Questions for those who had surgery

[themalteser]

Dear all,

I have an echo coming up this Friday, and obviously I'm a bit worried that anything might be wrong, had a CT scan last January and MRI, and been told I will not need anything done for a very long time, but, I just can't help thinking that I will be having surgery this weekend!!!! I know, anxiety! Anyways, may I kindly ask some questions to those who had surgery already please?

1. Do you live a normal life?
2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun?
3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling?
4. Can you have normal sex?
5. Don you function normal at work?
6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die?
7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones?

I'm sure I have more questions, but, maybe these play in my mind alot, hope you can be kind enough to provide some answers.

Thankyou.

 

[Johan]

I had the surgery nearly two years ago, after months of prevarication. One day my surgeon phoned me and suggested that I will probably die within 2 years if I do not have the surgery....that was a very persuasive suggestion! I thought I was symptomless before the operation but now I know that I was fooling myself with the "getting old" bit. Being out of breath, without energy and drive, heart rythm problems, had nothing to do with getting old....it was due to my stenosed aortic valve! Now after the surgery I have all my energy back... I am like a new man! I can emphatically give a resounding YES!! to all your questions.

I live a normal life, have a glass or two of red wine every night, go to gym 3 times a week with all the machines and weights, cycle over weekends at our holiday beach cottage, have normal sex, work a full day as owner of my own business and yes it did cross my mind that I may die under surgery in spite of also knowing that the odds of that happening were very low. I think that is normal, but my surgeon's suggestion that there is a 100% chance of dying without the surgery helped me to willingly accept the very small chance of not making it through the surgery.

It is on record that mood swings and even depression seems to follow cardiac events in a number of patients. Five years ago I suffered a heart attack and received a stent, a relatively minor cardiac event, but for about 6 months afterwards suffered from a mild dose of depression. I was thus fully prepared to again go through this after the AVR. But not in the least!

My answer to your last question is thus a NO. If anything I have become a kinder more tolerant soul. For my sins I have a 15 year old daughter and I am sometimes amazed at how well I cope with the vagaries of teenagers at my age.

The surgery was the best thing I did in the recent past! It was of course scary but worth it.

I had a murmer all my life and progressively deteriorating echos over the last 25 years before surgery became absolutely necessary. From what you say I would venture that you will not need surgery for many years to come!

 

[Duffey]

First off, even if something was wrong with your echo results, you wouldn't have replacement this week-end! Valve replacement is typically elective in terms of when it's scheduled. So please, don't worry about it occuring in the very immediate future.
As to your questions:
1. yes
2. yes
3. I did following valve replacement
4. yes
5. yes
6. yes, I think we all do
7. a little moody

 

[Eva]

........., may I kindly ask some questions to those who had surgery already please?

1. Do you live a normal life? more normal

2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun? Yes, occasionally. I try to be careful as I am on Warfarin and drinks sometimes cause me PVCs personally.

3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling? Yes. Take your time before jumping into this. Healing differs from one person to another and you have to follow your body.

4. Can you have normal sex? Yes

5. Don you function normal at work? Yes

6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die? It passed my mind, sure! But in my heart, I believed I would survive it.

7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones? Not much as I started an antidepressant months before the surgery and this helped my moods.

I'm sure I have more questions, but, maybe these play in my mind alot, hope you can be kind enough to provide some answers.

Thankyou.

See my answers in green.

Wishing you best of luck.

 

[Bean Counter]

Dear all,

I have an echo coming up this Friday, and obviously I'm a bit worried that anything might be wrong, had a CT scan last January and MRI, and been told I will not need anything done for a very long time, but, I just can't help thinking that I will be having surgery this weekend!!!! I know, anxiety! Anyways, may I kindly ask some questions to those who had surgery already please?

1. Do you live a normal life? Yes
2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun? Yes, I love beer and have gone overboard quite a few times
3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling? Yes, getting back into marathons..ran 60 miles last week
4. Can you have normal sex? Yes
5. Don you function normal at work? Yes
6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die? No, but I did fill out a living will just to be on the safe side
7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones? No

I'm sure I have more questions, but, maybe these play in my mind alot, hope you can be kind enough to provide some answers.

Thankyou.

