Anthony ShapleyAortic Valve Replacement – Followed up
Well I’m pleased to say that I’m now on Week 10 and life is most certainly getting back to normal.
On week five I returned to work which I found hard work to begin with so I just did half days. However the NHS Recommends at least 8 weeks. My employer was very understanding and half days were absolutely fine.
On week 6 I started driving again, my insurance company insisted that my doctor agreed for me to drive. My doctor was not happy seeing me regarding this, to say the least. Your insurance company actually have no right to demand you see a doctor. All the details are written on the DVLA Website which basically says you can begin driving whenever your ready (from memory). I also at this point returned to work full time.
Since then I’ve just been having fun, I think I’ve been out every weekend since week 6 for beers whilst also working hard to improve my diet and doing the odd bit of photography.
At the start of Week 10 I signed up to fitness first and started doing some cardiovascular training to try and shift some weight and keep my heart healthy, I intend to do this 3 times a week. I will be moving onto some weights as well later into my recovery. I must also add that Fitness First is the best gym I’ve ever been in, they have so much gear and the changing rooms are nice. Not to mention free DVD Rental, Steam Room etc.
On another note, my shortness of breathe has gone completely and tiredness only happens after hard days at work, I think going to the gym will also help to reduce this further.
My scar is healing nicely and runs from the bottom of my ribs to the top of my chest.
If you have any questions feel free to get in touch, especially if your sat at home worrying about having it done.
Leave a Comment
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Posted On: Nov 25th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Anthony,
Intersting article. I have a bi-cuspid aorta valve with mild to moderate stenosis, first discovered 2.5 years ago during a routine medical. I haven’t suffered any effects as far as I’m aware other than tiredness but that might just be the result of long hours and middle age (mid 50′s). However, my consultant is keen to have the valve replaced next year. He wants me to think about the sort of valve I would like – mechanical or tissue. Just interested in what you chose (if you had a choice) and why. -
Posted On: Nov 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your comment! The tissue valve will only last 10 years so I would still be pushed towards the Metal Valve. The only down side is having regular blood tests (4 – 6 weeks), taking warfarin and the ticking.
The prospect of having the operation done again was enough to put me off a tissue valve. It really is a choice you have to make for yourself, but I am sure the Metal Valve was the right choice for me.
I hope that helps,
Anthony -
Posted On: Dec 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I’ve be dianosed w/ severe regertation in my aroitic valve and a 50% blockage in one of the major arties feeding the heart, I’m going to see a cardic sergeon tomorrow who will schedule surgery. I’m worried about the amount of pain I can expect to have following the surgery… what was your experience? I just need to ask someone whose been thru this.
thanks,
Mark
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Hi Mark,
Thanks for your comment. The pain is absolutely terrible, just kidding. Its actually a lot less painful than I expected it to be.
I had the surgery at about mid-day and woke from it about 11pm that night. At this point I was pretty out of it from all the drugs, absolutely no pain, atleast none I can recall.
Just the day after I was taken off Morphine and put onto Paracetemol. Again, very little pain its quite awkward to move. Whilst there is minimal discomfort I was very aware my chest was weak, your not allowed to lift on your arms, even to help yourself out of a chair, for 6 weeks. But you will have plenty of people to help you.
Within 3 days I was walking, showering. The only thing I would be aware of (that I wasn’t before the operation) is that they collapse your lungs which will make your breathing very shallow, this will take some time to improve. Mine is still repairing now after 3 months.
What this mean is, after a short walk you will be extremely out of breath to begin with. The more you do it, the quicker it improves.
I hope this puts your mind at rest. I was absolutely terrified before having it done. Hence why I took the time to write this.
Anthony
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Sorry, that sounded a bit weird at the end. I mean hence why I took the time to write about my experience, not the reply. Best of luck Mark and feel free to write back if you have anymore questions.
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Posted On: Jan 5th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Hi Anthony
I am scheduled to have my aortic valve replaced this April. My consultant has pretty much left it to me to decide which replacement I go for.
My original thoughts have been to go for the tissue valve as I like a beer or three and my job means I’m often cutting myself. Neither of which seem to go well with warfarin.
Interested to hear you have been out for beers at weekends. To what extent has this affected your warfarin. I look forward to a beer at weekends but this seems to put me in the binge drinking category, as I understood alcohol destablised warfarin due to the peaks and troughs of alcohol.
Time has moved on for you, have you reached a point that you feel back to normal. My job albeit part-time is house maintenance and this gives me some cause for concern when I might be fully fighting fit and if I will have a job to go back to.Nigel
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Hi Nigel,
Thanks for your comment, I drink every weekend, just make sure your regular blood tests are for a Friday (i.e a week before your next test from when you go out).
With regards to cutting yourself, if your INR is too high it can make bleeding a real problem. If you look after yourself and keep your INR reasonably stable it should be fine.
That said either way, in a manual trade you shouldn’t be returning to work for 6 months because of them cutting your sternum bone.
I can honestly say my choice hasn’t prevented me from living a perfectly normal life. The only real problem I have noticed is bruising. I only have to do something like bang my arm hard, lift something on my shoulders and they mark pretty badly.
Its your choice. It will go fine though. The thought of going through the operation again was enough to put me off having a tissue valve.
Best Wishes,
Anthony -
Posted On: Jan 10th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Hi Anthony.Have you had any side effects from op. My aortic valve was replaced 7/11/08 with a mecanical valve and I am now constipated all the time something that never occurred before!! I had no pain after operation but now 9 weeks after I am getting chest pain very severe from all the rib area at night in bed.
best wishes
John
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Hi John,
I experienced pains at the bottom of my Ribs for about 3 months, especially when taking a deep breathe.
