What should I expect?

[debster913]

Hi, all--
Still waiting on my surgery date...
I have a heart cath scheduled for next Tuesday so my cardio can assess the damage to my mitral valve. He's talking repair, but that may change.

On the outside, I don't seem nervous, but I've lost my appetite, I feel worried, and I have no idea what to expect or how to prepare for surgery. At the same time, I'm worried about being able to go back to my teaching job in September. As for now, I am on summer break, courtesy of my cardio.

Any advice?
Thanks,
Debbie (debster913)

 

[Ross]

Deb just start reading. Best place to start would probably be Der Biermiesters posts in presurgery. I don't think there wasn't a question he didn't ask! If you have more questions then, hey, speak out, well answer them. Your nervous, no anxious. Hon put it this way, you have no control over what is about to happen, so release the ideas that you do. I know it's much easier said then done, but please try too.

 

[Der Biermeister]

Yeah - I guess I did ask a lot of questions But I sure got a lot of good answers too.

And Debi - barring complications, there should be no problem for you returning to a teaching job in September. I am -- more than likely -- going back to an admittedly easy job on May 15, which will be only 4 1/2 weeks after the surgery.

I don't remember if you told us your age, but I am going to assume you are not that old. Now, I should qualify my next advice with the fact that you must get approval from you doc, depending on the kind of condition you are in right now, ok? Are you athletic at all? If so, keep up being fit right up to the day before your surgery. If you are a coach potato, then I would hit the bricks right now and built up some strength and endurance, assuming you've got at least 2 or 3 weeks to go before surgery. Again - ONLY if there are no extenuating circumstances that would prevent you from doing that. Going to go a lonnnnnnnnnng way in helping your recovery process. I just talked to my doc's PA a little while ago and asked if if I was pushing things a bit too fast? I did a 1 1/4 mile walk yesterday -- but honestly, I had such energy I could have easily doubled it. She said no problem - where you are right now ( 9 days post op), you can walk as much as you feel like doing and you will NOT hurt anything. So Debi, I attribute this all to my being in walking shape going into the surgery.

 

[baradonai]

What to expect...

What to expect...

Hi Debbie.
This will be different for pretty much everyone. But I can tell you I wish I had found this forum before I went into surgery.

I will have had my mitral valve replace a year ago this May. I do hope yours can be repaired.
Endocarditis got mine.

What kept me going was knowing that this was routine to my doctor. If he wasn't worried about it, then I wasn't going to worry about it. And if something bad happened, then I get to go home! There's something to be said for having that "blessed assurance".

The only negative I experienced was a couple of days of severe pain. The hospital where I was wanted me to ask for pain medication before they would give it. I slept through a period I was supposed to ask and when I awoke I started coughing which hurt like the dickens!

Other than that, I was walking my daughter down the aisle at her wedding in a couple of weeks.
Don't over do it when you get back home, even though you'll feel pretty good the first few days.

-Marty

 

[volsfan]

Don't Worry!!! About what you can't control.

Don't Worry!!! About what you can't control.

Debbie,

I've just got home form my valve replacement on 4-13, I can tell you going in I was not worried in the least. HOW? you ask? Try looking at it this way, The day of you surgry say: "Today is the first day of the rest of my life." And if there is a higher power in your life Give It All Over!!!, over to Him.
As far a going back to teaching, I would say there is a good chance you'll make it in time. My Dr.'s and I are hoping to get me back to work in 4 weeks. Good luck, If I can help let my know.

To God Be The Glory, Great Things He has done!
Robert

 

[Praline]

Debbie,

Debbie,

I would certainly not worry about recovery because of your age. First, I am about 3 months post-op. Had a mitral valve repair, one bypass and a Maze procedure for AFib.
I had a setback in the hospital because of a reaction to meds. I was in the ICU 8 days. But that is only me.I have a very low tolerance for most meds.
But with all that, I was back at work the first Monday in April. My surgery was January 18. I teach first grade.
I will be 65 in about 7 weeks. You may very well have an easier recovery this time . There has been so much improvement done concerning OHS.
What do you teach? If you have said, I forgot.

