Need info. from Seniors Over 70

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luvnavon

My mother is due to have valve replacement in a few weeks and wanted some feedback on how it went and recovery time, etc. for her. Most of the stories I've read were for patients younger than her and I'm thinking her recovery would likely take longer since she is in her mid 70's.

Her Dr. says she'll be in the hospital 1 week and in a convalescent hospital 2 weeks since she lives alone. Does that mirror your experience? I know everyone is different of course but your input would be helpful. Any bit of your experience would help so she'd have an idea what to expect.

Thank You.
 
There will be someone along soon to give you some feedback, i'm not in the age bracket you are after or a female so can't help.

One week in hospital is normal, the first few days are the worst then every day was an improvement hand over fist for me.

The standard timescales given are usually six weeks to 'recover' and 12 weeks to feel like it never happend with improvements continuing thereafter.

The two weeks support are a good idea as i certainly couldn't have looked after myself in those early weeks, perhaps longer will be needed, just play it by ear, if i had lived on my own i'd probably have needed help for four.

Regards and best of luck for the surgery.
 
Welcome to the forum. A lot depends upon her condition pre-surgery. My husband was 70 at the time of surgery, but very active and athletic. He was in the hospital 5 days and had an uneventful recovery. Of course, he had me at home to care for him. Since she lives alone, I think the parameters the doctor gave you sound good. I'd say it was two weeks after we arrived home before I was comfortable leaving Dick alone for any period of time. Depending upon how it goes, she may need help in the home for longer. Best wishes to you both.
 
Not exactly on the same age bracket but just a few years short. One week in the hospital and one in nursering home as a friend of mine came to stay with me (live alone). Two weeks after hospital seems fine but as I assume she is covered by Medicare, they pay up tp 21 days so I'll try for the full number of days covered
 
An elderly friend of mine recently had a valve replaced (She is 82.) She was fairly active prior to the surgery, although slowed down a bit the last few years. Interesting enough her husband (of 3 years, they are "newlyweds!") had shoulder surgery at the same time so they could recover together. She did spend about a week in the hospital and about 2 weeks in an extended care facility (with a room with her husband). I saw her on Christmas Eve at church, looking a little tired, but pretty well for 4 weeks post op.

It depends on what kind of physical condition your Mom is in right now. But if she is otherwise healthy, she should fair well I would think.
 
also facing surgery at age 70

also facing surgery at age 70

I am also facing value surgery at age 70. The date is still up in the air depending on an echocardiogram I will have in about 4 months (sometime between 6 months and a couple of years depending on the closure of the value - now a little over 1 square centimeter).

I have been reading entries on this forum for a couple of months and have picked up much, much vauable information. However, I have found that not too many people the age of your mother or me. I suppose that not too many individuals of our age communicate over the computer. But my PCP assured me that, although the recovery time is a little longer, the end results are pretty much the same as with younger people.

To be honest, I am just as concerned about the recovery as the operation.

Please keep us informed about your mother.
 
I had an aunt who had aortic valve replacement in her late 80's and lived until 95. She died of something unrelated.

My first roommate in the hospital after my surgery was 73. She had mitral valve replacement and a pacemaker. Although she told me she had to spend 5 days in the ICU, she was doing very well when I met her.

Also, I have a friend whose mother had AVR in her late 70's and is now about 90.

I have never heard any stories where the outcome was not good.
 
Hi and welcome -

Glad you found this site! My eye doctor's dad was in his 70's and had AVR about the same time that I did and she said that he sailed right through it!

You may want to ask the doctor about cardiac rehab for your mother post-op also. I didn't have that but I've read here from many of the other members who did take that and felt like it was beneficial in many ways.
 
I have a patient, 83 years old who came through MV replacement with flying colors. No complications.

I think the attitude of the patient is a very important factor.
 
76 and counting............

76 and counting............

I didn't have a replacement but I did have a mitral valve repair and a maze procedure (for A-fib) 17 months ago August 2005. If you are interested in looking up my posts around that time go up to the members list (blue line up top) and click on barbwil. Then click on "Find all threads started by barbwil" and start from the bottom of the list. The 6th from the bottom will be the one written by my daughter on the day of my surgery.

