Keep a close eye on your symptoms and your surgery date. The British NHS has put off some forum members operations multiple times even though they had significant symptoms. This happened before Covid and more during the pandemic. Although surgery dates can be flexible for valve replacement, the surgery is not optional and is absolutely needed.
Hi everyone from England
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Keep a close eye on your symptoms and your surgery date. The British NHS has put off some forum members operations multiple times even though they had significant symptoms. This happened before Covid and more during the pandemic. Although surgery dates can be flexible for valve replacement, the surgery is not optional and is absolutely needed.
Well as you might guess from the nickname I'm in UK too! Though no longer in London - moved to Kent in December. Welcome, Paul! I have found this forum a fantastic resource, with many giving the benefit of their wealth of experience very generously. Much better than the Facebook groups.
No, the only symptom I had before the op was quite a dramatic shortness of breath.
My op was done at the London Heart Hospital, which no longer exists and has been swallowed by Barts. (There seem to be a number of hospitals in London that specialise in particular parts of the body: I had a scan at the London Chest Hospital, in east London, the National Hospital for Neurology and others. which made me wonder: is there a London Bum Hospital? If so, I bet it is in Croydon!
No, the only symptom I had before the op was quite a dramatic shortness of breath.
My op was done at the London Heart Hospital, which no longer exists and has been swallowed by Barts. (There seem to be a number of hospitals in London that specialise in particular parts of the body: I had a scan at the London Chest Hospital, in east London, the National Hospital for Neurology and others. which made me wonder: is there a London Bum Hospital? If so, I bet it is in Croydon!
cldlhd
Well-known member
I need to know the inside joke regarding Croydon. I live in Bucks county, Pennsylvania ( named after Buckinghamshire ) there is a Croydon in Bucks county and it isn't exactly the nicest town in the county by any stretch, and is right down the road from Bristol which is slightly better but not exactly in the top tier either. Just curious.Well as you might guess from the nickname I'm in UK too! Though no longer in London - moved to Kent in December. Welcome, Paul! I have found this forum a fantastic resource, with many giving the benefit of their wealth of experience very generously. Much better than the Facebook groups.
No, the only symptom I had before the op was quite a dramatic shortness of breath.
My op was done at the London Heart Hospital, which no longer exists and has been swallowed by Barts. (There seem to be a number of hospitals in London that specialise in particular parts of the body: I had a scan at the London Chest Hospital, in east London, the National Hospital for Neurology and others. which made me wonder: is there a London Bum Hospital? If so, I bet it is in Croydon!
which made me wonder: is there a London Bum Hospital? If so, I bet it is in Croydon!
I would have guessed somewhere near Arsenal.
pellicle
Professional Dingbat, Guru and Merkintologist
I believe that wrecked um
my surgery was originally scheduled for early 2020. it eventually happened at the end of april '21.
luckily i stayed symptom free before the operation !
I can relate to this. My supposedly annual scans turned into being every 3 years. Luckily I took out health insurance whilst I was still in good shape and the difference in care is insane! The longest I've had to wait for private appointments is two weeks.
Don't forget many people remain symptom free. I was that way up until the time I was scheduling surgery and experienced a single fainting spell. When my valve was removed a month or so later, per surgeon it was ready to fail...despite my relative lack of symptoms.
I don't think it is a widespread view, but Croydon is a bit of a dump! A very densely populated area, though there are obviously some nice parts too. It is also on the south side of London, so would fit anatomically, so to speak.
cldlhd
Well-known member
Croydon is spoken of the same way here, although it has gotten a bit better. Cheers
Deepak khanka
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Hi All
Hope everyone is doing fine. Did any one had a surgery in Harefield hospital , Uk . How is the hospital?I am meant to have a surgery there in 4 months. My surgeon is Mr Toufan Bahrami.
Hope everyone is doing fine. Did any one had a surgery in Harefield hospital , Uk . How is the hospital?I am meant to have a surgery there in 4 months. My surgeon is Mr Toufan Bahrami.
libra rising
Well-known member
My aortic valve replacement took place there in May 2018.
