A little advice

[PCFriars]

I'm new to this and was wondering if someone could give me some advice. Had a new Mechanical Aortic valve replacement 3 weeks post-op. Had no idea I had this issue was walking down the street and passed out good thing the fire dept. got there quick. This has been an overwhelming 5 weeks. I have to questions.

1 - Can't sleep - get a couple of hours and then up all night.
2 - Felt great the first couple of weeks but now my chest is tight and
painful getting out of the chair or bed. The nurse seems to think I was
doing too much was walking about 2 miles a day for about two weeks and
says the muscles and sternum are healing. Just want to be sure this is
nothing to be worried about....

Thanks - what a relief to know I not the only one in this boat.......

 

[kfay]

Welcome to our little world. Sleep issues are VERY common after this surgery. It will get better, just takes time. If you haven't touched base with your cardio about your chest feeling tight, I would probably do so. You are still early in your recovery and issues can/do pop up. Give them a call on Monday and see what they have to say. If nothing else, it will give you peace of mind that everything is ok.

Kim

 

[cp172]

Sloooow down. I think 2 miles is a bit much 3 weeks out if you are hurting. I hope your recovery is a smooth one.

 

[Bina]

my thoughts are to slow down also.....and wear a Medical Alert bracelet, or don't walk alone.

 

[Jkm7]

Happy you found us. With such an emergency happening to you and all that followed, it had to be more than a little frightening.

Sounds like you are doing well but you probably should talk about the changes in your chest with your cardio or surgeon. Just to be safe. Call their office - they expect to have a few such calls from you. Not like you had all kinds of time to research and learn in advance of your surgery. (Same with me. I had my first OHS as an emergency and it was a bit overwhelming until I had the chance to start educating myself after the fact.)

I had trouble sleeping after both my surgeries. It is the rule rather than the exception. It gets better.

I live in the Northeast and was walking about the same amount three weeks out. But my body is used to the walking as I've done it for years. The first week home, it was pathetic how short a distance was my limit but accomplished more distance quickly.

Ask your questions here. This is an amazing group of very kind, supportive and many knowledgeable people.

Best wishes for a bump free recovery. Take it easy. NO lifting. You've been through a lot.

 

[Lily]

I'm new to this and was wondering if someone could give me some advice. Had a new Mechanical Aortic valve replacement 3 weeks post-op. Had no idea I had this issue was walking down the street and passed out good thing the fire dept. got there quick. This has been an overwhelming 5 weeks. I have to questions.

1 - Can't sleep - get a couple of hours and then up all night.
2 - Felt great the first couple of weeks but now my chest is tight and
painful getting out of the chair or bed. The nurse seems to think I was
doing too much was walking about 2 miles a day for about two weeks and
says the muscles and sternum are healing. Just want to be sure this is
nothing to be worried about....

Thanks - what a relief to know I not the only one in this boat.......

Welcome to the site . That's how I felt when I first found this site. And I had about 40 years notice about an impending valve surgery.

What a shock for you. I think, from some other things I've read, that you are probably very fortunate the paramedics got to you so quickly after you passed out.

For your questions, it never hurts to ask your cardio; remember that none of us here are doctors (well, actually there are a few) and we can mostly just share what we've experienced or what we've read. But that can sometimes help too.

Various post-op sleep issues seem to be common, from different causes including: night sweats, pain, ticking, too many naps, etcetera. Maybe your cardio can help you with this because getting a good night's sleep is very important.

My sternum got tight as it healed. The surgeon's staff gave me some simple stretching exercises to do that helped with that. I think most surgeons have a packet of papers for patients that help with various before and after information. Perhaps your surgeon's office may have a printout they could fax over to you or something.

But I don't know about your pain, especially if it is increasing for no known reason. I think I'd call the surgeon's office about that.

That said, many surgeons recommend a five or ten pound weight limit for several weeks post-op, even between six and eight weeks. My surgeon told me not to lift or push or pull more than five pounds.

