I was just reading through some posts adn much of it seemed so foreign to me. I am going to be having aortic valve replacement in the next 4-6 weeks. I feel clueless after reading some of these posts. What can I expect for pre op testing? time away from work ( I am an elementary school counselor), what about the meds (blood thinners?) and follow up after? and finally while Are there questions that I should be asking my surgeon that I may not have thought of?
Some of the popular tests get repeated several times. You mayu have already experienced this. Your surgeon will want to get a really good idea of what is going on in your heart before surgery, so it's picture, picture, picture!
The test that will keep you from work for a few days (are you on vacation, or do you have year-round school?) is an angiogram. That's where they put a catheter into an artery in your groin (usually) and snake it up to your heart, squirt dye in there and look at it. Some people have their angiograms right before surgery, but it seems that most people have them in advance. You generally stay in the hospital for many hours because you have to lie flat, or nearly flat, afterwards to prevent bleeding. You also won't drive the next day at least, again to prevent bleeding. But don't let this test sound too scary, because you are very sedated for it. They like you to be awake -- why, I'm not sure -- but for me and for everyone whose stories I have read, there isn't any pain and you don't remember a lot of it.
Another test that will take up a whole day is a TEE -- "transesophogeal echocardiogram." This is where they put a camera down your throat to look at your heart. The reason you will miss a whole day of work is because of the sedation. I was nervous about this test beforehand, but I don't remember a thing about it. They have very good meds there at the hospital!
Early on I had an MRI with contrast dye. Even earlier I had a regular CAT scan. Have you had these already? My surgeon was going to order another MRI, but I have too many problems with contrast dyes so he decided not to. It was enough that they had to use dye for my angiogram.
And then there are chest x-rays, blood tests, ekgs (really fast tests where they stick wires all over you and seem to take them off the second they get them on) and echo-cardiograms (like a sonogram, only they look at your heart rather than a baby.) And I guess a stress test -- I had one, but I don't remember if everyone whose stories I've read here had one before surgery. The stress test is the infamous treadmill test.
I'm wondering if your surgeon will want to keep you away from the kids for a few weeks before surgery. You don't want to have to postpone surgery due to illness, and kids and germy! (I know -- I taught K-8 music and dance.)
A good thing about your job -- being a counselor -- is that you don't have to lift anything, like a classroom teacher might, but you also don't have a job that is done 100% at a desk. That means that you can physically perform your job, and be more comfortable about it. (That's from my personal experience -- I am almost six weeks from surgery. I run a business from my home. I have started to take care of some business again, but I am not able to sit at my computer for as long as normal. I would not be good in an office right now!)
About follow up care: this is totally my own experience. I saw my surgeon once a week for three weeks in a row, each time getting a blood test, ekg and chest xray. I also had one emergency visit due to complications, at which I had those tests plus an echocardiogram. I'm seeing him again today to follow up because of more complications. I have an appointment with my cardiologist, too, which is standard, and one with my GP to discuss my wretched anemia problem. (Not something you are likely to have.)
Other member will be able to tell you what kinds of after-care you get if you have a mechanical valve and are on blood thinners. I have a bovine valve. (Technical name -- Moo Cow.)
Oh, and they will be recommending that you go to cardiac rehab exercise classes, which seem to be held in many locations. In other words, you can go close to your home or school, and not have to travel to the hospital at which you had surgery.
As for questions to ask your surgeon, I don't know what you've already asked! Some basic ones are:
* What are my valve choices?
* Do I HAVE a choice, in your opinion?
Okay, I'm fresh out of surgeon questions. All the questions I had were for the hospital!
Here's some unsolicited advice:
* Buy a recliner
* Buy a pedometer with a heart-rate monitor and figure out how to use it before surgery. You'll want it afterwards.
* Find an errand service, even if you have a husband, parents, in-laws and the entire church choir swearing they will help. They aren't thinking about eight weeks after surgery, when you're back at work but easily exhausted.