Ash86
07-12-2008, 02:29 PM
If anyone has been through a valve replacement i would love to talk to you. My mom is really scared and so am i. The unknown is really hard. She is having a mechanical valve put in on the 22nd of this month. She has to have the open heart surgery, the less invasive procedures she was not a candidate for. She is only 59. Please give me some advice or share your experience with me. Thanks! :)
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mel8801
07-12-2008, 02:53 PM
Hi Ash86...I just had my Mitral Valve repaired 4-16-08. I was not candidate for the less invasive kind either. the anticipation of the surgery is the worst part. I knew I was going to have the surgey 3 months in advance but I tried to keep my spirits up..not only for myself but for the sake of firends and family also. the only difference between valve replacement and having it repaired is that your mom will hve to be on cumidan forever. I only have to take it a couple more months. After the surgery and the next day I was in ICU but by that evening they transferred me to my own room and the next day I was sitting in a chair eating and right after that I was taking short walks. Like I told Sam...she will have lots of pain meds in the hospital and when she gets home, just make sure she takes them. She will need lots of TLC when she ges home. I has been 3 months for me and after about 8 weeks I was feeling fine. It takes a good 3 months for the sturnam to completely heel so I couldn't drive for that long. Drove me crazy. After I was home a couple of weeks i started getting fluid on my lungs and had to have it drained..I was scared to have that done also but it was no big deal and did not hurt. If you have any question, please feel free to ask. I wish I would have found this web site before I had my surgery because I had a lot of questions and no one to ask. Tell you mom not to worry, she will be fine and she will probably lose weight (that was one of the bonuses for me):jester:
rdyrmsg
07-12-2008, 04:10 PM
Tell Mom to not fear at her age - assuming she is in relatively good health - she will heal right on schedule.
I had a repair job not replacement but open heart is open heart. Serious business yes, but the docs have SO much knowledge now compared to say ten years ago that I am sure all will go very well for Mom.
The big thing I would say is be SURE that she does her breathing exercises. In fact, I would say start practising DEEP breathing now, today! and be SURE that she understands she must work at breathing after surgery.
The heart-lung machine is a fantastic tool BUT the lungs need to be exercised after its use. The patient MUST think about breathing and make them work DAILY, or problems can result.
IMHO that part is not emphazied enough prior to surgery, nor afterwards.
In my experience Mom will feel quite good after eight to ten weeks. However, it really take almost a full year to get back to "normal".
Do get some scar medication - use it. The scar can get to itching if not attended to.
Yes, you will likely be startled when you see her in ICU with various tubes connected to her. But those will be removed within a day or so.
If you can rub her back between the shoulder blades, she will find that comforting. Even if you can just slip your hand under her and wiggle your fingers. :-)
Re pain meds. Perhaps I was fortunate, but I found that within a week after arriving home I only needed pain meds at bedtime and that was so that those first movements after a night's sleep were
tolerable.
Hope this info is helpful and again tell Mom (and yourself) that yes, this is an unknown, BUT unlike say cancer, you know that the outcome will be positive and there is no chemo involved!
Warm today here in upstate NY.
I had a repair job not replacement but open heart is open heart. Serious business yes, but the docs have SO much knowledge now compared to say ten years ago that I am sure all will go very well for Mom.
The big thing I would say is be SURE that she does her breathing exercises. In fact, I would say start practising DEEP breathing now, today! and be SURE that she understands she must work at breathing after surgery.
The heart-lung machine is a fantastic tool BUT the lungs need to be exercised after its use. The patient MUST think about breathing and make them work DAILY, or problems can result.
IMHO that part is not emphazied enough prior to surgery, nor afterwards.
In my experience Mom will feel quite good after eight to ten weeks. However, it really take almost a full year to get back to "normal".
Do get some scar medication - use it. The scar can get to itching if not attended to.
Yes, you will likely be startled when you see her in ICU with various tubes connected to her. But those will be removed within a day or so.
If you can rub her back between the shoulder blades, she will find that comforting. Even if you can just slip your hand under her and wiggle your fingers. :-)
Re pain meds. Perhaps I was fortunate, but I found that within a week after arriving home I only needed pain meds at bedtime and that was so that those first movements after a night's sleep were
tolerable.
Hope this info is helpful and again tell Mom (and yourself) that yes, this is an unknown, BUT unlike say cancer, you know that the outcome will be positive and there is no chemo involved!
Warm today here in upstate NY.
Ash86
07-12-2008, 04:17 PM
thank you... its just scary. she has alot of pre-existing problems. diabetes, high blood pressure. she had a stroke a few years back, chf, and a-fib. she is wondering if you were awake when you were of the ventilator? do you remember it?
rdyrmsg
07-12-2008, 04:36 PM
Hmmmm, assuming you mean "awake ON ventilator" - - -not during surgery. Yes, I do recall waking up in ICU on it but frankly didn't find that a (looking for right word here :-), let's try) bother. There wasn't any pain with it but maybe that was/is the meds talking.
