Operation coming up for my hubby

[MARGIEBABY]

Just one month ago my husband had a fitness test in the fire brigade and they discovered he had a "leaky valve" - he went to have an echo and angiogram and last week saw the heart surgeon who has put him on a waiting list.

My hubby is very fit - swims for 2 hours each day, runs, plays touch football etc - he is 48. He has since been made unfit for duties which sees him sitting at a desk job when actually he has no symptoms and has never been in better conditions. We sat in the surgeons office stunned not believing that this could actually be happening. We hardly asked any questions. We have five children and were holidaying in Bali in September - I have cancelled that holiday while we wait to hear about his operation. Waiting list is 6 to 8 weeks but could be longer.

We are scared and unsure of what is ahead for us. He is not very good on the computer so I have been looking for stuff for him to read.

The fire Brigade medical officer phoned him last week to advise him if he is put on warfarin after the operation he would not be considered fit for duties while he is taking that medication. So apart from the trauma of the actual operation he is faced with the prospect that he can no longer continue his career in the Brigade which is 22 years service.

A lot is happening and Im just searching for information and comfort and if he has to reinvent himself afterward - so be it - as long as he's a live and well.

Thanks for listening - Im happy to receive any advice.

 

[Karlynn]

Welcome to our site. You've found the best place on the internet for support and information from those people who have Been There Done That. We come in all ages, creeds, races and nationalities and we share a strong common bond of the heart.

I'm sure you are both very stunned and very scared. What valve does your husband have a problem with? Because he is in such good shape may be why he is not noticing symptoms. It's my safe bet that after he's had the surgery and given recovery a time, he may realize he had symptoms but just wasn't noticing them.

Did the medical officer say what his status would be if he had a tissue valve implanted? He would not have to take Coumadin for a tissue valve. At age 48, he will most likely have to have another valve replacement in 15+ years if he has a tissue valve as a replacement. But then it would not interfere with his career now, IF his fire company would allow him to return to full duty with a tissue valve.

If you post more information about your husband's issues, I'm sure we can help with a little more specific information.

We have so very many success stories here. You need to know that valve replacement is a tried and true operation with a very low mortality rate (2%). We refer to it as a climb up the mountain and post surgery as reaching the other side. It's not an easy thing to have done, but it's a life-saving operation.

Welcome again and just start reading. I will warn you, right now we have a little discussion going on about tissue vs. mechanical valves. It's something we go through on occasion, but the bottom line is that we all respect each others choice and know that we all base our choices on many different things.

 

[SHIRL73]

I just came home today after having a valve replacement and can understand how he feels. He may not feel sick but he is sick and the sooner the valve gets replaced the better. Being on warfarin is a tough one. I am lucky, I was able to choose a bovine valve which usually does not require a blood thinner but I am 73 and that makes a difference as the life span of the valve is shorter than a mechanical one.

Hang in there. My husband had a heart attack at 45 and was removed from his job as school bus driver. He was devistated but then he eventually found a new career which he enjoyed for another 20 years. When one door shuts, another opens wide.

Good luck to you both

 

[bvdr]

Hi Margie. Welcome to this site. I'm glad you've wandered in here and try to absorb as more material as you can as it will help the two of you prepare for this surgery. We understand how disruptive it can be but also how it truly is surgery that has saved most of our lives.

There are many others here who also had no symptoms and then found themselves faced with OHS. We also have a few firefighters here who have had the surgery and I'm sure will be along after a while.

YOU ARE BEING A VERY GOOD WIFE! I hope he appreciates you... .

We will all be here to help walk you through this thing. We are really an on-line family and you and your hubby have just gotten a whole lot of new relatives.

 

[MARGIEBABY]

Thank you so much everyone - I knew I would leave some important detail out - Mitral valve - his surgeon said they will try one way ( which I guess is tissue) and they would know while they were doing it if it is Ok and if not the mechanical. We just didnt ask any questions - we just looked at him in awe.

Thank you Shirl - I believe that too - "where the lord closes a door somewhere he opens a window" straight out of The Sound of Music - but trying to tell this very active Station Officer in the NSW Fire Brigade to accept he may be retierd medically unfit is just so hard. I guess first things first - lets get thru the operation and let afterwards take care of itself when it arrives. It may work out to be a positive change in the long run.

Now Im not sure what comadin is - is that similiar to warfarin? I think a tissue valve has you on it for a few months but that is all.

I have sent the surgeon a list of questions since we left his office but havent heard back yet.

