A good nights sleep!

[RobbieLee]

Hello everyone
I haven't had a chance to reply to all of you who sent me such great advice and information. Thank you for the welcomes, the great advice and most of all for sharing. Also, a big thanks to Ross Y who gave me a heads up on great sites and info for Coumadin, diet, etc. My doctors told me I would have good days and bad days..... well I believe last night was the first good nights sleep I've had in a long time and today is exactly one month since my surgery! Yeah, things MUST be getting better. I used more pillows to prop myself up (as suggested by Creed 3) and am hoping things keep going up hill. Because in order to lay flat in bed is a pain for sure. Is it a matter of "stretching" the sternum out and those chest muscles? Because it sure is hard to do... down right painful I'd say. I noticed some people go to rehabilitation. Is that normal for most people after open heart surgery? Maybe that's what I need. There are so many things I am afraid to do. I see my cardiologist on January 7th and have so many questions for her. I better write them all down, or I'll surely forget! Hey why hasn't my envelope opened up on the Forum? I know many of you have replied and the post has been read... just curious if anyone can tell me. Until next time, happy holidays folks. Sharon

 

[Ross]

Hello Sharon.

Sleeping is something I have yet to master. No matter what I do, I don't sleep more then 2 or 3 hours and then I'm awake for awhile. Those pillows should work wonders for you.

Cardiac Rehab-Most everyone goes to rehab. You might want to ask your Doctor for a referal and go. It would certainly make you feel better, though when you first start, you think they're trying to kill you. It gets better though. Your body will let you know, in no uncertain terms, what you can and cannot do. Just don't wear yourself down.

By all means, write all your questions down and get answers for all of them. If you don't understand something, make them take the time to explain it in detail.

Your envelope opens whenever there is a new reply to your messages that you haven't seen.

So what are you doing to celebrate your one month anniversary?

 

[medtronic of borg]

Rehab

Rehab

When hospitals started considering reab for us I took part in a national study. They studied those of us that survived a heart surgery with a very high mortality rate. It was to set a base line compairson for a new rehab. programs. Today it is standard after care. My last surgery, I went through the rehab. It makes a big difference, for me it is the comrodery that helped. The way they push you is what I had always done after surgery. once I pushed to hard. I went to an ammusment park. Bad idea...it put me in the hospital the very next day!

 

[Rain]

Hello Sharon,

I think the best thing about rehab for me was that I knew it was okay to do the things I was doing.

I started rehab only a month after the surgery and had been kinda freaked up to that point about getting to far from home or pushing myself too much. Every time I did something to make my heart beat fast I could really hear my valve clicking irregular. It was reassuring to have the nurse there. The other thing is... having a certain time and place to be three times a week, makes me go. Left with out a schedule & appt. other things seem to always take priority. This way I plan my week around my exercise, not vice versa.

I think cardiac rehab is really, really important. And after you finish phase two you should see if your insurance will cover phase three. I was surprised to find out mine does.... for life!

Rain

 

[MarkU]

I did not go through the rehab program at my hospital. Maybe because of my age (47) and the fact that I was in relatively good shape before my surgery. Most of the patients on my post-op floor were by-pass patients in their 60's and 70's, and I think that most of them were encouraged to do the 30 day re-hab program run at the hospital. Proabably depends and whether your insurance covers re-hab also.
My doctor did insist that I follow my walking program at home. It was really tough the first few days but I was a walking fool after a few weeks. (One of my retired neighbors would sit in his driveway and count my laps around the block - never could get him to walk with me!).
I have been a weight lifter for years and one of the things I was really nervous about was going back to the gym. My doctor outlawed heavy benchpressing, but I was still nervous about my sterum and my pectoral muscles for several months. I had talked to my surgeon before surgery and he explained to me that the pectorals were ususally not affected by surgery, but they were still sore for a while.
I had a tough time sleeping for three to four months after my surgery. The first month or so I slept on the family room sofa, wedging myself into a semi-inclined position. I then progressed to using a wedge pillow in bed. I am normally not a back-sleeper and I think that had a lot in making me feel uncomfortable.

Mark

 

[Creed3]

Hi Sharon!
Glad to hear the pillows are helping some. It will keep getting better. Regarding the rehab. All of my doctors felt that rehab was not necessary for me. It may have been due to my age (34). They did go over with me the type of exercises I should be doing. I did look into going to rehab anyway, just to help with the confidence issue. My insurance company was giving me some problems and wanted certain tests to be done before I started rehab and my docs didn't think I needed to have those tests done. So, I never had rehab, but I do feel that is a very good thing to do if you can. Everything I have heard, from people who go to my hospital's rehab, say that it is a wonderful program. Again, alot of people use it to help get their confidence back. I think it is a great idea to do it.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Sharon

Hi Sharon

I'm 62 nd never went to rehab..Just hit the road and walk. walk,,,,Saw you are having a lot of snow today..So walk in the house. around and around. Try to get up to 3 miles a day. Not all at once. Bonnie

 

[RobbieLee]

Merry Christmas!! Thanks for the advice

Merry Christmas!! Thanks for the advice

Hi Bonnie and to all the others who I have not responded to yet! I have just been so busy with all the kids (7 to be exact over the holidays) We're the brady bunch and then some! Well, I have yet to walk like I should because of the weather. I do NOT like cold weather at all. I moved here from Hawaii and what a shocker! So, I do need to motivate to walk around the house, but haven't done that consistently either. I do "chase" a 15 month old around and a four year old. I also clean up after two teenagers, 12 & 13.... LOL so I thought maybe all of that might constitute as exercise??!! There are days lately when I don't sit down for what seems like all day... I suppose I was looking for the "confidence" that I thought rehab would give me. I do have a long list of questions for my cardiologist, who I see on the 7th of January. Bonnie, you have given me a boost knowing that you didn't need it and are doing well without it. I was a competitive athlete in the 80's ... ugh seems so long ago. But before surgery I was still working out, lifting weights and aerobics at home (although it was getting strenuous with the valve problem). I have all the equipment right here, but right now it's collecting dust. I am afraid to do any more of that stuff until I talk to my doctor about what's appropriate. I don't think they will prescribe me rehab either. I'm anxious to get the docs opinion for sure! I am enjoying all the feedback I get here and hope to maybe give some advice myself someday when it's not all so "new" to even myself. Take care, happy New Year. Sharon

 

[hensylee]

Sharon, sounds to me like you are getting an olympic workout every day. Taking care of that many has to be considered strenuous. Good luck - bet you had a lively day today, Christmas Day.

 

[terry40]

I haven't master that comfort zone in sleeping yet either...

I haven't master that comfort zone in sleeping yet either...

I sleep still on a recliner, I've tried laying on my side but wake up with discomfort in my rib cage area.

Yes I too have been a little fearful of over doing anything, so I'm starting cardiac rehab next week, everyones recovery progresses at a different level, my biggest complaintt has been that I don't seem to be healing as fast as others, but thank God for my family, who end that pity-party by reminding me of all my forward steps

Our bodies will heal in their own times!

Terry