Recent content by Chris M

Hi Debbie. Personally I think you will almost certainly feel much better after valve surgery, especially in the areas of tiredness and breathlessness; classic symptoms of a poorly working heart and heart valve I believe. I underwent mitral valve replacement surgery almost two years ago now. I...

I agree 100% with what yotphix said (reply #12). Quitting IS quite do-able and after the first 3-5 days it is considerably easier. My own brief story is that I smoked for 37 years and finally got round to quitting 3 years ago. I had an annoying cough and was short of breath. After I quit the...

My guess is it's probably a bit of both. I was put on 50mg of Metoprolol about 10 months before my surgery and it really did knock me for six. I was just getting into taking regular walks at the time and all of a sudden I couldn't manage them any more, my walking pace slowed right down and...

My anxiety & depression occurred before surgery but I can relate to the weight thing - probably medication related for me too as I have also had a diagosis of type 2 diabetes to deal with as well as the heart valve issue/surgery in the last 18 months. Three years ago I made a huge effort to...

I was unable to shower for 6 days because of my pacer wires and electronic gizmos (I had a short spell of rhythm problems and was hooked up to two units that I had to carry around 24/7, a heart monitor and a pacemaker). I don't think I would have been able to handle a blow dryer during those...

My surgeon popped in to see me the day after surgery and told me all had gone well, that my old valve had been in very bad shape and that he had installed a "whopping" (big) new one. That was about all he said at the time, I think (I was a bit groggy still). But I don't need to know much more...

Hi Durhash, Your thoughts and feelings are perfectly normal! I had my surgery almost 8 months ago but had an awful 10-month wait leading up to this during which I had every bad thought going! So I do understand how you feel. The silly thing is that now I am on the other side I think a lot of my...

I had no sedation for my catheterization procedure - that was my choice. I was shaved and given a local anasthetic. The procedure itself was generally painless though there was a moment when the catheter, as it was moving up the artery, seemed to touch a nerve and gave me a jolting sensation...

Sure, I can help. Firstly, I can only speak for myself but I have to commend Joel Spitzer's material because it gave me the knowledge and understanding of the quitting process that helped me stay on track. I found it invaluable. If you understand what nicotine (and 1000s of other chemicals)...

For me there's no comparison because I did not find the tube removal painful. It was a rather peculiar sensation but only very mildly uncomfortable. On a scale of 1-10 where childbirth = 10 then this would be a 1.

I remember being wheeled into the anteroom to the operating theatre, I was already relaxed from my pre-med. The anaesthetist put a line in the back of my hand and was chatting/joking with me. I was expecting him to tell me when I would be put under. The next thing I knew I had someone who...

I'm nearly 8 months post op. Most of my adult life I have steadfastly avoided all forms of exercise as I generally found it to be a deeply unpleasant experience. When I discovered I would be needing surgery I started walking a bit more - 4 or 5 times a week for up to 30 mins - not fast because...

I'm still trying to get up the nerve to watch a video - I had my surgery almost 8 months ago but am not sure I'm ready yet. I'm definitely interested but I do tend to avert my eyes when seeing anything a bit bloody on TV, for example, so I haven't gone looking yet.... :p I had the interesting...

Quitting smoking does certainly mess with your head. Add in health issues and that is a potent mixture for developing anxiety and/or depression!! Been there, done that myself, though the health issues at the time were more to do with not knowing what was wrong with me. If you need any more help...

I will add my voice to the quit smoking advice. A smoker for 37 years I finally quit in March 2010 as I was getting breathless and had a chronic cough that kept me awake at night. The cough cleared up but the continuing breathlessness turned out to be a symptom of my mitral valve issues (from...