Hello everyone! I am excited to say that I finally had my aortic valve replacement surgery and I am on the road to recovery!! I have SJM Regency 23mm valve. I want to thank this forum for answswering so many questions that I had and because of this forum and talking to other members like bgilber, was able to get a better idea on how to prepare for this major operation.
The first day, Nov.15, I went into the operating room to get a heart cath to check things out. That went well and there was nothing wrong, meaning I had to only deal with the aortic valve. I stayed overnight and the next day on the 16th I had the operation for the aortic valve. The doctor said it was the worst calcification of a bicuspid valve that he had seen all year. My valve was around .6mm when they had done the echocardiogram. He says that by the time they got in there after a month it actually looked worse so I don't even know how big it was and at this point I ddnt want to know.
The first day after the operation I was in pain from the two drainage tubes in my stomach as well as the incisions. It was painful as hell. I mentally had prepared for this. The second day was horrible and looking back now consider it the most painful night in my life. I started getting really bad gas in my intestines because my intestines were "waking up" and because of the pain medications. I remember it was three in the morning and I was laying across the chair in the room just suffering so badly. The nurses were incredible and so patient with me. They said they had seen this many times so I put my trust in them because they knew what they were talking about.
I was finally given some Maalox and some morphine and I was able to finally clear out the gas little by little as I lay flat on the bed. The next day they removed the tubes which helped me 50% get better already in regards to the pain. I was able to walk a little faster and much more sturdier.
My appetite was nonexistent but I forced myself to eat mashed potatoes and soft foods that I knew wouldn't be too rough on me. I am lactose intolerant so I avoided any ice cream or any of these kinds of puddings that might have milk in it. I think part of the cause of my horrible pain the night before when I wasn't thinking straight and ate a little bit of ice cream.
The next few days I got better but was starting to get depressed but I knew this already from the forum and reading all your comments. I kept plugging through it by watching TV or jumping on my iPad and just reading something silly.
As the days progressed my appetite returned and I started eating more and more and I was able to walk more and more one they removed the drain tubes. I had my heart beating correctly it would skip a beat once in a while so that had the doctors concerned so they kept me at the hospital observing me.
They sent me home at 1:30pm Nov. 21!
When I got to the car I cried joyously! When I got home I gave my phone to my brother and demanded that he record me dancing to show everyone I was alright.
I made a video but its so cringe-worthy that I will not show it here!
The valve was loud as hell in my head when I first heard it and my body would have teeny tiny shakes as my new and opened heart valve pumped blood through it more than ever. After the thirds day I realized that I couldnt hear the valve clicking anymore unless I concentrated on it.
I was happy and blessed to celebrate Thanksgiving today with my entire family surrounding me. They said I looked great!
I still have months to go with rehab etc. but I am looking forward to it. I am glad I did this operation. My father who also has aotic stenosis but not as severe as me, said that I have inspired him to get a natural valve procedure now and like he and the family was there for me, I too will be there for him.
Heres looking foward to a new wonderful year!
The first day, Nov.15, I went into the operating room to get a heart cath to check things out. That went well and there was nothing wrong, meaning I had to only deal with the aortic valve. I stayed overnight and the next day on the 16th I had the operation for the aortic valve. The doctor said it was the worst calcification of a bicuspid valve that he had seen all year. My valve was around .6mm when they had done the echocardiogram. He says that by the time they got in there after a month it actually looked worse so I don't even know how big it was and at this point I ddnt want to know.
The first day after the operation I was in pain from the two drainage tubes in my stomach as well as the incisions. It was painful as hell. I mentally had prepared for this. The second day was horrible and looking back now consider it the most painful night in my life. I started getting really bad gas in my intestines because my intestines were "waking up" and because of the pain medications. I remember it was three in the morning and I was laying across the chair in the room just suffering so badly. The nurses were incredible and so patient with me. They said they had seen this many times so I put my trust in them because they knew what they were talking about.
I was finally given some Maalox and some morphine and I was able to finally clear out the gas little by little as I lay flat on the bed. The next day they removed the tubes which helped me 50% get better already in regards to the pain. I was able to walk a little faster and much more sturdier.
My appetite was nonexistent but I forced myself to eat mashed potatoes and soft foods that I knew wouldn't be too rough on me. I am lactose intolerant so I avoided any ice cream or any of these kinds of puddings that might have milk in it. I think part of the cause of my horrible pain the night before when I wasn't thinking straight and ate a little bit of ice cream.
The next few days I got better but was starting to get depressed but I knew this already from the forum and reading all your comments. I kept plugging through it by watching TV or jumping on my iPad and just reading something silly.
As the days progressed my appetite returned and I started eating more and more and I was able to walk more and more one they removed the drain tubes. I had my heart beating correctly it would skip a beat once in a while so that had the doctors concerned so they kept me at the hospital observing me.
They sent me home at 1:30pm Nov. 21!
When I got to the car I cried joyously! When I got home I gave my phone to my brother and demanded that he record me dancing to show everyone I was alright.
I made a video but its so cringe-worthy that I will not show it here!
The valve was loud as hell in my head when I first heard it and my body would have teeny tiny shakes as my new and opened heart valve pumped blood through it more than ever. After the thirds day I realized that I couldnt hear the valve clicking anymore unless I concentrated on it.
I was happy and blessed to celebrate Thanksgiving today with my entire family surrounding me. They said I looked great!
I still have months to go with rehab etc. but I am looking forward to it. I am glad I did this operation. My father who also has aotic stenosis but not as severe as me, said that I have inspired him to get a natural valve procedure now and like he and the family was there for me, I too will be there for him.
Heres looking foward to a new wonderful year!
Welcome to the sunnier side of life!
