M's Guestbook

M Ratchford  Hi Maggi - yes this is great web site dont know i would have got through it without it. Mr Clinton Lloyd is tip top, trained in south africa. I am someone who needs to know the detail so I checked up on him and the hospital. he has done many of these operations. made him and his team laugh because i had a spreadsheet with details as to how i came to my decision about asking for a mechanical valve. i fully intend to live as long or longer than my mum (she was 97) and i had researched everything about warfarin. I bought myself a coaguchek and have to buy the testing strips as my gp dosnt agree with me monitoring myself LOL. but it gives me confidence and i guess some control back. wanted to put on this site that it actually took me a long time to get over the surgery. at my annual check at local hospital the heart specialist said, actually we lie it takes at least a year if not two to get back to normal. some tips, surgery is piece of cake no pain after but odd sensations, prickly where the nerves in scar area playing up. had issues with heart medication, so please please make a nuisance of yourself if you think something isnt right. couldnt get out of Derriford quick enough, hated the bubble wrap beds you have to sleep in. one thing i would change is to have a private room after surgery as i found it impossible to sleep in the ward, far too noisy. they cost £100 a night i believe but it would be well worth it if you are only in there a few days. this surgery is all about being positive on the outcome and also being a bit bolshi in taking back control to get out of there asap LOL. when you get home, terrified again as you are no longer around nurses. i would sleep and cat nap for couple of weeks after as had to sit propped up to sleep because of the surgery scar. had to watch lot of black and white films in the early hours. NHS nurse came to visit to check i had support at home (husband) and as we have couple of nurses living in the road felt i wasnt completely alone. that is a scary time as you think you will be back to normal quickly but you feel a bit helpless. the anaesthetic did funny things to my mind. had some incredible dreams about fleuro coloured penguins dancing in a merrygoround. Not sure what they give you but think its pretty powerful stuff. that took a while to get out of my system. best bit is that first shower back at home. but you are wobbly so everything must be in slow motion. and the of course theres the wonderful feeling that you have survived and it can only get better. do go to the NHS rehab which they offer around six weeks post surgery. it is well worth it and although you may know some stuff, its good to meet people in your area going through the same thing and of course nurses run the rehab so you can ask questions. for some reason women often dont take advantage of this rehab perhaps because mine took place in a local gym. its just so good to have someone give you tips on what you can do. For example, dont bother with taking your pulse when exercising, if you can talk or sing at the same time as walking/excercising you're ok. if you cant stop for a minute. dont know what kind of valve you are going for but if you do have to go on warfarin, there is a great facebook group for people who have had heart surgery and are on warfarin. once again its people in the same boat giving advice. do let me know how you get on. you have a great surgeon with lots of experience. oh yes get yourself some headphones and mini radio as its so noisy in hospital (private room you can have a tv).its hard to concentrate on reading books. you will need some kind of soft bra as our boobs get in the way of the scar. also nightdress with no buttons on the front as they can irritate also. take care and i will be thinking of you. mary xxx

Maggi Turner  Hi Mary - Happy New Year - thank you so much for your detailed reply. I do appreciate you taking the time and have taken on board the tips you give. We have gone down the road of asking about a private room, and were told this could be requested, but not guaranteed depending on private patients. Which ward were you on and what was it like? I have to report to Clearbrook and think I go back to that one.
This is all happening for me at a very stressful time - last January my youngest son died very suddenly from cardiac arrest he was 42 - if my operation is, as scheduled, on the 10th January I will be in hospital for the first anniversary which obviously is going to be a very emotional time and I would much rather be in my own room. James' father died 30 yeas ago in a very similar way so over the years a double whammy for me although I happily remarried a few years later. Mr Lloyd and his team know the situation and he has said that if all goes well I could be back home by the 15th the day James died, but that does seem very quick.
On a positive note it was James' death that made me go to my GP after a couple of light headed instances and he confirmed a murmur. This was in
July and following tests I was diagnosed with severe stenosis. I am now noticing the breathlessness and realise I have had it for years, but thought it was 'normal' . I must be very naive!!
Do you still see a cardiologist at Derriford and who is he/she? Where in
Cornwall are you? We are in Devon in Tavistock right on the Cornish border - just wondered how close we were.
Thank you again Mary for such a reassuring post. 2016 was a bad year for us and I just hope 2017 will give me back some of my life that wants to get on and do things. My other son always says - life is not a rehearsal you've got to get on and do what you want to do - how true. So pleased I found this site - nothing similar in the uk.
Maggi xx

Peter Duplin  Hi it's sandra peters friend and I thanked him for finding this wonderful site.i had this surgery 12 years ago and I've completely forgotten the pain that goes with it ,I felt so good from breathing again the fatigue was gone and my skin was pink again.for all you wonderful people that are having it it gives you back 15years of your life

Virginia (Ginger) French  Love the Song - Titled by M then lyrics by Terrie. Autumn will not understand yet, but anytime I sing to her, which is often, is a big event. She started walking this past week and turns one on the 24th, so we are having a blast watching her antics.

She has a large plastic red Fire Truck (Daddy is a firefighter) and there are handles on both ends. Yesterday my daughter sent a video of Autumn going back and forth in their main living area with the fire truck. She gets on one end and runs to the other side of the room, smashing the fire truck into the wall. Then she pulls it out enough to get on the other side and runs and smashes again. I told my daughter that Autumn is relentless! Jim and I just laughed and laughed watching it! Such energy!

As for the scar, as Terrie mentioned, a number of us have been using warm wet compresses up to a few times a day to soften the scar and calm the itch. I started doing it after my cancer surgery, and Eleanor mentioned that she has been doing the same thing. You might give it a try for some relief. The other thing I put up a small post on is making a protective pad for the incision site with gauze pad and light tape. I have been sleeping better since I started that, and find I am much less likely to have it distract me all day long.

All the best with many hugs
Ginger

Terrie Syvertsen  Hello Ginger and "M" from across the pond. Funny thing we are talking about the itchy part of the incision as I used the warm compress yesterday and by the end of my walk in the park yesterday afternoon(second time out) parts of the scar had slipped off and had become almost smooth! Think a lot changed for me when the staples came out! Yeah! My scar is actually starting to really fade away which is grand! I am glad we have had great weather and have been able to wear light cotton clothes which do not rub terribly. And my God the breathing just keeps getting better and better! Keep on Healing! Terrie

M Ratchford  Than you Eleanor - feeling so much better this week. think i had the four week blues early and now feel i have much more energy. visited one of the National Trust gardens yesterday and was thrilled that i could walk around without feeling breathless. last time pre op we visited the same garden, i was in real trouble walking uphill. now planning round the world trip for 2015 as we have been invited to a wedding in Fiji ! isnt life precious. love m