JR s health update

[Carole S]

recently I've been in hospital twice where they discovered 2 heart problems, a bicuspid stenosed aortic valve, and a resurgence of my old palpitations problem triggered by a week of antibiotics destroying my microbiome to put it politely lol, being taken off my old betablocker and replaced by more modern version upset the apple cart as they gave me too low a dose hence a week from hell and 2nd hospital trip
Its not AF its some electrical misfiring apparently maybe due to electrolyte imbalances

I'm now facing the prospect of full open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve within the next 6 months so
But first a full CT scan of arteries aorta etc in case "more tidying up is needed"
I'm a bit in shock now !!
Anyone any experience of similar or been through open heart becoming members of what they call the zipper club
Hoping while I wait and when the meds sort out the palpitations I will be able to reassemble my erg currently in bits in the spare room lol

Best wishes Carole

[Draggon]

Wow, Carole! That's a lot to take in. I don't have any great advice, just wanted to let you know there's a semi-anonymous caring soul out in the world wishing you the best on your recovery journey!

[plummy]

As Draggon has said, there's a lot to unpack there. The good news is, they have what appears to be an accurate diagnosis and there's a definitive path forward. I've has tests for "electrical misfiring" over the years (this year and 12 years ago) and was advised "not to worry" but it always niggles at the back of my mind.

Re a possible valve replacement, I believe this is relatively straight forward these days and even Arnold Swarzenegger has had one - so when you're all zipped back up again you can maybe change your forum name to Terminator Carole

[Carole S]

Thanks both yr very kind
That name change sounds fun

[JonT]

Sending you my very best wishes Carole.

[Carole S]

Thank you Jon
An experimental 500 m for me today just to see
So far ok
A lazier day tmrw

[stumpy]

Hi Carole that's a lot to take in, but as plummy says your future treatment is in expert hands and ongoing. I really wish you well keep strong girl.

[Carole S]

Thank you so much yr very kind

[duffyoz]

Wow - that's a lot going on.

Tell that surgeon you got a lot of living to do yet and he/she better be doing his best work. Just making sure they know your positivity.

Sending all the support from down under.

Cheers, Lesley

[Carole S]

Thanks so much Lesley
Xx

[Carole S]

Bit of a shock as we thought I was prob going to have op sometime next year ish
but NO surgeon hopes I'll have a new valve before THIS Christmas depending on strikes and how many emergencies come onto surgeons list
!!

[paulgould]

Hi Carole

Sorry to hear about your woes but it is good news that they are able to do the valve replacement quickly.
Speaking from recent experience, if a procedure is recommended it is definitely the way forward( I had an ICD implanted after my cardiac arrest and I am probably at my fittest and healthiest for the last 10 years)

Paul G

[Carole S]

Thanks Paul good to hear from you and take yr recovery as an inspiration on what can be achieved when out the other side of it all...
Had my preop assessment last wk but unfortunately my iron levels too low to go ahead at mo so have 3 wks of pills then check again

[Carole S]

Dear friends, some of you will have heard my news but for those who havent, on Nov 27th I underwent a 4 hour open heart surgery on a heart lung bypass machine to replace a severely stenosed aortic valve, blissfully unaware of the problem till diagnosed after an illness in August and due to the severity received lifesaving treatment in abt 3.5 months.Many of my heart symptoms had been blamed on my diabetes.Its all been a massive shock and Ive found courage I never knew I had, basically I was told I did not have any choice with a prognosis of 2 to 5 years left to be with my family!
Oxford Heart Centre at the University of Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital, team led by Mr Rana Sayeed, performed this amazing work and now it is up to me to steadily recover and make the most of this second chance, there's been a few blips in the first couple of weeks incl a 10 hr overnight stay on a bed in a corridor at A&E a wk ago, but Im improving now slowly but surely and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with all the family
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all
I wont be rowing for the foreseeable future so hope when the next challenges come up you can all do a few meters in my name
Take care all xx

[Draggon]

Thanks for the update, Carole. I sure hope those improvements keep on keeping on! Happy Holidays from Indiana!

[zootMutant]

Welcome home, Carole!

I predict this will be very special Christmas.

Best wishes,
zoot

[JonT]

Thanks for the update and great news Carole, Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[Liefcat]

Thanks for the update, Carol!

So glad to hear that your open heart surgery went well!

My impression is that recovering can require some patience, but nevertheless wishing you a very good recovery!

[obirobsan]

Carol - best wishes for a speedy and easy recovery!

[Carole S]

Hi all
Just checking in to see how you all are
Keep rowing along with a few meters in my name
Pete is abt to reassemble our erg so he can resume and Im going to try using it with just my weak wobbly legs to strengthen them if poss, need to see cardiologist in March to check when I could resume properly
Still having some blips in recovery but passed surgical postop 7 week checkup and found out that my surgeon is now off after eye surgery which caused us to wonder
My BP still volatile and variable and have balance issues which need sorting but determined to keep on going
Take care everyone

[Carole S]

Tried just a very few meters recently so machine doesnt go rusty
Cardiologist March 11th will give go ahead to slowly return properly
Or NOT in which case I will be withdrawing from team FS

[Iain]

Carole, only just found out as I was using my very minor issues as excuse to ignore rowing and reading forum would have made me face up to the pathetic nature of my excuses!

Shocked, but glad the worst is over and best wishes with the cardio appointment and onwards to a full recovery.

[Carole S]

Thanks very much Iain

[Carole S]

I am now allowed max 200 meters 2mins at a time a few times a week, very slowly and carefully like a galleon in full sail lol

[Draggon]

I am now allowed max 200 meters 2mins at a time a few times a week, very slowly and carefully like a galleon in full sail lol

Yay! Any start is a good start after what you've been through!