See my responses in RED

 

[scott.eitman]

1. Do you live a normal life? If you can call it that!
2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun? Yes
3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling? Yes, after my 1st, I worked out with local HS wretling team. I am an avid cyclist
4. Can you have normal sex? Only when she says yes:smile2:
5. Don you function normal at work? Yes
6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die? Not too much. I focused more on what valve to get.
7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones? No

See answers above

 

[Jkm7]

Dear all,

I have an echo coming up this Friday, and obviously I'm a bit worried that anything might be wrong, had a CT scan last January and MRI, and been told I will not need anything done for a very long time, but, I just can't help thinking that I will be having surgery this weekend!!!! I know, anxiety! Anyways, may I kindly ask some questions to those who had surgery already please?

1. Do you live a normal life?
2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun?
3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling?
4. Can you have normal sex?
5. Don you function normal at work?
6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die?
7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones?

I'm sure I have more questions, but, maybe these play in my mind alot, hope you can be kind enough to provide some answers.

Thankyou.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes to all of your questions. I've had two OHS in four years (the last was three years ago) and my life is normal in all ways. I can do everything I did prior aside from normal aging. No one who meets me would have any idea I'd had such 'heart problems'.

Best wishes. Chances are HUGE, you will also be fine in all ways. And yes, I did have my fair share of anxiety pre and post surgery.

 

[Bill B]

Dear all,

I have an echo coming up this Friday, and obviously I'm a bit worried that anything might be wrong, had a CT scan last January and MRI, and been told I will not need anything done for a very long time, but, I just can't help thinking that I will be having surgery this weekend!!!! I know, anxiety! Anyways, may I kindly ask some questions to those who had surgery already please?

I'm not sure why you expect the worst with this echo. You've already been told you should be OK for a long time.

1. Do you live a normal life? Yes
2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun?? Yes. Moderation is the key to everything.
3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling?? Yes, absolutely. The rule, at least for aortic valve replacement and aorta repairs, like I had, is NO exercise restrictions after a recovery period.
4. Can you have normal sex? ? Yes, even abnormal
5. Do you function normal at work? ? I don't work, but I could if I wanted to.
6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die? ? Very little. The outcomes for this surgery are overwhelmingly good.
7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones? ? Not much, but that's a personality thing. I was initially rather disturbed when I got the diagnosis and learned I would be having surgery. It was my first major health issue. It was hard to swallow. But I took this as a challenge to learn as much as I could. The more you learn, the more comfortable with it you will be. Valve replacement is remarkably successful and saves lots of lives.

 

[yotphix]

1. Do you live a normal life?
Entirely. Well, at least as normal as it was before!

2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun?
Gave that up years ago but if I hadn't, I wouldn't hesitate.

3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling?
All that and more. I'm nearly two years post op and I run 15-20 miles per week, cycle, camp, sail ride motorcycles, jet-ski and work at a very vigorous job with occasional very heavy lifting (I know, I'm supposed to watch that one and I do keep it to a minimum.)

4. Can you have normal sex?
Again, as normal as I ever had. I got back on that horse about 3 weeks post op. It was a little scary the first time but for no good reason. Felt good to get the heart going a little and the beta blocker most of us take post surgery will keep it from getting crazy! (I meant the horse figuratively! What were YOU thinking!?!)

5. Don you function normal at work?
The boss tells me that I excel, at (as I mentioned) a very vigorous job. I took almost 6 months off after the surgery though so that my ventricle could return to normal and for rehab. Also so that I could come back and do everything that was expected of me.

6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die?
Yep. But I figured it was less of an issue for me than for those who love me. In fact, as my doctor assured me, they are pretty good at this stuff and if you are otherwise healthy going in, your chances of success are very high.

7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones?
I was, more than I'd care to admit. We all react to stress differently but most of us become at least a little testy. Make sure to take some time for yourself as you need it. There is a tendency for people to want more of your time as an operation like this one approaches. It can be a little overwhelming. You may find it a little easier when you aren't wondering any more. When you know what and when you will be doing.

Hope it helps a little to know that others have walked the road and your fears are common.

 

[Freddie]

Don't need to have my answers 'themalteser'. I think you get the drift.

 

[hook]

Results may vary for different people, but I have to remind myself I have a problem. You will have a new normal, or may feel much better in your new normal.

 

[JulieS]

Yes to them all. That was my first ever surgery ever in my life. I KNEW this is a normal surgery, I had the best hospital in Mayo, and I was so relieved to finally get the problem fixed to get on with my life. Dieing never crossed my mind once. I was very irritable, and I think it was because I was used to being in control and I felt like I had no control of this. Think positive.

