2 week post-op

[Debbrn]

Today is my 2 week anniversary. That is for my 4th surgery. I walked for about 1 mile on an almost flat surface. I usually take a short, medium and long walk. My long walk is about a mile, my medium walk is about 3/4 of a mile, and my short one is about 1/3 of a mile. I am staying with a couple with the bedrooms are upstairs. I still get moderately short of breath climbing the stairs so there is obvious room for improvement. I also get mildly short of breath with the walks also.

There is long standing damage to the right side of the heart. I am hoping for improvement compared to pre-op, but I am not going to count my chickens before they hatch. The cardio up here wants me in cardiac rehab for 12 weeks starting at 6 weeks post-op. I have already talked to the local cardiac rehab place and the insurance company on the phone. I am sure the cardiac center does not get many congenital patients, but that is to be expected. The therapist I spoke with seemed a little amazed at my story. The insurance will pay 90% so I am happy about that.

Debbie

 

[ARGreenMN]

Good luck with the rehab Debbie! I'm in mine now and it's going good. Makes me feel better to get a little exercise. Seems like the shortness of breath I had initially when walking is getting much better these days (4 wks post-op).

 

[Lynlw]

Today is my 2 week anniversary. That is for my 4th surgery. I walked for about 1 mile on an almost flat surface. I usually take a short, medium and long walk. My long walk is about a mile, my medium walk is about 3/4 of a mile, and my short one is about 1/3 of a mile. I am staying with a couple with the bedrooms are upstairs. I still get moderately short of breath climbing the stairs so there is obvious room for improvement. I also get mildly short of breath with the walks also.

There is long standing damage to the right side of the heart. I am hoping for improvement compared to pre-op, but I am not going to count my chickens before they hatch. The cardio up here wants me in cardiac rehab for 12 weeks starting at 6 weeks post-op. I have already talked to the local cardiac rehab place and the insurance company on the phone. I am sure the cardiac center does not get many congenital patients, but that is to be expected. The therapist I spoke with seemed a little amazed at my story. The insurance will pay 90% so I am happy about that.

Debbie

Thanks for the update. Glad things are going well. Any idea when you will be heading home? I think the rehab sounds like a great idea, especially since it is so hot and you can get your excercise done in AC. We did alot of mall walking when Justin was recoverring in June and July. Is your sister with you?

 

[Debbrn]

I went for my post-op check with the cardiologist today. No visit with the surgeon. Everything was fine. She recommended that I wait 6 months for the sleep study for my heart to heal after surgery. Return in 1 year with an MRI and exercise test. I may be able to get rid of the ace inhibitor at that time. Only if I could get rid of the beta-blocker. Oh well. Driving in 6 weeks. Return to work in 12 weeks.

During the pre-op check the doc gave me a mini lecture about getting up and being active walking, doing my incentive spirometry etc. after surgery. She said I may not want to, but I needed to. I was thinking to myself that getting up was not going to be a problem. While I was in the hospital she talked about how well I did. Today I reminded her of her pre-op pep talk and asked her if I had done enough fast enough. She told me that I should be the poster child for the surgeon. Part of me wanted to say that I deserved half the credit. I conditioned my body the best I could before the surgery, started getting out of bed as early as possible and had a good attitude. She did acknowledge that I knew what needed to be done and why so I had gotten moving ASAP.