Thank you so much everyone - I cannot believe there is such an amazing support network for this - 2% mortality - gee that's higher than I hoped!! Gulp - Im not planning on losing him so better start some serious praying. Must keep positive.

I will show Steve all these messages when I get home from work - Im obviously sidetracked from my work at the moment!!!

 

[Karlynn]

Coumadin is the brand name for warfarin here in the States.

With his mitral valve being the culprit, I would imagine that if they went in with the intentions of doing a tissue valve, that's what they end up doing. The aortic valve tends to have more "viable tissue" factors that can cause a surgeon to put in a mechanical, even though they planned on a tissue valve. 2% mortality an excellent rate. Even simple surgeries can have a mortiality rate higher than that. At 2% you are most likely in the same catagory as just about any other surgery requiring general anesthesia because general anesthesia itself has a risk factor for mortality.

I have no doubts that you feel like you are in a strange time warp and will quite often think of things after-the-fact. It's good that you do have a 6 - 8 week waiting period because I'm sure you will think of many more questions in that time that right now, your muddled minds just don't have the capabilities to think of them.

Best wishes from a fellow mitral valver.

 

[KristiinSD]

Mitral valvees can also be repaired!

Mitral valvees can also be repaired!

I just had a TEE today and they said I need a repair not a replacement, so that might also be true for your hubbie.

Good luck. This group is a wonderful source of information and support.

Kristi
MR severe

 

[Ross]

I just fired off an email to my friend who just had some heart problems taken care of and is now back on his fire brigade. Not sure where in Australia he is, but let me see what he has to say.

 

[terryj]

My husbands situation was similar to yours. He was 51 and had never been sick. He fished,hunted,worked in a factory and built all our decks,etc. He had a physical at work and they found something not quite right with his hear(as they put it). I made him an appointment with my PCP(he didn't even have one). They did a EKG and then made an appt. with a cardio and he did a Echo and then sent us to the surgeon. On 9/11/01 he had his aortic valve replaced with a ATS mechanical valve. By the way, he has done great. He fishes,hunts,works at the same job and still uses power tools despite the coumadin. We take 4 vacations a year and are looking forward to retirement in five years.

 

[Big-Chuck]

Mitral Valve

Mitral Valve

Hi there. My mitral was toasted according to 2 different surgeons and needed to be replaced. That was the intention going into surgery. During surgery my surgeon said he took a look at my valve and decided he could repair it which is exactly what he did. I am on coumadin for 3 months to give my heart the chance to accept the supporting ring they installed. I was prepared to have a mechanical valve installed so of course I am very happy with my outcome. Saw my rebuilt valve yesterday and it works wonderfully. So there all kinds of options here. My faith and trust was in God that He would lead the surgeon to do what he thought was best and I am sure the same will be true for you to. We are all here to suport you through the process.

 

[MARGIEBABY]

Thanks Ross - I would be very interested in your friends situation. I like to think although he may not be able to be operational in the sense he has always known that perhaps he could venture into recruit training or fire investigation etc. It just came as such a shock to him.

I am realising, through this website, that this situation is not simply a once of and you move on ......... it is actually a complete lifestyle change - although it can be fixed it is something you still live with everyday. I dream about hearts at night time ........ I guess Im just trying to take it all in - still in shock and its not even happening to me although I find myself wishing it was.

Thank you Terri - I hope our transition into this new world will be as smooth as your experience with your husbands situation. I guess I should be pleased that it has been discovered while he is healthy and not after it had taken it's toll. Even though it seems a hard thing to be grateful for!!!

Big Chuck - a great story - my faith is exactly where yours is and my hubby is in good hands - Im sure the best decision will be made when they finally see what they are dealing with on the operating table. Thank you.

Thank you everyone - this is a wonderful site and I told hubby all about you last night - I will get him on ( computers are aliens to him) and hopefully he will put his thoughts done.

Thanks again - it warms my heart to know we are not alone.

 

[Ross]

Margiebaby, my buddy Barry sent his answer in the form of a voice mail. I'd be happy to send it on to you if you'd like. As he put if, if anything is wrong with a persons heart, it's really up to the senior officers to make the decision. They had wanted to tie him to a desk and he told them to stick it. They eventually allowed him back on the brigade, but he just informed me that after all these years, he's seen enough things happen that he felt it's time to give it up on his own free will. There are other interesting things for you in there too. Just let me know and I'll email it to you.