You have a lot of healing ahead of you yet. I hope this was helpful.

 

[netmiff]

I'm not a walker, but 2 miles does seem a lot at your stage - unless you were walking a lot, or even running, before your surgery.

I was diagnosed with murmur in 1985, and was told about 10 years before surgery that it was "someday" in the future, and I was still taken aback when I was told "someday" was "now". I can't imagine what it would be like to hear that news in the emergency dept.! But, you're not the first here, and some will be along soon.

Sleep is ofetn an issue, as are chest/muscle pains. It is the way that you are positioned on the table during surgery, and it takes a while to get the kinks sorted out. For the first few weeks, most of us sleep where and when we can - a lot of people say a a recliner is their best friend, some take a stronger pain pill at night, some take something to help them sleep. However, as has been said, you are in the early days, bad things can, and do, happen, so I would check in with your docs and see what they have to say about it. Could be a lot of things, fluid build-up is not uncommon, and easily treated.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

NAPS are GOOD !

If you can't get back to sleep, then get up, move around, read or watch TV until you are sleepy again.

Heed the 5-10 lb Lifting / Pushing / Pulling Limit until your sternum is healed.

It takes 6 Weeks for the Sternum to reach 85% of it's normal strength. Another 6 Weeks to reach 100%.

Most Surgeons recommend staying off work until 6 to 8 weeks post-op if there are NO complications.

You may want to discuss your exercise schedule with your Surgeon's office (Nurse, Surgeon's Assistant, etc.). They should have given you some guidelines on types of exercise, how often and how long etc.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[tobagotwo]

Things like bending over to tie shoes or pick things up, opening car doors (you should not be driving until at least six weeks), and reaching for things are to be done carefully and infrequently for a while. Remember, the limit for your sternum is such that even a gallon of milk is heavier than you should lift: a pint is a pound (2 pints = 1 quart, 4 quarts = 1 gallon, therefore about 8 pounds to a gallon of milk).

I personally don't think the two miles has anything to do with it, unless you're swinging your arms in a too-meaningful way. I walked way past the "guidelines" as well, for both OHSs. However, it should not be the March of Bataan. It should be more for movement at this point.

If you start feeling "overstuffed," or have extreme fatigue, sudden weight gains, or shortness of breath, you should bring it to your cardiologist's attention. In some instances, fluid can collect around the heart and cause difficulties. It can be drained fairly easily, although it's not particularly pleasant. If somethng like that does happen to you, you should know that it won't go away by itself, and you will have to seek a doctor's help.

Try to determine for yourself if it's muscular-type chest pain, vs. something internal. Usually it is. As it mends, the rib cage goes through some pretty cranky stages, sometimes including sharp pains from the enraged intercostals (small muscles between the ribs).

You should do some slow and gentle stretching and upper body twisting to keep your chest muscles loose. Not to strengthen, just to ensure it will all work correctly when it's healed. Your body will tell you right away if you're overdoing it. This is not a no-pain, no-gain situation.

Congratulations on having a successful operation. The worst is behind you now. Be good to yourself.

Best wishes,

 

[COLLEEN S]

Yep, you are overdoing it for 3 weeks out. Did you have sleep issues before surgery? What caused you to pass out, have you asked your doctor? Get medic alert emblem to wear also. Tell someone when you leave to go for a walk and ask them to call you 30 minutes later. Then, if they can't get you on the phone, they know something is wrong.

 

[Mentu]

PC, I am now at 11 weeks post op and my chest muscles are still touchy. Give yourself some time to heal before you take on too much activity. My experience has been that too much activity has resulted in more disturbed sleep patterns so. AVR isn't something that most of us heal from in just a few days. Like the others, I would also suggest that you speak with your Cardio about the tightness in the chest and while you are at it talk with him about your activity level.

 

[PCFriars]

Thanks for all the advice I guess I will slow down a bit.... just hard to do but I am learning the hard way....... This kills me to say it but I think my wife was right on this one..........

Thanks again.....