pretty simple - he said that I was clearly in the gray zone where there was logic for both choices (natural versus mechanical).
After he described his experience with people my age (57) and in relatively good condition where he had to replace many pig valves after 7-12 years, I agreed with him that a mechanical would be the best decision for me. I am now happily sitting here with a Medtronic valve. By the way - last night (over a week after surgery) was the first time I could even hear the clicking. Unless I lay in a particular position with my jaw set just right - it is impossible for me to hear anything. So for me the whole ticking question is a total non-issue.
A major concern for me was the appearance of an aortic aneurism and the thought that they may have to do more extensive repairwork. The surgeon, Dr. Idris Ali, indicated that would involve more extensive repair work and possibly a dacron substitute. The end result was that I wouldn't know how this would be resolved until after the surgery. As it turned out - the aneurism was not as severe as had been suggested by a previous cat-scan, had been likey caused by the overpressure of the defective valve, and the safest bet was to maintain the existing structure.
I had also been concerned about the breathing tube issue when I awakened. All that I can recall now is a very vague recollection of there being something there and then it being withdrawn with no real trauma. What my wife tells me is that I had been chewing on the tube - so they merely gave me an additional sedative and then removed it when ready.
I spent 24 hours in intensive care, 2 more days in internediate care where everthing was being monitored, and then moved to a regular room. They had me actually up and out of bed walking the day after surgery. Each day more tubes and electrodes were removed.That was a unique sensation when these were quickly drawn out. It wasn't really painful - but was a bit disquieting.
The rest has been pretty straight forward so far. The first night I came home - I could only sleep on my back because of the ache in my chest. Within 2 nights I could turn on my side - and that made all the difference in the world. I would suggest to everyone that they don't try to be brave and reduce the pain medication. As long as you keep those up on schedule - it doesn't become too difficult.
The hospital gave each patient (it was like an assembly line of heart repairs) a heart pillow to hold against your chest when you get up, change position, cough, or laugh. Believe me - that is a godsend, and pray that you don't have to cough often!
I am now going for my daily blood checks to get my INR set properly (I'm already up to 12mg of Coumadin a day on the way to get my INR between 2.5-3.5) and have started my daily walks.
Every day gets just a little bit better, and I wish all of you yet to go the best. It's not fun, but it is nowhere near as bad as your imagination can make it out to be. Thank all of you for your encuragement and support to get me to this point.
hsilvers
bicuspid aortic valve
Medtronic mechanical replacement
QE II Health Science Centre
Dr. Idris Ali
Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
March 26, 2003
I thought you may want to hear some of the details of my experience because I sure went into this more confidently after reading of others.
The surgery is actually the easy part. I went in at 7:00 am, they took a blood sample, gave me some kind of sedative, put me in a nice pre-warmed bed, and before I knew it - I was wheeled off to the operating room.
One of my biggest concerns had been the choice of valve. I did not get to meet my surgeon until the day before the surgery and had resolved to make the final decision after I spoke with him. I had been thinking that I could go either way - depending upon his experience and recommendation. That proved to be pretty simple - he said that I was clearly in the gray zone where there was logic for both choices (natural versus mechanical).
After he described his experience with people my age (57) and in relatively good condition where he had to replace many pig valves after 7-12 years, I agreed with him that a mechanical would be the best decision for me. I am now happily sitting here with a Medtronic valve. By the way - last night (over a week after surgery) was the first time I could even hear the clicking. Unless I lay in a particular position with my jaw set just right - it is impossible for me to hear anything. So for me the whole ticking question is a total non-issue.
A major concern for me was the appearance of an aortic aneurism and the thought that they may have to do more extensive repairwork. The surgeon, Dr. Idris Ali, indicated that would involve more extensive repair work and possibly a dacron substitute. The end result was that I wouldn't know how this would be resolved until after the surgery. As it turned out - the aneurism was not as severe as had been suggested by a previous cat-scan, had been likey caused by the overpressure of the defective valve, and the safest bet was to maintain the existing structure.
I had also been concerned about the breathing tube issue when I awakened. All that I can recall now is a very vague recollection of there being something there and then it being withdrawn with no real trauma. What my wife tells me is that I had been chewing on the tube - so they merely gave me an additional sedative and then removed it when ready.
I spent 24 hours in intensive care, 2 more days in internediate care where everthing was being monitored, and then moved to a regular room. They had me actually up and out of bed walking the day after surgery. Each day more tubes and electrodes were removed.That was a unique sensation when these were quickly drawn out. It wasn't really painful - but was a bit disquieting.
The rest has been pretty straight forward so far. The first night I came home - I could only sleep on my back because of the ache in my chest. Within 2 nights I could turn on my side - and that made all the difference in the world. I would suggest to everyone that they don't try to be brave and reduce the pain medication. As long as you keep those up on schedule - it doesn't become too difficult.
The hospital gave each patient (it was like an assembly line of heart repairs) a heart pillow to hold against your chest when you get up, change position, cough, or laugh. Believe me - that is a godsend, and pray that you don't have to cough often!
I am now going for my daily blood checks to get my INR set properly (I'm already up to 12mg of Coumadin a day on the way to get my INR between 2.5-3.5) and have started my daily walks.
Every day gets just a little bit better, and I wish all of you yet to go the best. It's not fun, but it is nowhere near as bad as your imagination can make it out to be. Thank all of you for your encuragement and support to get me to this point.
hsilvers
bicuspid aortic valve
Medtronic mechanical replacement
QE II Health Science Centre
Dr. Idris Ali
Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada
March 26, 2003
