Aorta valve replacement and mitral valve repair.

I joined medhelp as i was concerned about my Dads health . He has been very ill recently and was diagnosed with needing his aorta valve replacing and was told he would have his op in two weeks. This didnt happen. He waited for Ten weeks and in the last three weeks had deteriated rapidly to the poin t where we did not think he was going to make it. He did not want to make a fuss, thinking if he did he would be moved down the waiting list for his op. He was eventually persuaded to see his GP. He was amediately told his blood pressure was very high and his GP telephoned the hospital to find out what had happened to his op. He was telephoned during the daytime to go into the hospital the next week for his assessment. He was given a date at his assessment for the following week for his op. He found out he had deteriorated due to his mitral valve now leaking. Dad has had his op and was sent home on his seventh day. His second night home he had a really bad night due to not being able to breath and therefore he has become panicky. He is 70 years old and was very fit until recently..... My question is.. is it normal to have the breathing probs and what else should i look out for in the next few weeks ?