 

[Lynlw]

there was link to a book on the adult chd forum written by a person who had a CHD and had her valve replaced, http://www.openheartcoach.com/ it is about preparing for heart surgery and what to expect, from planning for the surgery thru a few months post op. from the sample chapters on the site I thought it had some good suggestions on plans to make. it looks like it would be helpful for the patient and also their loved ones. Lyn

 

[Janea]

Some thoughts

Some thoughts

Hi Deb,
I had a MVR on March 27, 2006. The doctor said 90% he could repair it but when he went in he found things were much worse than expected and ended up replacing it with a tissue valve. I am young and wanted the option of having more children so I chose tissue. In many ways I think the anticipation of the surgery was just as hard as the recovery process. It is hard to know what to expect because everybody's situation is different. Because my heart was so sick and damaged from a big leak and wide floppy valve, it had a hard time adapting to pumping blood through a the small hole of a new valve. I thought I'd be out of the hospital in 4 days and was in ICU for almost a week. I was in the hospital 3 times as long as I thought I would be. I think this is more of an unusual experience and you probably and hopefully will have a smoother recovery.
I had someone announce in my church group a request for prayers because I was having "minor heart surgery" the next week. While I was grateful for the prayers it really bothered me to have it called minor. It trivialized what I was about to go through. For me it has been helpful to really think of this experience as a life changing event. It is a BIG deal. In thinking this way I was able to give myself permission to mourn a bit and move through the grief and fear of having a serious heart problem and serious surgery. It is a hard thing and I know that you are scared. It's so comforting to read people's stories on this web site. So many have been through much more suffering than I...it makes me want to be strong and brave. Though this journey has not been an easy one, I like to think that It has been a physical and spiritual test, one in which I will reap rewards from enduring well. I don't know if I have endured it well...I hope so. But I can already see some good things that have come from it...I definately feel a depth of compassion that I have never experienced, and certainly I see every day with my husband and sweet kids as a gift.
Sorry for blabbing on. I bet I didn't even answer your question. I was nervous for the heart cath but it wasn't that bad. I thought the TEE was more uncomfortable than the cath. I was a bit swollen and sore after the cath but bounced back quickly. Even though they are going up your arteries, you can't feel a thing and the sedative they gave me was very helpful. Best wishes to you my friend in yoru journey ahead. Know you are not alone and we are rooting for you every step of the way! --Janea

 

[Christina L]

All I can tell you is to find a great surgeon

All I can tell you is to find a great surgeon

and put your faith in him (notice I say him - I wonder how many heart surgeons out there are women?) - I've never heard of one.

Also, just put one foot in front of the other - KNOW this has to be done (the surgery) and it is going to change your life for the better.

As for people around you saying dumb things - oh they will!! They will start telling you about how they made it through their gallbladder surgery and putting your surgery on a par with theirs. NOT!!! You just have to suck it up and humor them - they mean well.

Ask all the questions you like and we here on Vr.com will try to help.

Christina L

 

[Janea]

people say stupid things

people say stupid things

Speaking of people saying stupid things, I had this one guy from church ask me if this was going to be one of those "in-and-out of the hospital surgeries" where you get surgery and come home that day and recover at home. Shocking people can be so unaware.

 

[Rivet]

Speaking of people saying stupid things, I had this one guy from church ask me if this was going to be one of those "in-and-out of the hospital surgeries" where you get surgery and come home that day and recover at home.

Why is that so stupid? There are many surgeries today that are becoming like that (in and out). Maybe he/she saw recent reports about valve replacement by catheter that are currently in testing phase.

 

[Paul117]

replacement type

replacement type

Debbie,

I've just got home form my valve replacement on 4-13, I can tell you going in I was not worried in the least. HOW? you ask? Try looking at it this way, The day of you surgry say: "Today is the first day of the rest of my life." And if there is a higher power in your life Give It All Over!!!, over to Him.
As far a going back to teaching, I would say there is a good chance you'll make it in time. My Dr.'s and I are hoping to get me back to work in 4 weeks. Good luck, If I can help let my know.

To God Be The Glory, Great Things He has done!
Robert

robert
what kind of valve mech or tissue??
my is due May15th

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Hey there Deb,
I wrote you earlier, but for some reason, it didn't come through. Anyway, I will give you the shortened version...if possible. I am 49 years young, a teacher of 7th graders with ld, bd, add, mmi, etc. You know...quite the mix! I am two and half weeks out of surgery for mitral valve repair as well as removal of the subaortic membrane. I was on and off the heart-lung bypass machine three different times while my surgeon attempted to take as much as the affected heart muscle as he could. Surgery was successful.
The months prior to surgery were incredibly difficult in the classroom for me. I was exhausted, depleted, emotional, etc. I broke down and cried in front of my kids my last Thursday at school. I finished up at school on Friday, March 31 and left for Cleveland Clinic on Sunday. I have never felt so fatigued in my life. Surely those days are the closest to breaking down as I will ever come.
The presurgery time was the worst. The week following surgery was difficult only as a result of how much the surgery took out of me. Whew. However, the good news is I truely have to remind myself I had OHS surgery two and half weeks ago. Recovery, in my opinion, is incredibly quick. I used to be athletic, BUT have been a couch potato for a year or two so I was going into the surgery in the worst shape ever. I envy those vr.comers who are athletic and have been able to continue that lifestyle right up until surgery. My Cleveland doctors told me not to exercise and actually I didn't have the ability to anyway...I was spent by the time I made it home from teaching.
I go back to school May 15 and I am sure I will be ready. I feel great now. My lung capacity isn't where it should be, but that will come. I wish you the very best and hope your cath goes well on Tuesday. I will be thinking of you. Feel free to ask us any questions.
Debbi

 

[volsfan]

robert
what kind of valve mech or tissue??
my is due May15th

Paul, I had a cadaver valve. Of the other 2 (mechanical or pig) I found the cadaver valve gave me a better more active life that I wanted.

