Heart Repairs for us "Senior" Folks

[archerforkids]

I know this is off base, but I figure some of you fine gentlemen could educate me with your experiences.
I am going in Friday to possibly have a stint put in. Maybe even a valve repair. Angiogram will tell.
Those that have had this done, did you see a difference in your breathing afterwards? Did you actually "feel" the effects after having this done?
How long after the procedure did they have your wings clipped? Were you able to resume normal activity pretty quick?
This crap has me nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Any shared experiences appreciated.

 

[TylerFromMS]

They won’t do valve on same day. It sounds like they’re working you up for either aortic valve replacement or mitral valve repair. Stent puts you on light duty for like a week- keep in mind during the cath that if they find a bunch of stuff, it’ll be bypass. Everyone is different after bypass. Usually a few weeks back to normal but it’s also according to what shape you’re in going into it. My smokers and sedentary folks have a harder time getting back over the hump compared to my active folks. Bypass plus a valve replacement can be really hard on the body.

If you’re clear and you need a valve or clip, they can do a lot of those without cracking your chest- those folks usually leave the next day and many feel better immediately after (like on a TAVR or mitraclip) as soon as they wake up.

The good thing about a cath is that it may either fix what you’ve got or get a good game plan together. If you’ve got blockages, they’re already there, but now you just know it’s there- the devil you know vs the one you don’t.

 

[Ron IA]

I had two stints put in 5 and a half years ago I had 4 blockages two were 90% two were 75% they did mine through my wrist. only this that I didn't care for was when they numbed my wrist and taking blood thinners for a year after. watch what you eat from now on and walk every day do what they tell you to do and yes you will feel better
Ron

 

[BW64]

Following! Having a stent put in also.

 

[archerforkids]

They won’t do valve on same day. It sounds like they’re working you up for either aortic valve replacement or mitral valve repair. Stent puts you on light duty for like a week- keep in mind during the cath that if they find a bunch of stuff, it’ll be bypass. Everyone is different after bypass. Usually a few weeks back to normal but it’s also according to what shape you’re in going into it. My smokers and sedentary folks have a harder time getting back over the hump compared to my active folks. Bypass plus a valve replacement can be really hard on the body.

If you’re clear and you need a valve or clip, they can do a lot of those without cracking your chest- those folks usually leave the next day and many feel better immediately after (like on a TAVR or mitraclip) as soon as they wake up.

The good thing about a cath is that it may either fix what you’ve got or get a good game plan together. If you’ve got blockages, they’re already there, but now you just know it’s there- the devil you know vs the one you don’t.

My understanding is I have one artery that is substantially blocked, others are clear. I have a defective valve with aneurism above it. They don't think this is the source of my symptom and don't seem to think the valve needs replacing at this time. They are going to look closer of course.
Never smoked a cigarette in my life, but I giving chewing tobacco hell. I'm a few pounds overweight, but not in bad shape by any means.

 

[TylerFromMS]

My understanding is I have one artery that is substantially blocked, others are clear.

Well, maybe. The dye doesn’t lie, and a lot of times you don’t know the extent or absence until you start taking pictures. But if they just have to throw a stent in there, you’ll prob feel better and have more energy/wind afterward. They’ll do a bunch of measurements while they’re in there and see about the valve.

 

[archerforkids]

They did a scan from my crotch to the top of my head a few weeks ago. This is what most info is based on.
Probably be better f I didn't see the results from that darn thing. Amazing but enlightening to say the least.

 

[jimmymac]

If you have an an aortic aneurysm, they will want to monitor it for growth. If it is already at a size that puts you in jeopardy, steel yourself for open heart surgery. An aneurysm is nothing to mess around with. Ask me how I know. I’m four weeks out from having that repair done. Good luck to you sir.

