Hi Everybody,
I had my surgery 7 days ago and who ever invented the TAVI system was and is a genius. Thank you to all the staff specially the two surgeons who did this for me, Mr. Greech and Mr. Hall at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield England. I am just sorry that all heart patients that need an aortic valve replacement cant have this procedure, no scars except in the groin and feeling as if you have'nt had any surgery, except feeling tired, wonderful.
Good luck again to everybody, my love goes with you xxx
Jennifer McInerney Great news. Congratulations an I hope your recovery goes well.
Pat Munn Totally agree. I am 3 weeks post TAVR and feel blessed and so grateful to my heart team.
Date at last
Journal posted on August 10, 2017
Hello All,
I have at long last just had my date through for my TAVR and that is on the 30th August unless they find any more problems to put it off.
I hope you are all doing well with your recovery and for those of you that are just going to have your operation, well all I can say is very good luck and hope all goes well for you all, I will be thinking of you.
Kathy Blank Having your date set brings you that much closer to your recovery Jacky!
Rose Madura Getting the date helps with the whole process.
Update posted on...
May 26, 2017
Hi Jacky Taylor here, still waiting for a date for my aortic valve but they have just told me that they think I might have to have it through the groin instead as by COPD, Polymyalgia and Thyroid problems might not allow them to do open heart.
Can anybody tell me, do they get pain in their back in between the shoulder blades. I just hope that this is to do with the heart problem.
I hope that all you people having the ops go on OK and recover quickly if you can.
Thank you, Jacky taylor
Sandy Laine Hi, Jacky - I have had some pain in my back between my shoulder blades - intermittently and not totally severe, but enough that made me think I wanted to speak ... Read more
Sandy Laine Hi, Jacky - I have had some pain in my back between my shoulder blades - intermittently and not totally severe, but enough that made me think I wanted to speak to the doctor about it - and if it got worse make a special trip . AFTER finding out I had an ascending aortic aneurysm, I thought that explained those pains, BUT - the doctor who did my catheterization said he didn't think so. I know that's not really any help - internet searches said yes - doctor said no - still not sure what to believe - but mine is very intermittent... Good Luck!
Jacky Taylor Thank you Sandy, I think it always helps to know other people have the same sort of pain with the severe aortic stenosis. I also looked it up on the internet ... Read more
Jacky Taylor Thank you Sandy, I think it always helps to know other people have the same sort of pain with the severe aortic stenosis. I also looked it up on the internet and a few people said yes but like you I mentioned it to the doc and he said maybe. I hope everything is ok for you and you are getting better, good luck to you for the future as well. x
Update posted on...
May 18, 2017
Thank you to everybody who answered my question, very helpful Jacky taylor
Hi Everybody who has had a new aortic valve. Please could you tell me how many tubes etc. you have coming and going when you first come out of surgery. People tell me different numbers.
Thank you
Jacky Taylor
Civita Fahey Hi Jacky it may depend on the hospital.. I had the drainage tubes from my abdomen, but they all led to one at the end, a catheter and then the central line ... Read more
Civita Fahey Hi Jacky it may depend on the hospital.. I had the drainage tubes from my abdomen, but they all led to one at the end, a catheter and then the central line in my neck and arm. the catheter was taken out on day 2 and the drainage tubes on day 3. the central lines on day 4 as I went home one day 5.. None are painful, just bothersome.. hope this helps
Marie Myers I also had 2 tiny pacer wires coming out near the mediastinal drain tube. Wires came out a couple days after the drain came out.
Carmen P Here are the "things" I became aware of, after surgery. A tube for breathing down my throat, (not too much of a problem, since I was still heavily sedated ... Read more
Carmen P Here are the "things" I became aware of, after surgery. A tube for breathing down my throat, (not too much of a problem, since I was still heavily sedated and it is removed soon after you become aware of it), two drainage tubes and very thin wires somewhere below my ribs (removed before leaving cardiac ICU, so you will mark this as a milestone and just a "little" uncomfortable when removed), one line in my neck (again, not too much of a problem due to sedation and also, removed before leaving ICU), one or two IV lines in the arm/wrist area (at least one, not removed, until you are cleared for release and also not a problem). Hopefully knowing what to expect will take some of the fear away, it did for me.
Catie B I'm gonna mention everything I recall that was "on" me. I don't remember the breathing tube whatsoever. Two chest tubes, two pacing wires, Swan at neck, IV ... Read more
Catie B I'm gonna mention everything I recall that was "on" me. I don't remember the breathing tube whatsoever. Two chest tubes, two pacing wires, Swan at neck, IV in R forearm, urinary catheter. They keep you on telemetry throughout your stay, so the monitor was like having a little brick in my gown pocket and there were sticky electrodes attached. I also had a lidocaine patch on my chest for a few days. Blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter on finger. When going to the restroom, I wheeled the IV stand with me and had to maneuver carefully because of various med lines attached to it. Hope this helps. :)
I just received a fantastic question from Gwen about waking up in the intensive care unit after heart valve surgery. She writes, "Adam - Thanks so much for a
Amy Steele I had an IV line placed in my hand and arterial line placed in my wrist prior to surgery. After surgery, I woke to the breathing tube, three lines in my neck, ... Read more
Amy Steele I had an IV line placed in my hand and arterial line placed in my wrist prior to surgery. After surgery, I woke to the breathing tube, three lines in my neck, one chest tube below the sternotomy, pacer wires under my left breast and a urinary catheter. In ICU the breathing tube came out about two hours after I woke up, the lines in my neck were removed as each was no longer necessary, and they removed the arterial line. After I was moved to the step down unit, my urinary catheter and pacer wires were removed on day 2. The chest tube was removed the day before I went home.