First, bear in mind that before being admitted they will need to have a post-surgery bed available. If not you'll be told not to come in. This happened to me once.
Secondly, if you make it to your pre-op hospital bed, an emergency helicopter can arrive at any time and bump someone off the list. You may be sent home. This happened to me twice.
Finally, some 3 1/2 weeks later, I made it to surgery. My surgeon was also Mr Bahrami, who performed a minimally invasive AVR.
I remember being temporarily on ICU. I have no memory of breathing tube removal. I was then transferred to HDU, where I spent 4 1/2 days before being transferred to a ward (Maple in my case).
Due to a lung infection, I spent in all 3 weeks at Harefield, but apart from a TOE (TEE in US) I enjoyed my time there. Most nurses are great, and I was soon moving around.
I hope all goes well with you.
Geoff
First, bear in mind that before being admitted they will need to have a post-surgery bed available. If not you'll be told not to come in. This happened to me once.
Secondly, if you make it to your pre-op hospital bed, an emergency helicopter can arrive at any time and bump someone off the list. You may be sent home. This happened to me twice.
Finally, some 3 1/2 weeks later, I made it to surgery. My surgeon was also Mr Bahrami, who performed a minimally invasive AVR.
I remember being temporarily on ICU. I have no memory of breathing tube removal. I was then transferred to HDU, where I spent 4 1/2 days before being transferred to a ward (Maple in my case).
Due to a lung infection, I spent in all 3 weeks at Harefield, but apart from a TOE (TEE in US) I enjoyed my time there. Most nurses are great, and I was soon moving around.
I hope all goes well with you.
Geoff
Deepak khanka
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Thanks Geoff
Is Harefield local to you? I am driving from Essex it’s just over an hour. I am
Planning to take an accommodation in the hospital for my wife. I don’t know whar restriction will apply due to covid .
Is Harefield local to you? I am driving from Essex it’s just over an hour. I am
Planning to take an accommodation in the hospital for my wife. I don’t know whar restriction will apply due to covid .
Deepak khanka
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Thanks Geoff , which valve did you opt for and why? How many hours did the surgery last? If warfarin how is going .
libra rising
Well-known member
I went for a tissue valve, being 66 at the time, and not wanting to be on warfarin. It is an Edwards Perimount, which is a different Edwards to the intended one, since it needed to be 29mm.
I live near High Wycombe so journey time was roughly 40 minutes on a good day.
I live near High Wycombe so journey time was roughly 40 minutes on a good day.
libra rising
Well-known member
I believe surgery was largely uncomplicated and took 2 to 3 hours. I went to theatre at 08 30, woke with very hazy recollection about it in CDU later that day, and was transferred to HDU that evening.
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I think that is a reasonable choice at 66. Most guidelines consider the age range of 60-70 the window where either tissue or mechanical are both reasonable choices. Had my BAV lasted until age 66, I probably would have gone tissue also. But, in that it only made it to 53, I went mechanical.
my BAV made it to 47
my Dad has recently been diagnosed with BAV and ascending aorta aneurysm too
His BAV is not so bad he'll need it replaced apparently. And he's 76!
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He did very well to make it that long. When I was diagnosed with BAV they suggested that all of my immediate family members get echos, as there is about a 10% statistical chance they they would also have BAV. I'm curious if they have the same practice in the UK? Was your diagnoses what triggered them to perform his echo?
cldlhd
Well-known member
Same thing with my son. When I was diagnosed he was seven and we have had it checked since in his valve is normal thankfully. I still have a concern as to whether or not he's more likely to get an aneurysm even though he doesn't have a BAV as there's still debate regarding whether the flow dynamics of the valve help causing aneurysm or if it's more genetically related to the tissue composition. Personally I lean towards the latter Even though I wish it was the other way around so I wouldn't have to worry about him maybe dealing with this one day