Now, if you meant to ask about coming 'off' the ventilator I can't really answer that. I do recall the tube being taken out, no thrill, but very short discomfort and immediate physical and mental relief that that part was over. My throat was sore but went away within a day.
Hope I guessed correctly about what Mom wants to know.
I'm sorry that she has all those other conditions too but would hope that the surgery and overall improved circulation would help her feel generally better.
Now, if you meant to ask about coming 'off' the ventilator I can't really answer that. I do recall the tube being taken out, no thrill, but very short discomfort and immediate physical and mental relief that that part was over. My throat was sore but went away within a day.
Hope I guessed correctly about what Mom wants to know.
I'm sorry that she has all those other conditions too but would hope that the surgery and overall improved circulation would help her feel generally better.
0123456789
07-12-2008, 07:54 PM
My Mom is 59 also. She'll be having hers replaced, not repaired, soon as well. Scary isn't?
Ash86
07-13-2008, 06:50 PM
how old is everyone that went through this? do you recall how long you were in the ICU?
mel8801
07-13-2008, 10:26 PM
Hi Ash...I am 63 and had my surgery on a Wednesday 4-16-08 and was in my own room Thursday evening. They removed the ventilator and 2AM Thursday morning. I remember waking up for a second and knowing the ventilator was there but went directly back to sleep.They will keep your mom in ICU until they remove all of the tubes. When you see her in ICU just be prepared for seeing alot of tubes but your mom will not even know they are there. You Dr should give her a pamphlet titled Valve Replacement Surgery and it will tell her step by step what to expect. If he doesn't offer it, ASK for it.
jojotigerlily
07-18-2008, 11:31 AM
Ashe
My dad will need a open heart surgery as well, one of his valve needs to be replaced. This is so stressful, I know how you feel, I am so stressed. My mom and I worry so much, my father is at work right now. He is ok, but still needs the surgery. Its the waiting that is scary, and they said my dads valve is sever. UGH. I cant even think straight. My father is 62 years old and he too had a stroke, that was 12 years ago, he recovered great from that but remains on Warafn (Coumdin) for this thick blood condition.
My dad will need a open heart surgery as well, one of his valve needs to be replaced. This is so stressful, I know how you feel, I am so stressed. My mom and I worry so much, my father is at work right now. He is ok, but still needs the surgery. Its the waiting that is scary, and they said my dads valve is sever. UGH. I cant even think straight. My father is 62 years old and he too had a stroke, that was 12 years ago, he recovered great from that but remains on Warafn (Coumdin) for this thick blood condition.
kathystar2
08-20-2008, 05:52 PM
hope your mother is doing good my husband will mvp on sept 8th so we are anxious to hear how she did
astriapage1
08-21-2008, 11:06 AM
Hello
I guess I am the youngest one here who has had a valve replaced-I am 30 and had it done 5-18-08. I got very sick-105 fever and they said that I had endocarditis. In hospital 3 weeks then on IV antibiotics for 9 weeks. To no avail had to have the surgery-about to have heart failure. So I had a one day notice, but the doctor said he had never met someone as strong or knew what she wanted. After surgery, in hospital for 9 days. As for the ventilator-I think pulling out the chest tubes are worst because you are more awake for this. I still run a fever everday of at least 101, and continue to have alot of the troubling symtoms that I had before. Whatever destroyed my valve is still in my body and thriving. I continued to have quite a bit of pain week after my surgery, but they say it's my health. The chest tubes sites and where the wires are are the worst. They say it's because I am so small-100 pounds, so encourage your mom to eat to keep weight on. It will help. I can't gain weight. If anyone can identify with my case also, please HELP ME?
I guess I am the youngest one here who has had a valve replaced-I am 30 and had it done 5-18-08. I got very sick-105 fever and they said that I had endocarditis. In hospital 3 weeks then on IV antibiotics for 9 weeks. To no avail had to have the surgery-about to have heart failure. So I had a one day notice, but the doctor said he had never met someone as strong or knew what she wanted. After surgery, in hospital for 9 days. As for the ventilator-I think pulling out the chest tubes are worst because you are more awake for this. I still run a fever everday of at least 101, and continue to have alot of the troubling symtoms that I had before. Whatever destroyed my valve is still in my body and thriving. I continued to have quite a bit of pain week after my surgery, but they say it's my health. The chest tubes sites and where the wires are are the worst. They say it's because I am so small-100 pounds, so encourage your mom to eat to keep weight on. It will help. I can't gain weight. If anyone can identify with my case also, please HELP ME?