New member intro! Aorta replacement scheduled for Oct 9

[tekmagika]

Welcome aboard from a fellow newbie. I haven't kept up with the latest procedures so unsure if an aorta replacement is as invasive as my mitral repair. I'm sure the surgeons have gone over the practical details, how they're going in and what's involved with recovery.

Speaking only to my surgery experience, I was 29 when I received my mechanical valve. Today marks 27 years since I went in to the OR so the surgeons seemed to have known what they were doing. I did have internal bleeding post-op, and a lost weekend as they tried to correct the problem, but otherwise no issues following surgery and recovery. And I have a kewl scar to show off (vitamin E did nothing to reduce the appearance for me).

The memories that stand out are the number of tubes they removed from me post-op (while I was conscious) and the pain for a few weeks every time I moved. A volunteer organization provided a "cough pillow" (shaped like a heart) which was invaluable and perfectly described. I always kept that nearby and clutched it to my chest whenever I felt a cough coming on. Sleeping was difficult as I had to find the right position and force myself to stay in it. Sleeping on the couch seemed to help and prevented my wife from accidentally swinging her arm onto me while asleep (or punching me while having a nightmare). I was able to return to "normal" activities about two months after surgery.

The surgery did leave scarring of my sinoatrial node which, after 25+ years, threw my rhythm off and was causing excessively-long pauses. Got a pacemaker this year and everything seems back to normal (or even better than normal). Recently had a trip to Asia (not my first) where we hiked several mountains and very long distances; No issues and definitely a good cardio workout. Less interesting, mowing the yard and gardening or going for short runs/long walks is a breeze.

There's no sugar coating the recovery period, it's a bear. If you'll be on Warfarin then that's a whole different level of commitment and watching your diet. It's all part of the process but you only have to do it for the rest of your life.

For me though, it's like a second chance and I definitely appreciate every day and take nothing for granted. You obviously have a lot to look forward to and many people (and animals) who love and depend on you. Just take it slow at first, every day you'll get a little better until you'll reach a point where you forget you even had surgery.

Hope everything goes smoothly and you have a quick recovery!

Thanks for your story, and I'm glad you made it through! I think I'm going with a tissue valve (if needed ... hoping they can just redecorate the one I have already), so the warfarin difficulties will not be in play. I'll be on the table this Friday morning and on the golf course by noon. That's pretty much how long it takes, right?

 

[tekmagika]

Welcome Tek, sorry you are here but glad to see you reaching out to this helpful group. You do have some choices to make regarding your valve choices. Native valve sparing, mechanical and bio to name the most common. The aneurysm repair and replacement is something you definitely want done by an experienced team. You didn’t mention where you are having surgery but If you have access to the Cleveland Clinic, you may want to get an opinion from them. Lots of experience on this forum. If you have specific questions, please let us know.

https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/cardiology-and-heart-surgery

My surgeon is Dr. Zaman out of Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Very good reputation, from what I've seen. I feel like I'm in capable hands!

 

[tekmagika]

but @tekmagika don't feel abashed about asking them, its all welcome

Thank you

 

[tekmagika]

Hey there Tek - I’m in Dayton as well. I had my surgery little over a year ago - UM cardiovascular center. went back for check up yesterday. Everything looking good.

That's great to hear! Who was your surgeon?

 

[tekmagika]

Tekmagika, welcome to this site. I just had my ascending aorta replaced in Feb. 2022 at 58. I had a homograft that was 21 years old and still kicking, but it was replaced also as a precaution due to its age. I was in the hospital for a week but I did well recovering from this. Some of my family thought I recovered quicker than I did 21 years earlier. My surgeon described how my body would be cooled to 65 degrees as if it was a walk in the park. Fortunately, I recovered well and had no significant issues. One small piece of advice as you recover in the hospital. The nurses will push you to get up and walk the room and the hallway - DO IT! I was told how many people fight this and don't recover well or as quickly. I pushed myself and I think it really helped. Good luck with your surgery - the good heart surgeons know how to do this quite well.

I plan on it! Thanks for the info, and glad you made it through.

 

[tekmagika]

I'm just down the road in Columbus, and had my OHS back on May 23 up at the Clinic. I sought a second opinion from them, and am very glad I chose to have my surgery there. I'm happy to answer any questions about that experience.
I had both my mitral and aortic valves replaced with mechanical after a previous aortic valve homograft.
Similar story to yours, 43 with kids, otherwise healthy. Recovery was tough, I was in the hospital for 9 days. Had a few minor setbacks; afib, pleural effusion, etc... First 2 days in ICU was very difficult, but as soon as the chest tubes start coming out the pain reduces substantially. I developed pneumonia after being home less than a week, but antibiotics were quickly effective. All in all, I was back to work part time after 4 weeks and full time after 6 (my choice). I feel great now, and to be honest it seems like a lifetime ago, despite it being only 3.5 months.

If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change much. I'd 100% go back to the Clinic. There are several hotels close by that are designed for family to stay in while a loved one is in the hospital. We split an air bnb that was close by so there was a home base for folks to drop in and stay, etc..
Have a wedge pillow at home, have a shower stool, shave your arms totally before surgery (tape sucks coming off!) Get a pill organizer, set up a phone tree to keep friends and family updated without you or your fiancee being inundated with calls and texts, be prepared not to poop for who knows how long .

You got this!

Thank you sir! Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the tube situation. At. All. But, nothing to be done about it except press forward and carry on. Glad you found success. Thanks for the info!