I don't think I had any more problems than the young folks did, maybe fewer than some. Unfortunately the maze didn't work and I have been back in A-fib but the mitral valve repair is holding strong. My eldest daughter came up from Florida to be with us post surgery and she remarked that she really expected to have to do more for me, just basically brought me some nice hot tea and fixed meals the first few days.

Here is an article that I posted previously about open heart surgery and the elderly:

Elderly Patients Benefit From Mitral Valve Surgery

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 17 - Surgery to correct mitral valve regurgitation is as effective in restoring life expectancy among elderly patients as it is in their younger counterparts, according to results of an outcomes study.

Dr. Maurice Enriquez-Sarano and his associates therefore recommend that mitral regurgitation surgery should be considered for elderly patients before refractory heart failure has developed.

"We want to dispel the message of gloom and doom that is given to older people," Dr. Enriquez-Sarano said in a press release.

Surgical techniques to repair or replace the mitral valve have improved significantly in recent years, but no studies have examined the effect of those improvements on elderly patients for whom such surgery had been considered too risky in the past, Dr. Enriquez-Sarano's team notes.

They therefore examined outcomes among the 1344 patients treated for isolated mitral regurgitation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, between 1980 and 1995.

According to the team's paper in the July 25th issue of Circulation released online July17, 556 (41%) patients were < 65 years old, 504 (38%) were between 65 and 74 years old, and 284 (21%) were 75 years of age and older.

Dr. Enriquez-Sarano and his colleagues report that 5-year survival was 57% for the oldest group, 73% for the middle group, and 85% for the youngest group -- "but ratios of observed to expected survival were similar (83%, 85% and 88%, respectively)."

The researchers note that, taking account of expected survival, "elderly patients showed no difference in life expectancy restoration compared with younger patients (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.89, p = 0.54)."

They also point out that all outcomes improved over time as surgeons gained experience with the procedures.

Overall, operative mortality decreased for all age groups, from 16% overall during the period 1980-1983, to 3% between 1992 and 1995. Corresponding trends were observed for low cardiac output following surgery, hospital length of stay, and increased feasibility of valve repair over valve replacement.

The investigators say that the current practice is to delay mitral regurgitation surgery among elderly patients until they have developed severe symptoms and atrial fibrillation. But based on their experiences, Dr. Enriquez-Sarano and his team recommend that "surgery should not be denied on the basis of age alone and, in carefully selected elderly patients, should be offered before the occurrence of refractory heart failure:"

Best wishes to your mother; she should do well. The best thing is to get it done BEFORE there is damage to the heart!!
 
My Aunt had bypass surgery the same time I did..she was age 84..but returned home because she had a son living with her to help her out..:) Like some others have said..it is 3 weeksfor Medicare to discharge someone from hospital directly into a facility...for extended care..Be sure and check with the Social worker at the hospital where your Mother will be having her surgery , so they can make sure a bed is available somewhere.Get her on the list..for a good after-care facility......near family/home......Bonnie
 
Reaction to valve replacement can vary over a wide range.

I had surgery at age 68, I am 74 now.

For me the surgery and the first 6 weeks of recovery were quite easy.

I was operated on Thursday and was discharged to home the following Tuesday.

I had no real pain in the hospital but took pain pills (Darvocet) at the surgeon's direction.

At home the direction was to take Darvocet on an as needed basis. I did not need any.

I had an adverse reaction during weeks 6 to 12 post operation. I was feeling light headed which was very uncomfortable. The cause was never found, but it gradually went away.

I think that I was lucky because most valve replacement patients report a more painful operation and recovery.
 
Thanks! Everyone

Thanks! Everyone

Thanks! for ALL of your encouraging posts, we both appreciate them. I think I was more anxious than she was and thanks to you some of that has gone. Not all of it though.

Mom's surgery is Jan. 30th so you'll be hearing from me Post-Surgery ;)


Thanks! Again!
 
Glad that we have been able to reassure you both. I put your mother's surgery on the calendar for the 30th and we look forward to hearing that all went well. Best wishes and Godspeed!
 
Luvnavon:

I chatted with a friend in Albuquerque NM last night.
His mom was 73 when she got a St. Jude. She had no difficulty in recovery. Did not have to go to a rehab center.
She's still ticking -- at 88!!!!!!!
 
Hi Luvnavon -

Hope all goes well for your mom! Looking forward to hearing the best of news post-op.
 
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