 

[MARGIEBABY]

Margiebaby, my buddy Barry sent his answer in the form of a voice mail. I'd be happy to send it on to you if you'd like. As he put if, if anything is wrong with a persons heart, it's really up to the senior officers to make the decision. They had wanted to tie him to a desk and he told them to stick it. They eventually allowed him back on the brigade, but he just informed me that after all these years, he's seen enough things happen that he felt it's time to give it up on his own free will. There are other interesting things for you in there too. Just let me know and I'll email it to you.

Thanks heaps - our email address is (Removed by Ross for safety) - that would be great. Thank you so much Ross - I told my hubby and he is very interested. My hubby is in NSW Fire Brigade and the rules are pretty set - unfortunately this situation was discovered by a voluntary brigade fitness program - so they are very involved in his situation.

 

[Ross]

It's on it's way!

 

[MARGIEBABY]

It's on it's way!

Thanks Heaps Ross - Got it - what a lovely sounding bloke - the wonders of modern technology - my hubby will listen to it this evening.

cheers

 

[WendyD]

Hi Margie

Hi Margie

A Big Hello to you both from "Over The Ditch" in New Zealand.
Well done for finding this site so early on, it is a real Godsend.
My husband had valve replacement surgery 13 weeks ago so I know where you are at.( He's back at work & so very much better now)
Try and take each day as it comes, and look after yourself,otherwise you will get burnt out.
Very best wishes to you both
Ernie & Wendy ( Auckland)

 

[MARGIEBABY]

Hello Wendy and thank you for your message. It's quite a scarey process and I had a bad day yesterday - everytime someone spoke to me I cried - gee you'd think it was happening to me!!!!!
Steve's (my hubby) surgeon called him yesterday as we had asked a few questions via a fax to his office and said something about a new procedure that is for valve repair only that is coming here from the States and would be available in December - he mumbles a lot and talks in a language we dont always understand - my hubby seems to think it is keyhole surgery - I have decided to make another appointment with him and try to find out what this isactually about.

I wonder if anyone knows what this could possibly be? I'll let you know when I know more. Thanks again.

 

[WendyD]

Hi Margie

Hi Margie

Hi again, have sent you a PM.
Wendy

 

[Nancy]

Welcome to the site Margie-

My husband has had three valve surgeries, so I know the situation you are in and the fear involved.

As others have mentioned there are surgeons who can do excellent work with repairs on the mitral rather than a full-blown valve replacement. Even if that wouldn't work out for your husband, there are some excellent tissue valves being used, and in most cases, warfarin (Coumadin here) is not necessary.

My husband's last mitral surgery was for a repair on his mechanical valve. There was a small leak. This surgery was done using what is known here as the HeartPort method, through a small incision in the side. Perhaps that is what your surgeon was talking about. It worked out well for my husband, even though this was his third surgery. His recovery was a little shorter than the other tradidional methods, and the sternum pain was not an issue. There was other pain, of course, but that is well controlled. It's also called by some, keyhole surgery. There are some other small incision on the body, but the sternum does not have to be cut through.

Please keep in mind that this surgery is very perfected and the outcomes are excellent. This problem can be fixed, unlike some other medical problems. The surgeons who do this are expert at what they do and your husband will be taken care of beautifully.

 

[MARGIEBABY]

Welcome to the site Margie-

My husband has had three valve surgeries, so I know the situation you are in and the fear involved.

As others have mentioned there are surgeons who can do excellent work with repairs on the mitral rather than a full-blown valve replacement. Even if that wouldn't work out for your husband, there are some excellent tissue valves being used, and in most cases, warfarin (Coumadin here) is not necessary.

My husband's last mitral surgery was for a repair on his mechanical valve. There was a small leak. This surgery was done using what is known here as the HeartPort method, through a small incision in the side. Perhaps that is what your surgeon was talking about. It worked out well for my husband, even though this was his third surgery. His recovery was a little shorter than the other tradidional methods, and the sternum pain was not an issue. There was other pain, of course, but that is well controlled. It's also called by some, keyhole surgery. There are some other small incision on the body, but the sternum does not have to be cut through.

Please keep in mind that this surgery is very perfected and the outcomes are excellent. This problem can be fixed, unlike some other medical problems. The surgeons who do this are expert at what they do and your husband will be taken care of beautifully.

Thank you Nancy - it just might well be one of the procedures you have described here. I have decided we need to visit the surgeon again and talk through all the questions we now have. I think it's the waiting and the not knowing that is hard - you have to put all your plans on hold. I have cancelled an overseas trip and I pray a lot!!!
You and your poor hubby have been through this several times which may well be us if what I have been told is correct that tissue ones have to be replaced every 10 15 years ( another question for the surgeon) - It's nice to know there can still be a bright future ahead.
Cheers
Margaret