 

[Marguerite53]

Debbie. I'm home, just, from AVR on last tuesday. I'll ditto Ross -- I thought Der asked every question I could think of!! We love ya, Der!! I also want to say that Janea's comments were right on, and quite perfectly stated, too.

As I listened to my husband recount my condition to people who called to check on me, I had to giggle at his dramatic descriptions. He wanted to be absolutely sure that everyone knew I was on a heart-lung machine and a respirator! Of course, I didn't have to sit with me in ICU and see myself with all those tubes!! For him, it was BIG drama!! This is not an easy thing to go through. BUT that doesn't mean that you can't remain entirely optimistic and focused on success.

Read read read. You know that the more your students read, the better they are in the know...the same will be for you. You may not even know if what you read will be helpful, but it may. Der was an amazing help to me in those last few days!!

I think the heart cath will give you more answers. They will know better how much they need to do in there. They should give you a time frame. I always asked the surgeon for the "best case scenario". How soon will I be able to ..., "best case scenario". I just assumed that I would be one of those best case scenario types. But then, I had 3 adult children (18, 21, 23) to reassure. I had to put up a good face; fearless, confident, assured. I knew that I had all of these wonderful VR people behind me. I knew that I had incredible doctors and a first class facility. My good face became my true face. I really felt good.

But everyone is different. Do not bash yourself for feeling anxious or even terrified! Anything you feel is normal! This is a big deal. But you will get through it fine and probably be back teaching without obvious incident.

Please come back and tell us about the cath. The only thing they were looking for in mine were the shape of my arteries so they could determine whether or not I needed by-pass work (I'm 52). I did not. In Der's case, he did. We're all different.

Keep posting, keep reading. Hang in there! Summer is a great time to recouperate......nice long, lazy days in the healing summer sun.

Marguerite

 

[doberman]

Hi, we all worry, can't help it. I found the lead up to surgery was the most difficult for me and my family. Everyone recuperates at a different speed i went back to work after 31/2 weeks which is too soon!!!, I would say don't rush your recovery you will be back at work before you know what happened. This may sound strange but I found the recovery difficult but it also gave me a new appreciation for everything I have.
Best,

 

[greg]

Hi Deb, and good luck.
You can probably expect to start to wake up with the breathing tube still in. That's unnerving but you will get thru it.
Next thing is getting your lungs to work good again. They will give you a small pillow or stuffed animal to hold to your chest when you cough. My ICU nurse (Betty) told me I'd have a love affair with that pillow. She was right and I still sleep with a pillow held to my chest almost 3 years later. It's my security balnket. Use the pillow/stuffed animal and work the lungs as directed.
Each tube or wire removed wakes you up a little but you will know it's a move in the right direction.
You will get to hurt for a few to several days, but it really is bareable.
My surgeon wanted 6 weeks for the sternum to heal. He said the heart would only need a few mins.
He gave me a release to return to work after 4 weeks, but only because I'm a supervisor and don't really do much physical work.

I didn't have a support group and certainly was not aware of a site like this for prior information. I wish I had of known. These posts are great and full of excellent information.
GOOD LUCK!!!

I had a SJM aortic valve replacement....

greg

 

[Superbob]

Greg,

So glad you shared about your love affair with your pillow I just got back from a trip to the DC area (for the birth of a new grandson!) for which I packed the "Mended Heart" pillow that was given to me when I had my OHS. I, too, still sleep (or try to) hugging my heart-shaped pillow every night. Glad it's not just me doing that.

It's definitely like a security blanket.

 

[sfconstrct]

strong

strong

Debbie you will be fine, for me I continued going to the gym till the day before surgery, it made me feel good that i was going in strong. Nine weeks ago today I feel great. I was walking couple miles within few weeks, last week four miles couple hundred stairs, been back in the gym for three weeks. I can't imagine you not being almost full strength by the time classes start up again. I really wasn't bad. In on Thursday home on Monday AVR. Just get a good surgeon and facility. Like said before I focused on how great it would be after surgery to be back on the court and surfing instead of just watching it for the previous few months pre surgery. Good luck. Go in strong and come out strong. Steve in so.ca.

 

[Der Biermeister]

Yessireebob -- the "going in strong" aspect is the key to fast recovery.