 

[LeakyUK]

I have not got there yet, but I would probably say yes to all. Now on fluoxatine (Prozac) which has lifted most of the depression and has certainly improved my moods .

 

[Herb_Webb]

1. Do you live a normal life?
2. Can you enjoy a drink, you know, getting a bit tipsy and have fun?
3. Can you do sports? Light weight lifting to tone, jogging, cycling?
4. Can you have normal sex?
5. Don you function normal at work?
6. Did you worry before surgery that you're going to die?
7. Are you moody with your family, friends and loved ones?

#1 I guess so, but I never liked being normal. If you mean do I function in society, go to work, eat and have fun definitely Yes
#2 Gave that up so can't answer
#3 Yes definitely. For inspiration go to a similar site Cardiac Athletes. Lots of post surgery serious athletes like marathoners, weightlifters etc. I'm not that serious but the guys and gals are helpful and inspirational, much like this site.
#4 Oh yes
#5 Yep, and my job is a combination of desk and outside which sometimes involves hiking etc. It took time to get back into the routine but no problems long term.
#6 Not really, I was relieved to be diagnosised and that I was going to become normal. I was in a different situation than you, my surgery was unexpected, sudden and an emergency. So I didn't have time to worry about much.
#7 No, well no more than I used to be. I was pretty laid back before, more so now.

Pre surgery like during prep etc try some visualization. Something soothing and relaxing. For me it was remembering and going there in my mind to fishing on the lake. Slow boat ride trolling, nice summer day, good friends. A nurse told me to do that and others have told me that it worked for them. So start practicing now, just 5 minutes or so at a time, whatever works for you.

Best of luck, looking forward to good news from next week.
Herb

 

[neil]

:tongue2: sex life whats that ?

 

[drivetopless]

3 months post op:
1. Yes
2. Yes- only tried 2 at one sitting so far. Have not noticed the coumadin making me tipsier faster.
3. Yes-
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes. Post surgery I find I worry much less.
7. No more than usual.

 

[themalteser]

Thankyou everyone for answering all my questions, do you know what a relief it is to read all your answers!!

One other question, after surgery,when you first open your eyes, is it a big shock, like oh my God, I'm dying! Or what a relief? Also, sorry about this question, but, what about if you need to go to the toilet? Is it painful ?

I keep thinking of questions as I go along, so I appreciate , really appreciate all your responses! Thank you.

 

[Michelle D]

I have a better life than before my surgery because I feel I can appreciate things more than I did before my surgery. I did think I was going to die before surgery. I was moody with everyone for a few months after my surgery. I have been able to drink alchol without heart related problems. I have a normal sex life. I don't like exercise but I probably could if I wanted to.

 

[Michelle D]

Thankyou everyone for answering all my questions, do you know what a relief it is to read all your answers!!

One other question, after surgery,when you first open your eyes, is it a big shock, like oh my God, I'm dying! Or what a relief? Also, sorry about this question, but, what about if you need to go to the toilet? Is it painful ?

I keep thinking of questions as I go along, so I appreciate , really appreciate all your responses! Thank you.

After my surgery I woke up thinking "hey, I'm still here" and I was pretty out of it, as most people are. I mostly wanted to know if they were able to repair my valve rather than replace it and I was happy with the answer. Don't worry too much about the surgery, that part is easy, you'll be out of it. You seem you want us to make you feel better but I must add that it is important to know the reality of things. At nine months out looking back on everything the worst part by far was the anxiety afterwards, and being by definition anxiety is unfounded fear, my biggest problems were made up in my head. I'm really happy that I had this surgery. It sounds ridiculous indeed, but it changed my life in such a huge way for the better. After being sore for a few months and feeling weak and drugged out you'll really appreciate life when you just feel good even when nothing is going one. I can promise you that.

 

[tobagotwo]

Yes x 7...

Although I have to admit, the second time I had it, I never really worried about dying in the surgery. I have no idea why. I probably should have. Also, I was much less emotionally unsteady the second time (meaning not shaky, not having periods of dark thoughts, etc.).

Your family will get sick of hearing about it. Everyone's family and friends do, despite how much they care. It's not their fault or their intent. They can't help it. It's partly because there's nothing they can do about it.

Because of that, and because we "get it" (having been there), this site is a good place to blow off steam.

Best wishes,