 

[tekmagika]

Good luck Tekmagika. When you are in recovery and coming out of sedation you may feel as if you got hit by a Mack truck. Be prepared for it if you do. They gave me a bunch of ice chips to chew on which seemed to help. Not sure if everyone goes through this experience. I was warned by my surgeon that I would experience this feeling and sure enough I did but was prepared for it.

I'm aware that being aware of it and actually experiencing it are two different things. I feel like I've done my homework, but I also know that anything I can imagine is going to be mild compared to the reality of it. We will find out on Friday, like it or not!

 

[pellicle]

We will find out on Friday, like it or not!

indeed you will, and then you'll probably find out that eventually its all behind you

OHS is like Italian Driving


what's behind you, is not important

 

[V__]

I'm aware that being aware of it and actually experiencing it are two different things. I feel like I've done my homework, but I also know that anything I can imagine is going to be mild compared to the reality of it. We will find out on Friday, like it or not!

I'm sure you are correct, in that the reality will be different. But the preparations are still quite helpful. And the reality is not bad. In fact, I kinda liked the place . The doctors, nurses, and other specialists are dedicated, and they really know what they are doing. There are backups for different occasions, and backups for the backups These surgeries are quite a miracle of modern medicine, in how well they work, and how reliable the process is.

Certainly, right after you wake up, it will not be business-as-usual. But you should be getting better every day, slowly but surely.

 

[Chuck C]

I'll be on the table this Friday morning

Best of luck with your procedure! Please keep us posted on your recovery journey.

on the table this Friday morning and on the golf course by noon.

Sounds about right. Give Dr. McCoy my regards

 

[pellicle]

Certainly, right after you wake up, it will not be business-as-usual.

oh, this reminds me @tekmagika
my first pee in ICU (they get you walking early now) was interesting. Take a seat ... things don't always aim well

 

[V__]

oh, this reminds me @tekmagika
my first pee in ICU (they get you walking early now) was interesting. Take a seat ... things don't always aim well

Nope, no such fun for me. After waking up, my 2nd written phrase on a whiteboard was "I want to pee". The nurses thought it was funny: "Oh, you are peeing all right". Turned out, they inserted a catheter for this purpose.

Two days later the attendant said that the catheter was really for convenience, but long-term there is a risk of infection. So they were going to remove it. That was a surprise, and a little panic, "I'll have to pee myself now??" Never mind, I managed. The life-long skill came back. They had plastic jars (to count the volume), so I didn't even have to get up every time.

 

[pellicle]

The nurses thought it was funny: "Oh, you are peeing all right". Turned out, they inserted a catheter for this purpose.

well it was after they removed the catheter that things didn't come out straight ... and my reactions weren't as good as they could have been ;-)

 

[treichert0312]

I went back to Ann Arbor to the practice that had put in my pig valve in 2014, when I lived in MI. Had the mechanical valve installed this second time around.

 

[slipkid]

Nope, no such fun for me. After waking up, my 2nd written phrase on a whiteboard was "I want to pee". The nurses thought it was funny: "Oh, you are peeing all right". Turned out, they inserted a catheter for this purpose.

Two days later the attendant said that the catheter was really for convenience, but long-term there is a risk of infection. So they were going to remove it. That was a surprise, and a little panic, "I'll have to pee myself now??" Never mind, I managed. The life-long skill came back. They had plastic jars (to count the volume), so I didn't even have to get up every time.

Same with me at some point after my surgery. Asked how I could get to a bathroom or given a jug to pee in. They told me I had a catheter in so no need for that. I was so out of it I had no idea.

As far as removing the cath went I'm not going into that long story again but will say that it was the most painful experience of my life. Even worse than the pain from being sawed in half. I wanted to ask the cute nurse who pulled out the cath if she could kiss "it" to make it better but I could not speak because the pain rendered all my voluntary motor functions useless (probably a good thing because she would probably have killed me if I made that joke/said that to her).

Then later, when needing to pee, it was also very very painful. And took me like an hour of sitting there holding the jug trying to do it but my bladder was having none of that and refused to empty. I vaguely remember I had like 5 visitors at the time who stepped out to let me do my business who kept checking back in like every 5-10 minutes, and I took so long I think they all went out to eat to give me more time. One of my Drs even came in and tried to wait for me to accomplish my goal but he gave up as well (think he would have missed his tee-off time if he stayed any longer).

 

[dick0236]

As far as removing the cath went I'm not going into that long story again but will say that it was the most painful experience of my life. Even worse than the pain from being sawed in half. I wanted to ask the cute nurse who pulled out the cath if she could kiss "it" to make it better but I could not speak because the pain rendered all my voluntary motor functions useless (probably a good thing because she would probably have killed me if I made that joke/said that to her).

It's funny how some things change while others remain the same. The "tube removal" is one of only two things I can vividly recall of my surgery many years ago.
1. The "tube removal" was an eye opener for sure. Fortunately, it's over in a flash with little lingering pain. Then, of course, they have to do the second one.

2. My second memory is sleeping on an "ice water rubber mattress" for a coupled days in ICU.......but that's a story for a different time.

At least I had some "war stories" to tell my buddies as we sat around a campfire drinking beer.

Good luck to the several of you folks soon to have surgery....... it'll be worth the little discomfort we all had to endure
.






ain

 

[dwhist]

I remember having the catheter in. On day 3 the nurse came in and removed it. About 7 1/2 hours later she came in and asked if I had gone to the bathroom. I told her no. She said if I did not go in the next half hour, it had to go back in. I quickly drank a lot of water and was able to pee enough for her approval.