Sunday – Day Four
I slept much better. And got up at 5:30am and sat in my chair in the growing light.
I practiced expanding my lungs by breathing through my nose. The sternum pain was much less. In fact, sternum pain had never really been a big issue as long as I din’t put any unnecessary strain on the area. But then again I hadn’t been sneezing either.
My heart rate had settled in the 60s. Blood pressure excellent. Blood oxygen level 98.
I had another X-Ray and later an echocardiogram in my bed via a portable echo machine.
The doctors visited and said I was doing great and, after looking at the x-ray, no longer had any concerns about the pneumothorax. They said my echo looked good and they’d plan to release me home the next day.
In early afternoon the ward sister said I was doing so well she thought there might be a chance I could go home that day if she spoke with the doctors again. In the end this didn’t happen, as the doctors hadn’t time to complete their paperwork that day. So in theory, I nearly came home on day four.
Monday – Day Five
I rose early again. Ate breakfast – porridge and toast and a cup of black tea. Then I strolled up and down the ward a while.
Then the nurse removed my drainage plaster and stitches. There was no blood leakage this time.
I showered shortly before my discharge papers arrived. I arranged for a family member to collect me after midday and got myself dressed. I slowly packed my bag.
And that was it. I said my heartfelt goodbyes and was wheeled to a waiting London taxi outside. It was a three and half mile journey home.
It was good to get home but there was some emotional reaction too as I settled in, slightly disorientated.
——————————
I came away from hospital with little medication needing to be taken. I have to take one dispersible aspirin a day with food for two weeks, accompanied by one Omeprazole one hour before the aspirin to protect the stomach. And a box of paracetamol (Tylenol in the US). I was taking paracetamol regularly at first but have reduced it considerably now as I have very little pain, relatively. There is sternum pain when I cough but nothing dispiriting.
Today I feel very good. My wounds are healing nicely. I haven’t been outside since returning home Monday. It just felt right to stay in my den these past days. My electric recliner is a godsend. I walk around my home and do some neck, shoulder and arm raising exercises daily, as instructed.
Today I feel ready to walk up the road a short way and back. But let’s see.
I’m sleeping well ... or rather, quite heavily. There were a few nights where sleep was intermittent.
I am eating normally.
There has been someone staying with me this first week home. Sleeping over. Cooking for me, shopping, lifting anything heavy. They come and go in the day, which is no problem as I rest and mediate and exercise in their absence.
All in all, I’m amazed how well it’s gone and how well my valve has embedded so far. I take one day at a time and sing praises to the brilliance of modern science and medical teams.
I have a cardiology follow-up appointment in six weeks’ time, late September. Followed by six weeks’ of rehab at St Thomas’ Hospital. I look forward to those.
The shorter version of this would have been,
But I thought I’d pad out the experience a bit both for myself to remember and for anyone wishing to read such things who may be awaiting surgery or the like. I read lots of such accounts in my years in the Waiting Room, and I found all of them to be of help to one degree or another. So I hope that is true of this.
Peace and goodwill to all.
I slept much better. And got up at 5:30am and sat in my chair in the growing light.
I practiced expanding my lungs by breathing through my nose. The sternum pain was much less. In fact, sternum pain had never really been a big issue as long as I din’t put any unnecessary strain on the area. But then again I hadn’t been sneezing either.
My heart rate had settled in the 60s. Blood pressure excellent. Blood oxygen level 98.
I had another X-Ray and later an echocardiogram in my bed via a portable echo machine.
The doctors visited and said I was doing great and, after looking at the x-ray, no longer had any concerns about the pneumothorax. They said my echo looked good and they’d plan to release me home the next day.
In early afternoon the ward sister said I was doing so well she thought there might be a chance I could go home that day if she spoke with the doctors again. In the end this didn’t happen, as the doctors hadn’t time to complete their paperwork that day. So in theory, I nearly came home on day four.
Monday – Day Five
I rose early again. Ate breakfast – porridge and toast and a cup of black tea. Then I strolled up and down the ward a while.
Then the nurse removed my drainage plaster and stitches. There was no blood leakage this time.
I showered shortly before my discharge papers arrived. I arranged for a family member to collect me after midday and got myself dressed. I slowly packed my bag.
And that was it. I said my heartfelt goodbyes and was wheeled to a waiting London taxi outside. It was a three and half mile journey home.
It was good to get home but there was some emotional reaction too as I settled in, slightly disorientated.
——————————
I came away from hospital with little medication needing to be taken. I have to take one dispersible aspirin a day with food for two weeks, accompanied by one Omeprazole one hour before the aspirin to protect the stomach. And a box of paracetamol (Tylenol in the US). I was taking paracetamol regularly at first but have reduced it considerably now as I have very little pain, relatively. There is sternum pain when I cough but nothing dispiriting.
Today I feel very good. My wounds are healing nicely. I haven’t been outside since returning home Monday. It just felt right to stay in my den these past days. My electric recliner is a godsend. I walk around my home and do some neck, shoulder and arm raising exercises daily, as instructed.
Today I feel ready to walk up the road a short way and back. But let’s see.
I’m sleeping well ... or rather, quite heavily. There were a few nights where sleep was intermittent.
I am eating normally.
There has been someone staying with me this first week home. Sleeping over. Cooking for me, shopping, lifting anything heavy. They come and go in the day, which is no problem as I rest and mediate and exercise in their absence.
All in all, I’m amazed how well it’s gone and how well my valve has embedded so far. I take one day at a time and sing praises to the brilliance of modern science and medical teams.
I have a cardiology follow-up appointment in six weeks’ time, late September. Followed by six weeks’ of rehab at St Thomas’ Hospital. I look forward to those.
The shorter version of this would have been,
I had Aortic Valve Replacement last week and everything went well.
But I thought I’d pad out the experience a bit both for myself to remember and for anyone wishing to read such things who may be awaiting surgery or the like. I read lots of such accounts in my years in the Waiting Room, and I found all of them to be of help to one degree or another. So I hope that is true of this.
Peace and goodwill to all.
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