Diana's Guestbook

Good luck with your surgery. I had mitral valve repair 2 years ago. I was in the hospital for a week. In ICU. My surgeon said I could have gone home a day earlier but for some reason the hospital didn't do the paperwork.  I was 70 years old. 

Dear Diana,

I was out of the hospital in 7 days.  The days became easier after all the tubes were removed around the 5th day.  I was up and walking with a physical therapist on day 1 or 2 and each day afterwood.  Be patient and keep walking whenever you can.  When I got home, a physical therapists came to the my home twice a week and I made sure to do everything I was instructed to do.  I still do thos exercises each morning.  Each day gets better.  Best, Linda Greene

Votre guérison dépend de vous j'ai subi une intervention de la mitrale et 24 H j'étais debout. De toute manière je vous souhaite un bon rétablissement, ciao 

Diana, I had the same procedure 20 Jun 23 and was in the hospital for 5 days. My recovery was and continues to be great; I feel better and frankkly I did not know I felt bad before the procedure, but I do feel much better now. I do anything I want and I was back able to drive a car in two weeks. I never had any significant discomfort and continue to feel great. 

Diana

My mitral valve replacement and Maze ablation were done at same time in 2016.

I stayed in the hospital a week. In 2020, I 
had a pacemaker implanted for my Afib.
As I recall, the surgery took about 8 hours.
All is good.
Best wishes for a healthy outcome.

Take care,
Kathleen

Hi Diana! I don’t know if this will help but I had Mitral Valve repair surgery done on Monday 10/23/23 and went home on Thursday 10/26/23. I stayed in ICU all 4 days. You’ll do great!! 😊 🙏🏻

I had open heart surgery for mitral valve repair that was two hours long. I was in the hospital for four days. Also, the breathing tube was out when I came to.  The whole experience was a positive one.  I’m sure yours will be, too. 

Good luck tomorrow. I will be sending prayers and positive energy your way. I am approaching the second anniversary of my mitral valve repair. I had a right side thoracotomy that was minimally invasive. My surgery was on Monday morning and I left the hospital on Saturday morning. My stay was a little longer due to the fact that I have paralysis and use a wheelchair for mobility. I could not get up and move as quickly as other patients. I did wake up intubated, but I don’t really remember it feeling awkward or remember them taking it out. You are almost to recovery. Godspeed.

Good luck tomorrow. I will be sending prayers and positive energy your way. I am approaching the second anniversary of my mitral valve repair. I had a right side thoracotomy that was minimally invasive. My surgery was on Monday morning and I left the hospital on Saturday morning. My stay was a little longer due to the fact that I have paralysis and use a wheelchair for mobility. I could not get up and move as quickly as other patients. I did wake up intubated, but I don’t really remember it feeling awkward or remember them taking it out. You are almost to recovery. Godspeed.

Hello, Diana. Best of luck tomorrow as you undergo your surgery. My prayers are with you and the others who will soon be having their surgeries. 

My surgery, via sternotomy, to replace my mitral valve, repair my tricuspid valve and place an atrial clip on my atrial appendage, was last September 26. It had originally been scheduled for Sept.9, and I, too, had already done my pre-day testing, when my surgeon's PA called that night to tell me my surgeon had had a death in his family and would have to postpone. Because you are "psyched up" and ready to go, it is stunning to get that news. However, I just continued to eat well and exercise --whoever mentioned practicing crossing your arms over your chest and sitting/standing using your thighs, was spot on. Prior to my surgery, I had been regularly attending Jazzercise, but doing only low impact (and panting the whole time!) and stopping after every single song to get a drink and catch my breath -- all with my cardiologist's approval -- and I cannot tell you how much that helped me in the hospital and with recovery! The nurses were amazed that a 65-year-old woman could get around without much assistance! 

I was in the hospital for 8 days/7 nights. I do not remember anything about being intubated or having the breathing tube removed, so that was not an issue for me. Nor did I have any "pump-head" issues. When I awoke in the ER, the nurse did ask me several times where I was, what I had done, who my surgeon was, etc., I guess to determine if I was having any kind of cognitive issues. But I didn't; I was well aware. I was initially told that I'd be in the ICU for 2 days, but I was moved after just 1 day. The surgery went well. Once I was moved out of ICU, I really didn't take any pain meds, just Tylenol every 4 hours or so. Pain meds make me sick, so I don't take them. I did -- and you probably will too -- have lots of tubes and wires coming out of me, so don't be surprised or alarmed about that. I had a chest tube and one coming out of my neck, both for drainage, and also wires coming out from the base of my sternum. I believe these are called pacing wires, should you need to be connected to an external pacing box. I don't remember exactly, but I believe the tubes were removed by Day 3, and maybe the wires a little later? And of course, your heart is monitored the entirety of your hospital stay.

I may have walked a short distance while I was in the ICU; I don't remember for sure. But, I do know that I walked about 3 x day every day after that. Unfortunately, on about Day 4, I went into A-fib, so I did have to be connected to a pacing box, and ultimately, I was scheduled for a cardioversion to shock my heart back into regular rhythm. So, I had to not eat or drink hours prior to the procedure, but a few minutes before it was time to start, my heart went back into sinus rhythm, so they could not shock me. They kept me a little longer than I had hoped because of the A-fib, but being in the hospital was the best place to be. 

Once I got home, I did sleep in my recliner for several weeks. It was just easier to get in and out of the recliner than the bed, even though we have a bed that raises/lowers. The whole rolling to your side and not using your arms to try to get out of a bed was difficult for me. But the recliner worked just fine. We have a big walk-in shower, so I got my husband to shower with me, initially, which helped a lot, since you will not be able to raise your arms up to wash your hair or your arm pits! I used a shower stool, initially, because taking a shower was exhausting. But after a while, I no longer needed to sit. I walked every day, starting out slowly, and then each day, I tried to wake just a bit farther than I had the day before. 

