After an initial diagnosis of atherosclerosis I now have a firm diagnosis of mitral regurgitation and aortic dissection. This will mean I need to have a replacement valve and a partial replacement of my aorta as well as a repair to my septum.
I’m feeling pretty anxious about this and won’t be able to speak to a consultant for at least a week and even so they might not be able to answer my questions.
So, I really need to get more understanding about this from someone who has lived an active life involving sport.
What I am looking to find out either from someone with experience of it themselves or professional knowledge is:
1). Generally, how much of a patients previous fitness are they able to recover?
2). What is recovery like in terms of experience and duration?
I would also be very grateful indeed to get any other perspectives of this, other than the specific items mentioned above.
On the bright side at least I now have a clearer idea of what’s wrong, why I have lost so much fitness and why I can’t lose weight.
Cheers,
Jay
Nothing to say about this, except Best Wishes.
(I am a doctor, but not that kind...)
Nothing to say about this, except Best Wishes.
+1
I believe this is the type of area of medicine where the brightest are attracted, I’m sure they’ll be capable of amazing things. Good luck.
It ain't my field at all. From the little I know valve replacements just work as does fixing the septum. Aorta repair is done in a bunch of different ways - basically lining it or replacing it with a teflon tube. I cannot see why it would stop you doing what you want.
I think they have plastic valves now but they used use metal ones so instead of your heart going " lub dub" it goes "click clack" which would amuse me.
I think the main issue would be that IIRC correctly you have to be on anticoagulants for life so as not to get clots on the bionic bits which means cuts and bruises become dangerous so no falling off.
Its major surgery but once fixed you should be almost as good as now if not as good as new and certainly a lot better than now. Being relatively fit ( I guess) is a really good starting point for this sort of surgery
Do not hold me to any of this please - but my feeling from the little old knowledge I have is that once fixed and done your rehab you will be fine.
I know this will reflect badly on me, but I am scared beyond belief of the surgery involved. I find it almost impossible to put myself into the hands of others.
Being scared or worried about any surgery never reflects badly on you... completely natural in my mind
depending on what makes you feel better you can either not think about it too much or do what my dad did before his wrist surgery and buy a book on anatomy, continuously ask questions then ask the surgeon if he could have it under local so he could see what his insides look like... surgeon said no... probably just to get some quiet...
I would say its quite normal to be scared. this is major surgery.
