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I’ve been told I need Open Heart Surgery.

Posted , 3 users are following.

john1916
john1916

Hi all,

On January 30th I had a minor stroke and was admitted to hospital. During the routine tests they found that I had a heart murmur and I was sent for an Echocardiogram. This showed I had severe Stenosis of my Aortic Valve. Further tests also showed problems with the arteries leading to my heart. I was then told I needed open heart surgery, which came as quite a shock.

I am a 78 year old male, living in the NE of England and I would like to hear from anybody who has gone through this experience as I feel quite depressed and shocked at how quickly this whole matter has evolved.

I am due an Angicardiogram in the next couple of weeks to check my arteries and then it is up to the Cardiologists to decide when I get my operation. Any correspondence with people who have shared this experience will be very welcome.

Thanks

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • joan49684
    joan49684 john1916

    Posted

    hi sorry to hear about yout stroke and hope you get over it well , regarding your heart be grateful that its been found and some thing can be done about it , is say this as ny hubby had emergency 8 hr aortic disssection in dec, until he had it id not heard of it and ive no idea if yours is similar or not but its taken 4 mths forhim to recover as was un planned urgent op folowed by infection .

    im sure you will be in good hands and better to have done before it becomes urgent given the chance .

    best of luck

    • john1916
      john1916 joan49684

      Posted

      Thanks Joan49684. I just felt quite shocked when I got the news as I actually felt quite well for my age. However the

      Cardiologist told me that I may have thought I was slowing up due to my age but in fact it was due to the Aortic Stenosis etc. I did a treadmill exercise test on Wednesday of this week and that confirmed everything. I'm just looking for anybody who has been / is in a similar situation so that they can pass their experiences on to me.

    • joan49684
      joan49684 derek76

      Posted

      Yes I believe that's correct .ascending a Ortic dissection is very serious as nearly always sudden .

  • derek76
    derek76 john1916

    Posted

    Hi John,

    You are fortunate to have had the minor stroke or your aortic valve would probable not have been discovered until perhaps too late. In 2011 I tried to get on to a new blood pressure treatment at Imperial College and my 75% closed valve was found when I was 78 and was referred to my local hospital in Sussex. I had a stress echocardiogram (after a six month wait)that indicated that two arteries were partially blocked. I was not too worried about that as in 1993 and 2000 I had stress ECG’s with similar indications that angiograms showed had been false positives as was this one at the next angiogram. It seems to happen quite often. I was then referred to have my aortic valve replaced ( an eight month wait ) and by then I was getting symptoms.

    I asked the surgeon about TAVR (that Jagger has just had ) but he said that I was too fit for that ! and should have the standard open heart version. Jagger obviously wants a quicker recovery and no scars.

    See my recent replies to Elizabeth186 to save me typing it all again.

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/heart-valve-replacement-697812

    As I said there atrial fibrillation can be a later problem and one you want to avoid as you have had a stroke and you ant to avoid being on Warfarin and the newer NOAC’s are not supposed to be used with tissue

    valves. As the clots that cause strokes form in the left atrial appendage ask them to remove that during your surgery. I eventually paid to have an Aplatzer amulet fitted in mine to avoid a lifetime on warfarin.

    As you are in the North East will you be going to the Freeman in Newcastle. They are an excellent hospital for cardiac surgery.

    • john1916
      john1916 derek76

      Posted

      Thanks Derek 76. I was diagnosed with AF while on the Stroke ward and I am taking Apixaban 5mg , Atorvastatin 40mg and Bisoprolol 1.25mg for that. My GP tells me that I'm well protected. I will certainly ask about the left atrial appendage as this has not been mentioned to me. I will be going to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough and they have a very good reputation.

      I came on this site to see if I could get an insight into how other people reacted / coped with this type of surgery and I'm pleased to be getting such rapid responses.

    • derek76
      derek76 john1916

      Posted

      See what they also say when your valve is replaced about apixaban as the makers confirmed to me that it has not been approved for tissue valves. I can copy all the NOAC makers letters to you. God like Cardiologist said not approved but we can prescribe it.

      When I was having my Amplatzer fitted I was speaking to one of the theatre team and he said that he was insisting that his father has his LAA removed during his surgery. It is easier for them to do when replacing Mitral valves but it can be done.

      I had to stop Bisoprolol due to side effects. My notes now say Bisoprolol intolerant. I also stopped your Statin after my surgery due to muscle pain.

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