I am now 9 months post-surgery, and I am doing great! I go to Jazzercise 5 x week, and now I do not have to stop to catch my breath between every set. My husband and I went hiking in CO, at about 8500 ft, and I had no trouble breathing. I can climb stairs without having to stop and catch my breath, and I can carry my groceries without any panting. :)

This surgery was the hardest thing I ever did, and I did have some issues with A-fib afterwards. I was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 3, and I had to go to the ER on Oct. 26, Oct. 30, and Nov.3 to have my heart shocked. My cardioloigist referred me to an electrophysiologist, who explained that A-fib can be a very common side effect from the surgery, because the heart is very irritated. However, with the help of the electrophysiologist and the meds he prescribed, my heart finally found its normal rhythm. I was able to start Jazzercise again after I completed cardiac rehab in January. I tell you all of this not to worry you but to let you know that, despite whatever your journey is, you will be better and stronger on the other side of it, and you can't have any predetermined timelines in your head. As others have said repeatedly, everyone's journeys are different. Listen to your body and to your providers, and you will do well!!!

Hi Diana, I had a "double" in 2015: repair of my mitral, replacement of my aortic, both done via open cut.  I don't know how long it took but I'm guessing several hours.  I don't recall having a tube in my mouth when I woke up.  I do know that everyone at my hospital took every care to make me as comfortable as possible, every step of the way.  And I'm sure you'll receive the same care.  I was there two weeks because my lungs were retaining water.  They first used medication to get the water out but when that didn't work, they finally said, "We'll need to tap it out."  Which meant sticking a tapping needle between my ribs and into my lungs.  I shuddered at the thought.  They came in, I sat up in bed and faced the wall and the technician said, "I'm first going to give you something to numb the tapping needle."  I thought, "Yeah, sure, that's really going to numb it--not!"  I felt a little prickling, then I waited, gritting my teeth the entire time.  A few minutes passed while I kept waiting and teeth-gritting, then the technician announced, "All done!"  I said, "WHAT?"  Diana, whatever needs doing, they can do it miraculously these days, so don't ever be anxious.  Our imaginations always make things worse than they turn out to be.  So just go with it.  Every good wish.

Hello Dianna.  Answers to your questions are that my surgery total time was from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM.  There is additional time for pre-op and post-op preparations.  Wheeled in at 7:00 AM and in ICU by around 11:30 AM.  I was in surgery on Tuesday morning and discharged from the hospital by noon, on Friday.  Minimally invasive, robotic assisted surgery for mitral repair is DEFINITELY the way to go, providing that you have access to it.  I am 90 days since surgery and have been at 100% recovery in strength and mobility for about a month now.  Two weeks ago I did my first summer mountain hike.  7.2 miles, round trip, with 1,800 feet of elevation gain.  I am back, 100%.  I hope this is encouraging for you.  Best to you on your mitral valve repair surgery, tomorrow, June 28.

I had my surgery through my sternum. My surgeon said it would be that way right off. There wasn’t much pain for that . A little due to incision in chest.  I came home from hospital only using Tylenol as needed. 
I just relaxed in my recliner loveseat most days. I’m lucky to have a spouse who took very good care of my needs. I hope you have someone too.

Hi Diane
my story sounds very close to yours. My cardiologist monitored my regurgitation since before 2008! My last appointment he sent me for an echo and said it was time to get my mitral valve fixed.
My surgeon told me to practice crossing my arms on my chest and stand up without using my arms. After surgery they don’t want you pushing or pulling anything. Or lifting more than the weight of a gallon of milk.
Being a woman you might consider getting some underwear a size larger than normal for easy up and down usage. Same for casual pj bottoms. I found Walmart to have an inexpensive adequate selection. 
A recliner is really helpful. If you don’t own one maybe you could rent one with electric push button controls. I slept in mine for at least 6 1/2 weeks.!!
My doctor told me my appetite will be really off so I bought some simple things that were easy to pick at.  Don’t try to be worried about good nutrition.  Your appetite will return in about 3-4 weeks.
The good thing about having surgery in a few weeks is you can really prepare for it. I really felt I was ready when I had mine on April 29. I’m at 7 weeks and just got cleared to drive and lift up to 20 pounds. 
Good luck to you. I hope these hints help you prepare.

Dianna, I am in the same boat. They thought I needed a LVAD and my mitral valve that was replaced last Dec. is leaking again. Mild to moderate. They want to put a new valve in also. Because my tests came in better than they thought they want to exhaust all medical means before doing the LVAD.It sounds like you have a good team looking after you. Prayers for health and peace. John Perry Peterson

Hey Diana.  Your story sounds a lot like mine.  I "powered" through working long hard hours until one day my afib kicked in like a freight train.  Started running a fever and got in touch with my family dr and was diagnosed with the flu.  Wasn't able to lay down, couldn't breathe.  Stayed up for 16 nights with no sleep.  Finally got in to see a doctor and was diagnosed with heart failure.  Heart rate was 209.  Took me 6 months of living on meds to get surgery.  With the help of this website I found Dr Boulton in Raleigh NC who went over my test records and his scheduler and himself called me several times and I was able to have minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery with a clip for that appendage and cox maze procedure.  If you can understand this, as bad as all of this has been, it was one of the best experiences of my life.  The whole staff and care takers could not have been any better to me.  I even wrote a song to them and was invited back to perform it for some of the dignitaries and the staff!  My life is very different now and I still struggle most days, but was never in pain and only took oxycontin one time while I was in the hospital only because one of the drain tubes was giving me some discomfort.  Hope and pray you have as good of experience that I had.  If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to ask any of us on here.