2 1/2 weeks post op
2 1/2 weeks post op
It's now been a bit over two weeks since surgery. The sternum is still a bit sore, but I hardly ever need to take a painkiller. I've taken some long (30 +) minute walks in the downtown underground pathways (the main ones extend over six miles) in the past few days. But that's mostly after lunch. I still feel tired in the early mornings and evenings. Before surgery I though I was going to be good as new in just four weeks. Now I realize that was very unrealistic.
I was put on a small dose of Metoprolol and that's keeping my blood pressure down a bit. Sometimes it falls as low as 90/60, rarely gets over 115/65. I occasionally get a bit dizzy if I stand up and immediately start walking, but not to the point that I feel at risk of fainting. Before surgery I was a very normal 120/70.
Another symptom is that I feel cold unless the thermostat is set at 73 degrees. Also, food still tastes bland. I'm not sure if that's entirely the sense of taste or if the sense of smell is a little diminished as well.
All in all, I'm reasonably satisfied with my progress. I don't have any significant symptoms of 'pump head', which I worried about before surgery. I was able to start reading a novel even before I left the hospital. I feel that I can concentrate reasonably well and I'm not having any vision problems. I've even started to worry about my taxes and had a complicated discussion with my tax preparer today about capital gains, etc.
Alan