That said if the pains are bad then I would recommend getting it checked, even if I didn’t.
You’ll get there. When you get out the other end its like a new lease of life! Well it was for me, I’m not tired all the time anymore.
Best of luck and feel free to write back if there is anything else.
Anthony
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Posted On: Feb 10th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hey Anthony,
Many thanks for taking the time to write up about your experiences.
I’m 21 and due for the same operation on the 3rd of March… (I’ve had an artery repair at 18months old)
Your blog has certainly cleared a few things up that no surgeon or doctor could describe (unless themselves have been through the operation).I’ve chosen the mechanical valve which means Warfarin and horrible needles every month (My biggest phobia…)
I have a few questions though…
* Did your doctor/specialist/surgeon recommend Gastro Resistant Aspirin before the operation? (75mg, once daily… has less harsh effects than Warfarin but helps prevent chest pain with certain conditions)
I’ve self prescribed a 75mg Daily dose (it’s off the shelf stuff). But I have no idea if it’s a good idea to stop the dosage for 7 days before the op like you would if you were taking Warfarin already.* Is the ticking from the valve noticeable? I’d assume you’d get used to it after a while… I’m just wondering if it will be alarming to wake up with a ticking noise from my chest area.
* Does the valve have any effect on activity? Ie: will it cope if I start exercising (Gentle at first) and progress to harsh exercise (when my body is able to cope with the strain) such as Mountain Biking.
* Was it a legal requirement to inform the car insurance company and DVLA? (Full UK Licence holder)
* Last question on here… Are you available to talk on MSN/Xbox Live etc? It may sound selfish but it may be a great help if me and my mrs can talk to someone in real time who has had this experience.
Many thanks again!
Phil -
Hi Phil, I did add you to MSN but you’ve not spoken to me yet, maybe its a different address, if so my MSN is anthony@ansmedia.co.uk.
No my doctor didn’t advice for me to take Aspirin.
The ticking will be noticeable at times but after after a while you only hear it if you chose to.
With regards to exercise, I wouldn’t recommend anything too strenous at all for the first three months. My surgeon also adviced me not to play any contact sports so mountain biking might be out of the question.. I would ask your surgeon, they are normally really helpful.
Yes it is a legal requirement to inform my Insurance Company, didn’t have to mention it to the DVLA. Also note that your insurance company may ask you to get confirmation from the Doctors that I was fit to drive. My Doctor got really angry about that, they aren’t allowed to request that. Or something..
My MSN is above, good luck with the op – I hope it goes well please keep in touch. Maybe you could do a guest post of your experiences?
Best of luck.
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Posted On: Feb 17th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Anthony I want to thank you for your posts on this. I wonder if you could answer a question. I enjoy running (up to 20km) and doing weights in the gym, admittedly in the past I have passed out a couple of times doing the latter. Do you know whether I’d need to stop or reduce this kind of thing if I get a mechanical valve replacement? I’m just wondering how you’ve been told to treat exercise in the long term (I see you mention the first 3 months). I’m worried it would cause to much stress on a mechanical device and limit things?
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Posted On: Jun 4th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
hi ignore my previous message about an update, i have just seen it…..
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Posted On: Jul 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Hi i am 27 and due the same operation i have a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic stinosis and an anurysm. i dont have the shortness of breath, but the surgeon wants to operate due to the size of the anurysm, i have been getting dizzy and pains in my chest and not sleeping well recently (since i have been told about the op) so im hoping that its mainly due to stress. my question is how well have you been getting on with the warfrin? i hear of many different side effects and it really worries me. Im really not looking forward to it. my surgeon recomends i go for the metal valve for the same reason you mention, he has said he will give me a biological one if i wanted though. authough i have heard of a surgeon recomending a biological valve to a friend of a friend which they have had done. and they aparrently feel fine at the moment a couple of years after the op. He was roughly the same age then as i am now. have you found out any more about warfrin with your experiance now?
Many thanks for your time,
Andrew -
P.S.
what is your target INR reading? / warfrin Dose? i understand you can buy a monitor to check your INR level, its similar to a blood glucose monitor you have if your diabetic. i hear it costs a bit but it saves you going to your doctor all the time.
Andrew -
Posted On: Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Hey Anthony,
Many thanks for taking the time to write up about your experiences.
i am 20 yrs n underwent Aortic Valve replacement 2 yrs back. nw hav a metal valve.
i ws just interested i knowing if i could do weights in my gym.I’v already been doing cardio.
actually de doc who operated me told me that i could do weights bt recently i changed my town so my new doctor adviced me not to do weights at all n to do cardio only
please hepl me regarding this..
thanks a bunch for ur time -
Posted On: Dec 10th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Hi everyone,
I had my aortic valve replaced 8 weeks ago, using a minimally invasive procedure. All has gone well, apart from a minor problem after I was discharged (some irregularity due to low potassium). However, this last week, my heart’s suddenly decided that adding the occasional extra beat would be a good idea – did you have similar experiences? Although the heart rhythm tends to be fairly steady, the extra beats are really obvious and give me a bit of an odd feeling (of course, the swine flu vaccine might be to blame?!?). -
Posted On: Sep 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 am
Hi, can you please specify your age at the time of the
operation and whether your job was sedentary or quite physical? I’m
53 and had the same type of operation 6 weeks ago. I’m wondering
when I’ll be able to go back to work; my job is my very physical, I
commute 74 miles a day to work and back home and my shifts can be
as long as 12 hours. Thanks so much for any advice.
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