Jacky Taylor Thank you for the info. very helpful, Jacky Taylor
Sean Hunt Great question and this is helpful information for me as well. Thank you.
Barbara Wood Helpful to me too, I've been curious about those drainage tubes...thanks for asking Jacky, & thanks to those who answered- knowledge is power!
Rita Savelis The anasthesiologist (here in France one has an obligatory meeting with anasthesiologist one week before surgery) explained all the tubes to me. But honestly, ... Read more
Rita Savelis The anasthesiologist (here in France one has an obligatory meeting with anasthesiologist one week before surgery) explained all the tubes to me. But honestly, frankly, I only remember the basic IV lines coming out of my arm, the chest drains, wires to an outside temporary pacemaker and urinary catheter. It didn't seem as horrible as it did when they all were described to me... I never saw the breathing tube or the neck tubes - they must have been removed quickly....No mirrors in the ICU!
It all sounds intense, doesn't it, but it really wasn't that bad.
Jacky Taylor Yes Barbara Wood I think so as well even though my husband thinks I am mad
asking all the questions and watching the ops on Google. I like to know what is going ... Read more
Jacky Taylor Yes Barbara Wood I think so as well even though my husband thinks I am mad
asking all the questions and watching the ops on Google. I like to know what is going to happen to me and tell my daughters so they are not shocked.
How It Feels after the "op"
Journal posted on May 17, 2017
I am still waiting for my op and quite apprehensive about it as I am sure everybody else is or has been the same.
I have watched on Google " the op " which has prepared me to a certain extent, I have also watched the diary of a couple of people after their ops for the first week and this has been extremely helpful.
I just wanted to know how people really feel after the op as I think the people I have seen are being very brave and not saying exactly how the feel.
Thank you for any feed back.
Do all patients get the cushion to cuddle to help you cough etc. or do you buy your own.?
Maureen Breault They'll give you your very own! You can have the staff sign it with a marker, like the old autograph stuffed dogs; yes , I'm dating myself. I wish I had known ... Read more
Maureen Breault They'll give you your very own! You can have the staff sign it with a marker, like the old autograph stuffed dogs; yes , I'm dating myself. I wish I had known that, I found out afterwards. Have your support group ask, I think it makes a nice momento and you can upload a pic of yiu and it before you go home if you want. The pillow will be your best friend for a month or so. There's pain that should be able to be managed and be prepared for nausea from the anesthesia and cocktail of drugs. I couldn't eat anything but bland food for about 2/3 weeks. Not healthy but it's all I could manage; have patience and you'll feel better day by day. Lots of rest; and try not to overdue. Take a shower every day, and be prepared for swelling that for me was worse than the incision pain. It goes away after a week or so. Keep ahead of the pain with the meds; I dropped down to Tylenol fairly quickly. Everyone's different so be kind to yourself.
Best wishes!
Jacky Taylor Thank you so much for your comments and I will take note of what you said.
Jacky Taylor I forgot to ask you if you are in England or not.
Marie Myers If you scroll back 4 days ago, Civita Fahey wrote a very good recap of her surgery experience. I would say that overall for me, pain was not a big issue, but ... Read more
Marie Myers If you scroll back 4 days ago, Civita Fahey wrote a very good recap of her surgery experience. I would say that overall for me, pain was not a big issue, but exhaustion was. When I went home, I was pretty washed out and tired for a week.
Jacky Taylor Thank you and hope you feel better now.
Eddie Patton I got a sir koff a lot bear. Was my best buddy for a bit. Was unexpected but he proudly sits atop my trophy case now!
Civita Fahey Hi Jacky. I write a recap as Marie said on my journal. I was very honest about my experience as I hope others have been. For me reading the journals before ... Read more
Civita Fahey Hi Jacky. I write a recap as Marie said on my journal. I was very honest about my experience as I hope others have been. For me reading the journals before my surgery was a God send. It made me very prepared for what was to come. I also didn't have much pain on the sternum, I won't lie my back and shoulders were and still are sore. But that's due to the fact
That I'm not a back sleeper and I'm
Not comfortable in either my
Bed or a recliner until I can sleep on my side. I got a pillow from the hospital. It was on my bed after I woke up. Again no lies coughing ah sneezing aren't fun. But I haven't taken any narcotics since day 1 and stopped the Tylonel day 10 ish. If you'd like speak on the phone let me know I'd be happy to give you my experience.
Jacky Taylor Thank you that is so kind but I live in England and I think you might be in America. What you say is very helpful though and thank you, hope you carry on getting ... Read more
Jacky Taylor Thank you that is so kind but I live in England and I think you might be in America. What you say is very helpful though and thank you, hope you carry on getting better and you sound very brave. Good luck with your recovery. Jacky
I am from: Sheffield, United Kingdom
September 12, 2017
I had my surgery 7 days ago and who ever invented the TAVI system was and is a genius. Thank you to all the staff specially the two surgeons who did this for me, Mr. Greech and Mr. Hall at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield England. I am just sorry that all heart patients that need an aortic valve replacement cant have this procedure, no scars except in the groin and feeling as if you have'nt had any surgery, except feeling tired, wonderful.
Good luck again to everybody, my love goes with you xxx