After your surgery, what are some of the things that you found out that surprised you

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My cousin and I were in the prep room togeather before surgery. (same last name). I told the Dr. "Don't get us mixed up, I'm having AVR and he's having gastric bypass surgery." Thankfully they got it right in the OR but in the ICU they sent his records down instead of mine and vice versa.
 
I may be echoing several surprises others had. I was most surprised with:
-the lack of pain. I thought it would hurt much worse than my shoulder surgeries. I was wrong! It was uncomfortable and I couldn't use my arms to support me; but, I didn't have much pain.

-I absolutely freaked out when I woke-up and couldn't breathe because of the breathing tube! I fought the breathing tube and, as they were attempting to adjust it, I bit it as hard as I could. The care team eventually just removed it as I was a "fast track" to have it removed anyway.

-The level of "blues" or depression I had weeks after the procedure. I had a trouble-free procedure and an excellent post-surgical prognosis; but, I still had a fog that settled over me. I was able to visit with my doctor and get some help with this and feel very good mentally months after the surgery.
 
I had a bicuspid valve replaced, (73 yrs old) with a bovine valve and the doc also had to repair a sinus bleed on the back of my heart. So I went from a mini incision to a full OHS break and cut. Yes, it was a surprise but I was thankful for my surgeon not being in a hurry and missing it all together. Before surgery I had unrealistic expectations. I figured I’d be home in 4 days, it was 6. I thought I would sleep better at home, that took an additional 6 weeks. I would get my full energy back in 6 weeks, I’m at 10 now and I am not there yet, however it is greatly improved versus week 2 and 3. Nothing tastes good to me, so happily I’m losing weight but have to remind myself to eat. This was never a problem in the past. But it’s ok because I need to lose weight, now it’s much easier! I’ve learned that a positive attitude is my best medicine and expectations don’t help.
 
My cousin and I were in the prep room togeather before surgery. (same last name). I told the Dr. "Don't get us mixed up, I'm having AVR and he's having gastric bypass surgery." Thankfully they got it right in the OR but in the ICU they sent his records down instead of mine and vice versa.

That's too funny (could have been dangerous though)! Where I used to work they hired another guy several years after I was already there with the SAME first and last name as me (except for one letter difference how we spelled our first names) and this caused endless hassles for both of us. HR would constantly screw up in one way or another regarding various overtime pay or various expense reimbursements and I'd get emails meant for him or vice versa. Damn good thing we weren't in the hospital at the same time having surgery like you and your cousin!
 
I may be echoing several surprises others had. I was most surprised with:
-the lack of pain. I thought it would hurt much worse than my shoulder surgeries. I was wrong! It was uncomfortable and I couldn't use my arms to support me; but, I didn't have much pain.
Glad to hear it was low pain for you. Interesting, funnily I went into it expecting not to have that much pain, comparatively. I'll be frank, worst pain I've been in. More than expected.
I've had a good dozen plus other surgeries of various degrees and wasn't so concerned, but came out of it in serious pain that went all around my chest. Finally after I got out of the drug fugue and some of my wits back, I realized it was my back as much as my chest.
I've had a slew of car accidents and other things happen, so I've had chronic back pain since early college. (People seem to like to run into me at high speeds when I'm stopped.)
What I didn't know before was that they basically strap you down to a stainless bed that has a big bulge that goes right into the center of your back, kind of like having someone strongly push their knee in between your shoulder blades while pulling your shoulders back....for 6 hours-ish. Doc agreed it was one of the worst things they could have done for my back, we laughed it set me back 5 years at least.
I'm back in rehab for my back for who knows how long, which is already going longer than my heart rehab (which I fully recommend). I'll of course take that over being dead. :)
 
Not sure if it was improved post AVR circulation, or just manic episode because I was still alive, but once off the narcotics and just on acetaminophen, I felt that my thought process was on fire. Had to tone it down a bit , but fortunately was able to revive a particular meditation practice from my younger years that helped me pull back on the extroversion. I still feel like it was primarily better neural profusion however.
 
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