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My physio is just a stock standard physio. Will see what joy she brings me today. One thing I also want to get some help on is improving my posture..I find I am not as upright as I used to be but think that may be just the natural tendency to adopt a position that protects a place that hurts...

Man, if I had seen that before I had my wires removed, I probably wouldn't have done it! But I only had a couple of bandaids and massive bruising to show for it, so there must be different ways of doing it. So far, this time round, the wires are very flat, and I can't even feel them, so maybe...

Hi Hi Amy, I'm going pretty well...I think I have turned a corner of sorts! Today marks my 6 week anniversary of surgery and I drove for the first time! Aahh, how wonderful to have independence back! the only problem I had was with my shoulder, and had to be careful in not stretching the...

Hi Amy, I have a heat pack that I love, and I'm being very consistent with my shoulder rolls and stretches and have started some exercise with a very light stretchy band to help strengthen the rotator cuff muscles. Have to go pretty easy with that but I think it's helping. Yep, the tennis ball...

I've been told to wait for 6 weeks, but I had a full sternotomy. I am 5 weeks post surgery today, and I'm not sure I would feel confident yet in driving. I still have a good deal of discomfort from the sternum when I move, but also have bad shoulder pain, that would seriously limit me driving...

I'm not sure. I have tinnitus as well but I don't know whether that makes me more or less aware of the heart sounds.

Yes, it is something I have always been aware of, even with my first surgery, but I think it is definitely exaggerated post surgery from 5 weeks ago. I expect it will settle again and it won't be so noticeable as time goes by.

No, not particularly. I had the same issue with the previous valve. I am a very small person, and my cardiologist indicated that because I don't have any "padding", it is more noticeable. I think the hearing of the heart beat is actually hearing the pulse through the carotid arteries, which...

Best of luck for the upcoming surgery, and a trouble free recovery.

Thanks Chuck, there are a couple I can add in. Even though they can be uncomfortable to do, they sure do help to get things moving and lubricated as you say.

Funnily enough, I had to have a biological valve, and I can hear my heart beat very clearly, although others can't hear it, but they can see it, as I have a tiny little nod and pulsing of my body with each beat. Makes working out my heart rate very easy, lol, just have to sit there and count...

Great to hear of the rapid recovery of the rib pain with doing the therapy exercises. I am curious as to which exercises you have been doing. I have been given very little in the way of exercises, other than side bends, rolling the shoulders and raising the arms vertically and of course...

Yes, I can't wait to sleep on my side...not been cleared yet though, but relishing the day! Massage is a good idea though, and it does help with some of the aches and pains.

Good luck with the surgery. You are going in in the best shape you can be, so I'm sure you will be fine. Just take it one day at a time.

Hi Chuck, Thank you for taking the time to relate your story of recovery...it is so good to hear that I am not the only one who feels what I do. I know what you mean about new pains out of the blue. I was like you, and had pretty much given up pain meds, but I have decided that I need to take...

Thanks Pellicle as always for your wisdom...it is good to hear that I'm not alone in all of this, and certainly not unique! I think I just need to get over myself right now! Interesting that you have that sensation of rocking when lying down, that is exactly how I feel, and in fact, my kids...

Hi Lynn, thank you for reminding me of the tennis ball trick. I don't get shoulder cramps as such, just pain on any movement, but I do know that I have a lot of muscular tension, and my hubby has been great at working at releasing some of the knots around my neck (hurts like hell because he uses...

Hi A Amy, thank you so much for your reply...I found it very comforting that you have also experienced some of the discomforts I am. Sometimes reading posts it seems like others are getting on so much better and I was starting to think that I was just a big sook! But I guess others have just...

I've been in hiding for the past few weeks as I focus on recovery. It's been an interesting journey. I'm now 4 weeks post surgery, and to be honest, I'm actually not feeling any better than I was pre-surgery...is it too soon yet? I was doing well up until a few days ago, and managing daily 40...

Just thought I would touch base again...well I finally made it back onto the ward on day 6. Had a right pneumothorax that had to resolve first, platelets were slowly climbing back up. Once on the ward, struggled with left sided pleural effusion, which didnt clear, so then had to have a pleural...