I had open heart surgery, an aortic root and valve replacement. I was referred for surgery at the end of June but didn't actually get a date until the end of November. My dad had died during a similar operation when I was a teenager and it was a very emotional experience for my whole family.
My surgeon kept telling me that she would look after me, but nonetheless I bought and wrapped my children's Christmas presents in early November not knowing if I would see them being opened. My surgeon was an amazing woman, I don't know how she has climbed to the top of such a male dominated speciality, but I am grateful to her that I am here to mumsnet live today.
I was in hospital for 12 days because I had some complications. It was an hour away from our home, so visiting me was difficult. The children only saw me a few times, and it was very hard. It was probably harder on my husband who suddenly had to keep a normal homelife for the children, visit me, and do everything that a woman normally does, including supervising homework.
The hospital staff did a great job, but it is very hard to sleep on a ward. On my first day a woman went into arrest and the crash team came running. I was terrified, but she was brought back. For another three days, there was a woman with dementia beside me, who was clear thinking during the day, but confused at night. She would walk the ward going into everyone's personal space looking for her dog. She took a shine to me, because she thought I was a little girl. I was scared because I was relying on an external pacemaker to keep me going, and I did not want her fiddling with it when I was asleep. I was upset threw a tantrum when I found that I would need a permanent pacemaker. The staff gave me a sleeping pill the night before the procedure because I was so stressed, and also gave one to the dog lady to let everyone get some sleep! So 
for that.
My children were so happy when I came home, but a day later suggested that I go back to the hospital because I was no fun.