10 Days Post Op

[Magic8Ball]

ok, so its now 10 days post op and i feel pretty bloody fantastic (unless i cough of course) and i'm keeping to the information sheets given to be by the letter which means for this first week i'm to potter around the house.

Next week i can start going for short 5minute walks...

But i feel too good and have been for a 1/2 hour potter around the local park today with no ill affects.

What do you guys think is a good period of rest before i just start doing whatever i feel i'm able to do (within reason of course) i realise i need to be careful of the chestbone for the first six weeks but even that feels better after 10 days.

Obviously i have new stitches holding my valve and aorta in place and i in no way want to jepoardise the long term result for the releif of short term frustration but surely i should be able to do a little more than the standard information sheets are letting on.

The experiences of the younger members would be much appreciated.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I UNDERSTAND your frustration and 'itching at the gate'.

OTOH, I also remember puttering around my backyard and almost tripping after stepping into a 'depression' in the ground. I REALLY felt that in my chest and was VERY relieved that I didn't loose my balance and fall.

I would expect that it might be OK to walk around on LEVEL ground / road / sidewalk as long as you don't stray TOO FAR from home. Remember, if / when you tire, you will still need to GET BACK HOME.

It wouldn't hurt to call your surgeon's office, speak with one of his nurses and see if you can't get 'permission' to wander out of the house a bit. It might be wise to have a companion on those first excursions, or at least a cell phone.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[AlonnolA]

Your info sheet is a bit different from mine. On week 1 they had me doing 5-minute walks, 3-4 times per day. I was able to handle that and more OK.

I would say do whatever you can, but ramp up gradually so you don't push yourself too much before you've realized it and find yourself far from home, especially in the first week or 2.

The physical therapist at the hospital gave me a walking schedule that ramped up each week, but I skipped to the next week's routine every 3-4 days or so. They said I should do these at least 5 times a week. I was usually able to do it 6-7 days per week, depending on my social schedule
The schedule was (starting w/ week 1):
5 minutes 3-4 times/ day
10 2-3 times
10 3-4 times
15 2-3 times
20 1-2 times
25 1-2 times
30 1-2 times (at this point I just skipped to 1 hour or more each day)
45 1 time
60 1 time
continue ad infinitum

Obviously check with your doctor yadda yadda.

 

[Jas0n]

trust me, i understand how hard it is to stay in bed all day. but you really have to give your body some time to heal. the desire to do more than you have to is great!! spend that energy working with your breathing machine (i already forgot what it is called). walking prob will not do any harm, but listen to your body and ALWAYS have someone with you. my doctors demanded that I get out twice a day for at least 10 minutes of walking from the first day I was home (I am 22, so they had very little sympathy for me which was great because I was sick of all the sympathy).

I started driving after 2 weeks - and I drive a very aggressive manual sports sedan - but I did overdue it a bit my second week out. It wasn't the walking that did me in, but it was just the strain of trying to get back to "regular" life when my body wasnt ready. Thankfully, I didnt hurt myself, but I could have. I could have increased the time my body needed to heal, when all I wanted to do was make the whole process so by quicker.

If your young, you body will bounce back very quickly, I promise. After my surgery, I lost 18 pounds in only 3 days in the hospital; and I didnt have 18 pounds to loose!! 4 months later, I've gained back 11 pounds of muscle, my body fat % is still 8%, i just completed 19:00 of a stress test, and my ejection fraction is back up to 60% after being at 35% pre op. The human body is an amazing machine, just give it some time.

ohh, most importantly: dont lift ANYTHING you dont have to, and nothing even remotely heavy. Have someone else open doors for you as well. Stretching helps get back alot of the mobility/damage ohs brings, and you will prob have some back pain. but it will go away.

 

[Magic8Ball]

Cheers.

I'm being careful and not lifting anything other than this laptop, i open doors with my arse (quite a trick) and am generally making sure i don't mess the chest bone up.

