MVR-My dad 53yrs old

[Curtsmum]

My son as had 2 mitral valve repairs. He had a few problems after the first surgery with a collapsed lung but came throught good in the end. He as not long had a second surgery and is doing brilliant. He has a rare defect so will need to have a mechanical valve sometime in the future. My son is a lot younger but there are lots of people here who have had good results and its a great place to be. Welcome to the forum and all the best to your dad, sending hugs.

 

[netmiff]

"open heart surgery" are probably the most feared three words anyone can hear. I had about 6 years knowing that someday I would need it done. But, when the cardiologist actually said "now" not someday, I freaked out!! I am now 53, had aortic valve replacement done last September (just over a year now). Was released from hospital n less than a week, was working from home the next day and opened my first retail store 3 weeks after surgery. Now, at a year out, I have a normal life. No restrictions, nothing. The wait is definitely the worst part. Hospital will manage pain very well (they don't want patients that are hard to manage lol). After I got out, I did not fill my prescription for pain meds, but took Tylenol. After a few weeks, I didn't even need that.

The trip up the mountain is mainly a psychological one (why me, etc.) and the trip down is sooooooo much easier.

Take care, it is good your father has support.

 

[Ross]

It feels good to have people to talk to and read about that have gone through this and are going through it now. I wish you all the best, and I will probably be posting more if nobody minds!

That is exactly why we are here and exist! Post away.

 

[Dats2cute]

I thought dad looked pretty good yesterday when they released him from the hospital. WhenI got him home my aunt tol dme he doe snot look good at all. It made me more nervous. Then today my sister told me she does not think he looks too good today. She said he looks grey and no pink to his face. This has all got me going now. Ugh.. I am so nervous about him being home now. I mean in the hospital he was hooked up to a monitor and they gave him the meds etc. They were able to watch him. He has lied to us about how he was feeling before we got in to the hospital and found out what was going on. I just don't want to over look anything. This 3-6 months of waiting is going to put me in the loony bin. I hope he is going to be OK.

 

[escargome]

I thought dad looked pretty good yesterday when they released him from the hospital. WhenI got him home my aunt tol dme he doe snot look good at all. It made me more nervous. Then today my sister told me she does not think he looks too good today. She said he looks grey and no pink to his face. This has all got me going now. Ugh.. I am so nervous about him being home now. I mean in the hospital he was hooked up to a monitor and they gave him the meds etc. They were able to watch him. He has lied to us about how he was feeling before we got in to the hospital and found out what was going on. I just don't want to over look anything. This 3-6 months of waiting is going to put me in the loony bin. I hope he is going to be OK.

Hey, Try real hard to breathe. Then on your own try to pin the doctor's down to a more specific time frame. Also, if you begin to think that he is looking worse each day, take him back to the doctor, and make a pest of yourself. If he his looking grey then I cannot believe his heart will get stronger by waiting. I will keep your dad and family in my prayers... Just remember sometimes it's the squeeky wheel that gets the grease.

 

[catwoman]

Dats2cute:

As others have said, a repair is better than replacement.

My husband was fortunate when he had his surgery in May 2007. We knew going in what the damage to the mitral valve was and that the success rate was extremely high.
John was 61 when he had his MV repaired. Damage was due to an airbag that went off during a car accident. When that airbag stopped his body, it fractured his sternum and injured the heart. Heart injury was not detected for some months after the accident.
John did choose a Plan B: a mechanical valve. Since I have a St. Jude and do home-testing, John's Plan B was a a no-brainer. He opted for a right thoracotomy incision, under the right breast; his surgeon said that if the valve could not be repaired, he could do a replacement via the same incision.
While in the hospital, John developed an arrhythmia. His doctor first treated it with amiodarone ( ), then switched to warfarin. He was on warfarin from May to December. Our PCP's office did his INR tests; I intervened on his dosage adjustments, and the doctor's office deferred to me.
Today, he's doing very well.

