My Upcoming Aorta Operation

[carmencrewe]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Carmen, I'm from London in the Uk. A few weeks ago my son signed me up to this website and I read some of the threads about Aortic Aneurisms and Open Heart Surgery that helped me a lot.

Next Tuesday I have an operation to replace a part of my Ascending Aorta which has dilated to around 6cm so I'm just preparing myself.

I'm very afraid and where it is it seems to be right on the arch near one of my Great Vessels so I find out tomorrow if thats the case.

I'm worried about brain damage or a stroke during the op. I'm a mother of 2 beautiful sons and a grandmother to 3 even more beautiful grandchildren and I don't want to go anywhere.

I get so tearful and emotional. I'm getting a lot of support but wanted to reach out to you all for help.

Thank you all so much and would really appreciate any advice

Love,

Carmen xx

 

[clay_from_nj]

Don't worry yourself about surgical risks. The surgeons have this stuff down to a routine nowadays. I've had two OHS's and my brain is just fine. (Hey, hey, HEY! Enough from the peanut gallery! Buncha wise guys...) Even back in the "primitive" days heart surgery was not as dangerous as you might think. My grandfather likes to tell the story of his little brother who had OHS as a child, before the heart-lung machine, and they packed him in ice during the procedure. He lived a LONG HEALTHY life.

 

[Guest]

Carmen,

You will hear many of us telling you there is nothing to fear. The truth is (from my research) and, in turn, with what happened to me is that these type of operations are well performed now. The statistics my surgeon quoted me was a very low mortality rate of around 2% keeping in mind that this is skewed by the fact that many quite old people have these procedures, I'm 67. Complications during the first 30 days following the operation are around 5% - excellent odds all around compared to every day life!

There will be some disorientation after surgery simply because of being on the heart-lung machine. Mine displayed as seeing moving designs on my hospital walls for several days after the open heart surgery. There was and is very little chance of any permanent brain injury with today's technology.

Be at peace, your recovery will be fine. We are all with you!

Joe

 

[neil]

hello carmen and a fellow brit, you will be just fine, agree with everything clay has said, waiting is the worst part,

 

[big_L]

What is a major life event for us is for the surgical staff a routine day. The stat I've heard in maybe 1% chance of not surviving the surgery and yes this is skewed by the average age of the OHS patient (maybe 70).

You'll be fine, it'll be over before you know it.

 

[iheart]

Hi Carmen,
I had surgery in April. Like you, I had an aneurysm, and a valve replaced. I woke up with a small stroke, or TIA. Needless to say, it was scary at the time, but after a couple days the symptoms were completely gone and I healed very quickly. Now, just seven months later I am back to normal in every aspect of my life. I don't usually even think about the heart surgery anymore. All this to say, you will do fine. Listen to the advice of the people on this forum who have been through it. I know it's a scary proposition to go through what you are about to, but you have a community here that is pulling for you. Go into this with the confidence that you will soon be fixed, and have many more years with your grandkids : )

 

[AZ Don]

Best wishes to you in your surgery. It is simply amazing what surgeons can do these days. I had my aortic root and ascending aorta replaced with a graft which is basically attached directly to my heart. Before you know it you will be up and around and your concerns will just be a memory.

 

[pellicle]

Hi Carmen

A few weeks ago my son signed me up to this website and I read some of the threads about Aortic Aneurisms and Open Heart Surgery that helped me a lot.

glad to hear that its helping ...

I'm worried about brain damage or a stroke during the op.

well I'd say don't worry about that. I've had 3 Open Heart Surgeries starting when I was 9yo and last one (hopefully ever) was in 2011.

Stroke is caused by blood clots lodging in blood vessels and its very uncommon (I've never heard of it ever but I'm unwilling to say its never happened) for that to happen in surgery.

I've got an aortic graft too as it was an aneurysm that drew their attention to operate and since the valve was due to be replaced eventually (and since everyone wanted to avoid a 4th operation) I got a mechanical valve put into my aortic while on the table.

I expect its quite the shock for people who have never given a second thought to it, but I assure you that this is one of those medical conditions which is well studied and the hospitals are very effective and well experienced in treating it.

Cry all you need to, and don't let anyone tell you you shouldn't. No matter what your feelings keep pushing onto you, keep your head in charge and remember that it'll all be fine.

 

[knotguilty]

Carmen,

I will join everyone else and say try not to worry. They have this down pat. Go ahead and cry and get it out of your system. It will be important for you to have a possitive outlook going into it and it will benefit you coming out of it. Try to be strong for your family, because they are probably just as worried as you are. You will come out of this knowing you are good as new and you will be fine. You and your family will be in my prayers.

 

[carmencrewe]

Dear ALL,

I am in the hospital and waiting for my operation which is tomorrow.

I am still scared, but I have a lot of courage now too. Thank you for helping me with that. All your support has been wonderful.

I'll report after the op. Thanks again and love to all of you.

Carmen

xxx

 

[carmencrewe]

Hello all,

I am Carmen's son Clark.

My mum let me write on here as I was desperate to just thank you all and tell you how much your support means to all of us here in the Crewe family.

Nothing helps more than people who have had the same experience and who have come out the other side. It has truly given her so much strength and she doesn't feel so alone.

Keep up the great work. You're a wonderful example of good and love in this world.

I'll be sure it gets passed on

Kind regards to you all,

Clark

 

[mbeard]

Carmen,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[Mike59]

Good luck and best wishes from all know the UK

 

[Heart Of The Sunrise]

Hi Carmen:
I had all the same fears. I am 8 months post-op today and doing just fine. Part of my procedure was Deep Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest with Retrograde Cerbral Perfusion.
It is described by my surgeon in the video link in my signature. This is done to protect the brain and lower the risk of a stroke. I am sure you will do fine. Good Luck tommorrow.