But yes, i have twice as much energy as before and nothing to use it on.

I walked the 2km back from the local GP today after my INR test, i did it on my own which i kinda now feel a little stupid about doing but its done now...i'll try to keep a buddy with me for at least the first month but you gotta cut the ties sometime.

I also went out for lunch which involved a little walking and then went out this afternoon for a walk around the local shopping centre (Mall) both with someone with me at least!!.

I still feel great but i guess that i've probably leapt to the final week of my walking recovery program on day 11 and done well over an hours walking today so i'll have to pull my neck in, take it easy and chill. Didn't realise how much i'd done until i was typing it above, what an ass ....just looked at the sheet at week 2 is 2-3 5 minute walks a day..

Here's hoping my brain can keep my body in check (or visa-versa).

Regards.

 

[kodi]

After the first week, I did all my walks alone. I didn't have anyone to go with me during the day and didn't want to be out in the dark. I always carried my cell phone and wore my road-id (it has some med info and emergency names and numbers).
I walked two times a day until I got to four miles (in about 4 weeks) then dropped to once daily after that. I got to 6 miles in 5 weeks. I'm a little aggressive and very impatient when it comes to getting back to normal.

 

[Magic8Ball]

Saw my cardio on friday and he basically gave me the ok to do 2km walks as long as i keep my heart rate below 130 i should be fine. He said the guidelines are just that and are aimed at the majority of patients who have aquired heart failure and had emergency operations not really at healthy youngish people who have elective surgery.

So saturday i did about 1.5km with my dad as company and today (Sunday) i did 2km on my own, around 30-40 minutes i think, mostly pavement (sidewalk). Yesterday the heart rate stayed below 99 and today it mostly did the same but blipped to 104 when i went up a long gradual slope about 2/3 around the course so i sat down briefly and it quickly dropped to 85.

I feel much happier, just got to sort out my beta blockers and i'll probably go out more than once a day.

Just thought i'd update the thread with a resolution.

 

[mtkayak]

I would say walk as much as you like until you get tired. Then take a nice nap in the afternoon. I started walking about 2 miles a day about 5 days Post Op. I couldn't stand staying in the house. My Card said it was fine and encouraged me to do so. Just stop when you feel tired, that's the most important thing. I don't think you really have to put a number on how far you walk. Just make sure people know where you are.

 

[alex c.]

Wow I feel so much better reading these posts. I have been constantly scolded by friends and familiy about taking it easy. All I have really done is gone for a few walks, 1/2 mile the longest. I feel like I am really withering away. I have lost about 10 lbs and I too cannot afford to lose that weight. I have lost a lot of muslce mass it took me 2 yrs to put on and I am sad. My heart feels great though and I tell everyone I cant wait to get back into the gym. To start at least I want to do more cardio and use things that wont injure my sternum. I will take it easy and be careful, but I just want to get back into my life.

 

[tobagotwo]

I never listened to them. I walked as much as I felt okay with from the start. I didn't power-walk, though. Just walked.

I did a five mile walk within a week of the surgery, and stopped in at my Cardiologist's to ask a quick question. He was horrified that I had walked there from my house. I decided not to tell him that I had walked to town from my house, and was just stopping by on my way back.

The point is, don't force yourself (and I mean that), but do realize that the doctors provide only guidelines, and they're usually geared for people who are well into retirement, and have naturally slower recovery times. Everyone is different. Anything anyone tells you about what you, personally, can or should do in the first month or two is an educated guess at best. I don't believe in the heart rate/pedometer approach because there is no data on what the right thing to do after surgery is. It's just a guess. But you do know how you feel.

Be ready to stop when you need to, plan your trips around places where there are benches or good places to sit if you get tired. Be prepared to sit on the curb if you need to, without embarrassment. Have a cell phone and people to call to pick you up if you misjudge your range.

You will have good days and bad days. Don't beat yourself on the bad days, but take advantage of the good days.

Best wishes,