 

[DeWayne]

Don't get down on your Dad for not saying anything. denial is very common when it comes to things like this. No one wants to think about what might happen, especially when they are not sure why they feel like they do. that he is now being watched is a good thing.
Heck I buried my head in the sand for a couple decades (ok 3 decades), even though I had surgery at age 5 and knew that I would have to have it again at some point.
today open heart surgery is very much "routine" as much as it can be for a major surgery. Survival rates are extremely high.
I swear it was scarier for my wife than it was for me. The waiting is the hardest part, that along with making up ones mind on which type of valve to choose. Afterwards the first week is tough but then it gets easier every day. And in no time life is pretty much back to the usual.

 

[Dawn-Marie]

Hi ~ I just wanted to say "Welcome" to this really nice group. The people here know so much (i'm not one of them) and will be able to answer a lot of your questions. My prayers and best wishes are with you and your father. Take care, Dawn-Marie

 

[SHEEPDOG]

OK! dats enuf

OK! dats enuf

Dats,
I realize you have been told this before in this post, but take a deep breath, NOW!!! And now another!!! you need to do this EVERY TIME you read or research and start to get wound up. Your dad needs you to TALK to him about what you found in your research, what he thinks, how he feels about this, etc. I know it is big and scary to you but how does HE feel about what he is being told. You cant have a clear conversation with him if you are freaking out at the mention of the topic. Now, I too am a newbie to the VALVER world, but I do know a bit.
I have known for some 30 years that SOMEDAY I would be having a valve replacement. Knowing that SOMEDAY is only nominally better than not knowing nothing. I was going on FAT< DUMB and HAPPY, working for the police dept, trying to move to another department, when a Dr. said he needed more info to OK me. In for an Echo and STRESS EKG, then a CATH. After that, I was handed a appointment card for a cardiac surgeon. Well, I guess SOMEDAY is here!!!
I had an AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT on 07-09-08. That is just 10 weeks ago. I started back to light duty at 4 weeks and was out on the bicycle at work at 6 weeks. Everyday is easier. Nothing hurts anymore and hasn't for a few weeks. I had my 44th birthday on 09-07. I was originally going to wait till after my B-Day just to be sure I got to see it. SOOOOO glad I didn't!! Yes this is scary stuff. but LOTS of people go through it. They have got this one down to almost being ROUTINE, and the good ones make it seem it has already got there. I WILL BET $100.00 he will be fine. Although I would not volunteer to do this again, it REALLY wasn't as bad as I had imagined. Your dad has 10 short years on me and if he is as active as you say, the recovery may start slow but he will improve EXPONENTIALLY in short order.
I know you are getting LOTS of advice and personal stories. Most share many things in common. Take that for what it's worth, but when you have nothing, that can be worth a mint.
Ask questions, then ask more. We will help in any way we can. Get info from everywhere you can. Knowledge is power, ESPECIALLY when you feel powerless!
Sorry this is so long.

 

[BDMc]

Dats, I say get him on here if you can, and do try to get him to a cardiologist for a second opinion, and to talk to some surgeons. This would be a good use of the time he has to wait. PS: You can see there are many survivors here, so hopefully that will reassure you. Whether he has a repair or replacement doesn't matter nearly as much as getting whichever it is he needs. All the best, Brian

 

[Susan BAV]

Hoping all goes well for your dad. I think when we're researching things for loved ones, it can be more emotionally stressful than if we are researching things for ourselves. And then relating the info to a beloved dad and getting him to understand it can be stressful and/or difficult also. You have my empathy for your situation.

One thing that might be helpful for your dad to know is that many young people like your dad (53 is still considered young) sometimes need open heart surgery (OHS) and/or valve repair or replacement. And they can go on to lead very active lives. There is even an experience related on this site from the media about a person with a mechanical valve replacement that climbed some huge famous mountain that relatively few have been able to climb.

I feel so much better with my new valve; my entire heart and other valves were also able to work better. I hope your dad will be feeling much better soon also.