Heart Valve Disease

My DH was hospitalised about 9 years ago with an unexplained virus. He was in isolation and they never discovered the problem. He was pretty ill for about a month with swollen hands and feet as well as the usual symptoms temperature etc. But it affected his heart. He now has a pacemaker and 3 stents.

So far as heart valve surgery is concerned there are some procedures which aren't as invasive as perhaps once were. The surgeons now perform much smaller incisions to save unnecessary blood loss and the shock that goes with such procedures. I do know that for certain valve repairs a balloon is used to open up the valve ( valvuoplasty ) which is non-invasive. This will open up a valve to make breathing easier and will eventually reduce swelling to feet and legs by assisting the heart to start pumping more efficiently as well as stopping any palpitations he may be having.

Personally I don't have experience of heart valve disease but I do know that it doesn't take long to recover after a minimal procedure, or even an aortic procedure takes just about 3 months to return to normal.

I'm sure a decision will be made for the better to help him lead a normal life.

Thank you, Whitewave and Ellan. It seems their first priority will be to clear the infection from wherever it is lurking. They're going to fit a pic line tomorrow because he'll be on antibiotics for another six weeks so there's a chance he'll be able to come home and have a nurse come in and do it. It will cheer him up a lot to be at home for a while.

Oh merlot - such a lot of things for you to deal with. I do hope he is able to come home for his treatment.

I'm bumping this in case there is somebody who hasn't spotted it yet and has experience of heart valve replacement.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks, lucky. Hope all goes well with you and your DH this week.

I had a heart valve replacement 13 years ago, I was born with a faulty valve and always knew it would need to be replaced one day.
I do not live in the UK by the way.
I was 24 hours in intensive care after the op, then 2 weeks in Hospital.
Back to work running my own catering company in 3 months. I did not have any other health problems at the time.
It is invariably a successful op, good luck to your DH.

Thank you, Felice. First they have to get on top of this wretched infection and stop it from coming back. It's going to be a long process I fear.
Good to know you were able to live a normal life afterwards.

My brother went to see the GP as he was getting breathless. He thought it might be a chest infection. He was told to sit in a chair and not move whilst surgery was organised a few days later.

He had the surgery and is now back cycling and runs the walking football. He’s a kind of ambassador for them and goes around the country helping with new groups.

All this happened at the same time as our youngest brother was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. He kept quiet about the symptoms as he didn’t want to spoil a long planned for holiday. This cost him his life.