 

[bighorn06]

Last December I had an ablation. This was to eliminate an extra node that was causing a PVC, which is a premature ventricular contraction. The lower chambers of my heart would beat before filling up with blood making it inefficient. I had this for quite sometime and they were getting more often. My cardiologist recommended a very competent and dedicated surgeon in St Louis, MO. MY wife and I were uneasy since it wasn't life threating and I had good health for my age and still farming. We went to another surgeon recommended by a close friend, a nurse whose daughter had the same problem for a second opinion. We learned a lot from him. After the conference with the scheduled surgeon in ST. Louis the afternoon before the treatment WE were more comfortable with proceeding with the ablation. I have a sizable term Life Insurance which terminates when I ture 80, which is in 2 months. If I didn't survive I wanted it to be before then. I had to be awake during the fishing trip because my heart wouldn't do the PVC's when I was sleeping. He had to find the node by touching it with the wire and hopefully x-ray. He said he would not proceed if he could not find it. IT took 2.5 hours. When he came to my recovery room at the end of his day He said it was a son of a bitch. It was located about as bad as it could be. He had to go thru the valve between the upper chambers and the lower chambers and do a 180 degree and come back between the center wall and the valve that he was working thru. He could not see it with the x-ray to be sure he had found it. his only clue was the electric impulse of the node when he touched the node with the wire he was fishing with. I have to thank God for people like him. My surgery started at 6:00 am and He came to my room about 5:00 PM a hard day's work. His hobby is fishing. My pulse is normal now and I have much more energy, but I am still an old geezer who likes to shoot long range hoping for pin point accuracy. I hope this will be helpful to you and God bless you and your decision. Mike

 

[archerforkids]

If you have an an aortic aneurysm, they will want to monitor it for growth. If it is already at a size that puts you in jeopardy, steel yourself for open heart surgery. An aneurysm is nothing to mess around with. Ask me how I know. I’m four weeks out from having that repair done. Good luck to you sir.

They have been monitoring the aneurism for several years now. It seems to be stable and not large enough to worry about at this time.

 

[jimmymac]

By the way, when they repaired my aneurysm, I did not require a new valve. I did however have to decide ahead of surgery if I wanted a tissue valve or mechanical valve just in case they needed to make that repair as well. I got lucky. Many folks with aortic aneurysm also need a valve.

 

[M-61]

What did your doctor tell you to expect? And I mean an understandable conversation with you, about you and any underlying conditions? An accurate answer without a full background of the patient is impossible.

 

[jimmymac]

They have been monitoring the aneurism for several years now. It seems to be stable and not large enough to worry about at this time.

That’s good to hear. Maybe it won’t progress. I certainly hope not. They monitored mine for almost 4 years. It grew slowly over that time so I knew surgery was going to be inevitable at some point unless it killed me first. I’m 60.

 

[archerforkids]

What did your doctor tell you to expect? And I mean an understandable conversation with you, about you and any underlying conditions? An accurate answer without a full background of the patient is impossible.

He seemed to think this blockage is the source of my symptom. He is going to look close at the suspect valve and aneurism while he in in there is my understanding.

 

[archerforkids]

That’s good to hear. Maybe it won’t progress. I certainly hope not. They monitored mine for almost 4 years. It grew slowly over that time so I knew surgery was going to be inevitable at some point unless it killed me first. I’m 60.

You ever read the statistics for survivors with a ruptured aorta? Not real encouraging for damn sure.

 

[jimmymac]

He seemed to think this blockage is the source of my symptom. He is going to look close at the suspect valve and aneurism while he in in there is my understanding.

Do you have any idea of the size of your aneurysm? Mine had grown to just over 5cm when it was decided to fix it. It was first caught by accident. At that time it was 4.7cm.

 

[jimmymac]

You ever read the statistics for survivors with a ruptured aorta? Not real encouraging for damn sure.

It’s best not to read that stuff. I’m glad that black cloud is gone for me. It was a helluva thing to live with for that length of time. I’d wonder everyday if this was the day it would pop. Shitty way to live. I wish you well man.

 

[archerforkids]

Do you have any idea of the size of your aneurysm? Mine had grown to just over 5cm when it was decided to fix it. It was first caught by accident. At that time it was 4.7cm.

I think its 4.1cm. If I remember correctly, 4.5cm is the threshold.

 

[jimmymac]

I think its 4.1cm. If I remember correctly, 4.5cm is the threshold.

I was told 5cm. Keep up with that thing. An echo is good. A CT scan is better at determining actual size. I had a scan every 6 months.

 

[Ron IA]

My heart dr said a heart stress test then the dye is the only way to truly tell what's going on with your ticker I had the vein scan 6 months before my minor heart attack it showed nothing but a hundred dollar bill coming out of my pocket