Heart infection and a leaky valve , need some positive stories please

[travellingwilbury]

My brother is in hospital with this , went to see him last night and he seems ok in himself but obviously very scared .

He is on antibiotics to try and sort out infection which we will know if working in the next day or two . But they have also told him he has got a very leaky valve which needs to be sorted asap .Infection is obviously making this worse .

Just freaking out a bit for him and trying to be sensible and not panic .

Any advice would be really appreciated .

hiya

my dd1 (10yrs old) has a leaking mitral valve, so has check ups etc.

i hope the AB's work in getting the infection clear and then they can work on sorting out the valve.

dh had a leaking valve but a whole host of other issues, so am quite 'heart' aware iyswim.

hope your dbro gets better soon :)

Thanks misdee , we found out yesterday that it will probably be two weeks time for the op and it will be open heart surgery which sounds a lot scarier than keyhole stuff .

But at least it should be all sorted before christmas , fingers crossed .

I started on a sore throat yesterday which is now like razor blades , so my pacing will have to be done at home for now . I have a feeling the doctors would really rather he didn't pick up anything else .

Feeling for you all. I have an aortic valve replacement - I was born with heart probs, have had four heart ops, last as an adult 20 years ago. Can remember lots about it though I think things move on so fast that specifics will be irrelevant.

Mainly to say, the whole idea of it is appalling, fact you have no choice, my brother a young medic student at the time of my last op had to find out for me exactly how the ribs were opened and mended (!) as this was the bit that freaked me the most. Oh, and I kind of thought I would be a different person when I woke up (I wasn't). The emotional stuff is a complete roller coaster. I did not have endocarditis, so planned op, that much easier, I did not really feel at risk of death.

So can't really imagine what it will be like for your bro, and we are all different in the way we cope anyway, but very best wishes to him and you.

Thanks ilove , the ribs thing is freaking him out as well , hopefully the surgeon will explain things clearly to him today but I know he is really scared so isn't asking many questions . He is not very keen on the replies .

I can't believe I have got a bloody throat infection now , I could just weep , but I have two boys who I have to be together for so onwards and upwards .

The outcome is sounding positive , it is just "open heart surgery" sounds so blumming hellish .

open heart surgery just sounds so serious doesnt it?

dh has survived a couple of OHS and a transplant as well.

i found the first OHS the worst, as was unprepapred.

st georges is fab. dh was at harefield, but know people who have been in st georges.

still thinking of you all xxx

Bollocks , surgery next tues or thurs . Problems with all three valves so all to be replaced and also aorta as well .

Something about the lining too which will need replacing ???

Every time we talk to someone it seems to be worse news .

thinking of you. pl;s update when possible.

xx

Thinking of you travellingwilbury, sorry it seems to be more bad news. It maybe not so bad when they getin and have a look. Being a fit bloke will stand him in good stead. Let us know how you he gets on.

Hi TW - sorry your brother is having such a hard time. I have a septal defect and am currently being treated for an infection. Once you know you have this problem it's much easier to manage it - your brother is in the right place and will get the right treatment.

Good luck to you all :)

Thanks all , it has been a very long week . I think the op will be next Thurs which is what I think you call bloody sods law . My first son died at 14 mths old on the 2nd of Dec 9yrs ago . You couldn't bloody make it up could you ?

I do know in principal it doesn't matter what day it is day just as long as all goes well but it does feel wrong that it will be on that day .

Thanks again , it is helping coming on here and waffling on .

On the basis of probabilities then, he'll be fine - it would be much less likely that your brother would die on the same day.

I'm sorry about your son. Sounds like you are really having a bad time at the minute. Hopefully it'll be all over by Christmas day and you'll have your brother back being annoying all over again.

Also after talking more to mum last night I am not convinced it is more than one valve that needs to be replaced . I think they were talking about the make up of the valve which is in 3 and she got confused so not quite as grim as yesterday . Still shocked about the aorta but all we can do is hand him over to their care and keep everything crossed .

That is true wmmc , we just couldn't possibly have two sons die on the same day now could we ?
I think I need to keep chanting that in my head between now and then .

It would be extremely unlikely. :)

Perhaps this is a way of something good happening on that day. Try and say that to yourself instead.

Glad the news sounds a bit more promising tw. My dd has 3 iffy valves plus some other stuff; the mention of endocarditis generally gives me the heebie jeebies but it sounds like your brother's team have it in hand. Keeping everything crossed for you.

So sorry about your son

Ok next quandry for you all

I think my 4 yr old has got chicken pox so a long week is now going to be even longer BUT the important question is , if I ever get rid of this razor blade throat , is it ok for me to go to the hospital when I have got a pox ridden child at home ?
Is it one of those things you can carry to someone ?

This time next all will be well , I have to keep chanting that .

Just had a text from him to say that they are going to do the op tomorrow . This is good news yes ?

Asked him why and he said they thought he was well enough now for it .

Still got this stupid throat so can't go and see him until it is all done .

Bugger !

I am even thinking of doing some serious house cleaning to distract myself .

Op back on for bloody thursday , bugger again .

Right I am talking to myself now like some mad old woman .

Feel free to jump in at any time

This caught my eye as I've a heart scan myself later this week,

I can't add much, as no experience, other than to wish him well & I hope it all runs as smoothly as possible for you,

it might help to know though, there was a news article the back end of last week (Mail I think), looking at the countries heart clinics & where the best specialists were, from that it looks like your Brothers Hospital has 2 of the best in the country, it was the only 1 that had 2 :) so at very least he's in good hands

Thanks rockinhippy , having 2 of the best specialists is def a good thing .
Good luck for your scan , I hope it goes well.

It all just changes all the time .We had been told he will get out a week or so after his op and be able to finish anti bs at home but now they are saying he will have to stay in until the course finishes (New Yrs Eve)

I feel so sorry for him having to be in there over christmas .

He also wanted to have the metal valve put in but because of the infection he can't . Which means a tissue valve and doing it all again in 12 yrs time .

He is more tired every day as well now which can't be a good sign can it ?
They had said in the beginning that they wouldn't want to operate when the infection is still there and now they are doing exactly that .

Well today is the big day , please keep him in your thoughts .

He is going down about 11 and we have been told we probably won't have any news till about 7 tonight .

A long day ahead

Hope you get good news soon and all is well.

hope it's all gone ok, and that you'll be able to see him soon.

Thank you stanau , got a phone call half an hour ago and all has gone well

Going to wake him in the morning and hopefully will get to see him over the weekend if this bloody snow calms down .

hurrah!!! It must be such a weight off your shoulders - glad to hear he's doing well.