Activity Level After Surgery

[agilbert817]

Hey there! Hubby is 10 days post-op from an aortic valve replacement. They did the surgery via mini-thoracotomy, so he's doing really well. He's hardly in any pain and says he feels great. How active should/shouldn't he be? We heard he should walk a lot, but then the home health nurse just said he should take it easy. So, we're not sure if he should be resting in a chair and doing a few laps around the house or if he should be walking around the neighborhood.

 

[dick0236]

After only 10 days I'd suggest "walk around the neighborhood". Sitting in a chair would not help recover at all........and it might be awhile before "laps around the house" are doable.

 

[Eva]

My motto is never to rush recovery, though recovery time differs from one person to another. I was given special instructions on activities before leaving hospital.
Walking is essential, and I was asked to increase my pace a bit at a time.

You may find advice here:
http://www.cts.usc.edu/hpg-resuminga...rtsurgery.html

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000291.htm

 

[pellicle]

Hi and welcome

...10 days post-op from an aortic valve replacement.
... says he feels great. How active should/shouldn't he be? We heard he should walk a lot

Ignore the nurse, follow the cardiologist and surgeons advice.

Faster recoveries are had by walking and extending that as you can.

Take great care with lifting for the first weeks and do not chop wood or dog holes.

If I'd get a Garmin or a fitbit and keep an eye on the actual numbers and see what feels doable. Week by week extend your targets. I'd expect that 5000 steps a day Will be doable either now or soon.

Resist the urge to sit too long as that is only going to slow recovery.

Best Wishes

 

[Agian]

You've got to get your lungs working, to clear up any effusion. Sitting around is very tempting, but set yourself a goal to do so many steps everyday.

 

[Juli]

I fully support what Pellicle wrote. I am now 7 weeks post OP and also had a less invasive procedure (inverted T, 4" incision). Little to no pain, just on Tylenol since the second day.

Walking is the best exercise. Great advice to get a Fitbit - I have the Fitbit HR which allows to track the heart rate. I walked over 10.000 steps on the fifth day when I came home and walked almost every day 11-18.000 steps. Luckily I am now back on my bike and enjoyed last Sunday my first ride - 30 miles and no problems. My take is - provided there were no complications - that the heart recovers very quickly and the "only" problem that remains is the healing of the sternum. However this is where the surgery approach and the closing technology possibly makes a big difference. I was lucky and able to return to work after 2.5 weeks and today would consider to have fully recovered.

 

[agilbert817]

Thanks a ton, everyone! Our home health nurse kinda implied we might break the valve loose by walking too much. Haha. The day before we walked 8,000 steps and were soooo proud of that. He's got a Garmin watch, so we're going to start tracking it and trying to do just a little more each day.

Juli - We are a little worried about when they might return him back to work, mostly from selfish standpoints. He was mentally prepared for a sternotomy and the recovery timeframe that takes (6-8 weeks). When the surgeon mentioned returning to work in just a few weeks, I think we were both surprised. His recovery has been really "easy" (minor fever is the biggest thing we've had)...no pain, lots of rest and relaxation. We were joking that we need to figure out how to take an early retirement

 

[Agian]

Ah, the minor fever scared the crap out of me. It's all good though, but I did need a course of antibiotics. Walking around keeps the airways open, which prevents the bugs from making the bases of your lungs their home.

 

[epstns]

You may want to try the "re-entry" plan that I used. My surgeon released me to work (office desk job) and drive a car at about 5 weeks. I had him write my "return to work" letter stating that I was to work the first two weeks part-time, then after that full-time "as tolerated." That gave me the flexibility to return to work, stay current with what was happening there, but still cut the day short if I got tired. This worked really well for me, especially once I started cardiac rehab, when I just left early to attend "class."

 

[Rachel]

You may want to try the "re-entry" plan that I used. My surgeon released me to work (office desk job) and drive a car at about 5 weeks. I had him write my "return to work" letter stating that I was to work the first two weeks part-time, then after that full-time "as tolerated." That gave me the flexibility to return to work, stay current with what was happening there, but still cut the day short if I got tired. This worked really well for me, especially once I started cardiac rehab, when I just left early to attend "class."

I will second this plan - GREAT plan - worked for me too!

 

[Trinalovescats]

When I first got home my parents had me walk back and forth in the house to get use to walking again.Then,they went around the neighborhood with me as well.Now I just walk walk walk!

Tell him to not push himself to much,everyone is different.

 

[epstns]

Just be careful walking around the neighborhood. If you walk there, you have to have enough energy to walk back home!

I remember the first time I went outside to walk, I almost overdid it. I got to the mailbox a couple of blocks away and thought to myself, "Can I really make it home without stopping on somebody's steps to rest?"