R
revilomd
Well its been i week since my avr. I was wondering if any of you had any dos and don'ts as far a recovery goes and how long before my energy returns. Any tidbits of information would be more than welcome
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
Walk, eat and sleep ... recovery takes time ... I tried to rush things and it does not work ... I was back at work in 5 weeks but it was about 8 months before I felt “recovered” ... and it has just gotten better ...
Things to do: Call with doctor with any questions or concerns without hesitation...
Things not to do: Eat my banana pudding...
Best wishes for a smooth and bump free recovery...
Things to do: Call with doctor with any questions or concerns without hesitation...
Things not to do: Eat my banana pudding...
Best wishes for a smooth and bump free recovery...
BAVD John
Well-known member
I'm 5 weeks post op myself. Cooker couldn't have said it better. Recovery takes time. You should feel much better in a couple of weeks. One week post op I was walking once around the block. Now I'm walking just over 1 1/2 miles twice a day.
Good Luck to you.
Good Luck to you.
Some thoughts...
- Posture, posture, Posture! Your mother was right. Keep your chest as straight and upright as you can, to ensure you are filling your lungs fully.
- Do things as you feel up to them, not based on an artificial schedule. This time around, mornings are better for me, so I walk then. Last time I had the surgery, I started feeling like walking around noon, so I went then.
- If you're not up to it, don't do it. That doesn't mean cop out. It just may mean to do less on that one day, or at a different time. Don't try to make up for each lost exercise. You have a lifetime for that.
- Stretch your limits with fully expanding your chest and being able to move (twist, turn) in all directions. This hurts a lot, so take it slowly. But if you want to be able do something, you'd better start getting back your capacity to do it. For example, I was finally able to expand my chest fully, at will, at eight days out (I'm nine days out now). Not my lungs - they were already fully expanded: this is about being able to fully "puff out" my chest, and regaining control of my rib cage, its flexibility, and the hundreds of timy, angry muscles within it (intercostals) and controlling it (pectorals).
- Be very careful movong yourself onto and off of beds, couches, etc. We automatically go to push with our hands, and that flexes the rib cage. If your sternum isn't healed (4-6 weeks), this can interfere with that process. Roll and leverage yourself out of bed, like you would with a bad backache.
- Other stuff works. Use your legs for strength moves. Your legs are fine (unless you donated a graft from there).
- Don't bend over to do things. If you have to put on shoes and socks, sit on the eged of the bed and bring your feet up to you instead, on at a time. Women: DO NOT PICK UP toys or laundry. Direct another family member to the offending materials, and have them pick them up ("Not later - now!").
Best wishes,
- Posture, posture, Posture! Your mother was right. Keep your chest as straight and upright as you can, to ensure you are filling your lungs fully.
- Do things as you feel up to them, not based on an artificial schedule. This time around, mornings are better for me, so I walk then. Last time I had the surgery, I started feeling like walking around noon, so I went then.
- If you're not up to it, don't do it. That doesn't mean cop out. It just may mean to do less on that one day, or at a different time. Don't try to make up for each lost exercise. You have a lifetime for that.
- Stretch your limits with fully expanding your chest and being able to move (twist, turn) in all directions. This hurts a lot, so take it slowly. But if you want to be able do something, you'd better start getting back your capacity to do it. For example, I was finally able to expand my chest fully, at will, at eight days out (I'm nine days out now). Not my lungs - they were already fully expanded: this is about being able to fully "puff out" my chest, and regaining control of my rib cage, its flexibility, and the hundreds of timy, angry muscles within it (intercostals) and controlling it (pectorals).
- Be very careful movong yourself onto and off of beds, couches, etc. We automatically go to push with our hands, and that flexes the rib cage. If your sternum isn't healed (4-6 weeks), this can interfere with that process. Roll and leverage yourself out of bed, like you would with a bad backache.
- Other stuff works. Use your legs for strength moves. Your legs are fine (unless you donated a graft from there).
- Don't bend over to do things. If you have to put on shoes and socks, sit on the eged of the bed and bring your feet up to you instead, on at a time. Women: DO NOT PICK UP toys or laundry. Direct another family member to the offending materials, and have them pick them up ("Not later - now!").
Best wishes,
R
revilomd
thanks John and Cooker, I have been trying to walk everyday hills are a killer. I seem to have the most problems at night only sleep for about two hours at a time must change my pajamas twice a night due to night sweats and hard to get comfortable and i am either hot or cold not often just right any insights as to when this gets better
ALCapshaw2
Well-known member
Sleeping in short shifts of 2 to 3 hours is Very Common following OHS. It gets better in time...
As with everything else about recovery, most of us wish it would go faster but that is NOT how it works. You WILL get there, but it will take longer than you like.
As Bob indicated, push a little when you feel up to it and back off on your 'not-so-good' days. As long as you see progress on a week to week basis, you are moving in the right direction.
As with everything else about recovery, most of us wish it would go faster but that is NOT how it works. You WILL get there, but it will take longer than you like.
As Bob indicated, push a little when you feel up to it and back off on your 'not-so-good' days. As long as you see progress on a week to week basis, you are moving in the right direction.
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BAVD John
Well-known member
Night sweats, yep I had them too. I was changing my pajama top most nights for quite a while. That has subsided this past week or so. During those first 3 weeks or so at home my body seemed like it was constantly changing temperature. One minute I was wrapping myself in a blanket to stay warm, then 5 minutes later I was taking the blanket off because I was hot. It wasn't like that all day long but it did surprise me how much my body temp did change. During this time I never really had a fever.
Bob has given some great advice, as he usually does. I made the mistake of pushing off my bed with my arms a few times. You do want to be careful until your sternum is fully healed.
I had problems sleeping at night too. Last week my cardio wrote me a script for some sleeping pills, he said I needed to get a good night sleep. He was right. I feel much better during the day after getting a good night sleep. I'll try sleeping this weekend without the pills as I really don't want to take them.
Hang in there, your recovery will get better.
Bob has given some great advice, as he usually does.
I made the mistake of pushing off my bed with my arms a few times. You do want to be careful until your sternum is fully healed.I had problems sleeping at night too. Last week my cardio wrote me a script for some sleeping pills, he said I needed to get a good night sleep. He was right. I feel much better during the day after getting a good night sleep. I'll try sleeping this weekend without the pills as I really don't want to take them.
Hang in there, your recovery will get better.
Star54
Well-known member
I still take a percocet at bedtime, (tylenol, is useless for me)...it's still hard to sleep, and when I finally do get to sleep I wake up feeling like someone stomped on my chest. And I have to sleep on my right side hugging a pillow..what's that all about? lol...
davidswife
Well-known member
Great tips everyone - thanks! I will be sure to have David read this thread when he finally gets home (hopefully this weekend).
Wishing a smooth journey to all who are on the road to recovery!
Nadine
Wishing a smooth journey to all who are on the road to recovery!
Nadine
