back in the saddle post surgery

[psalmist]

I just had my first flu experience post surgery, among other things, and I was wondering how everyone dealt with such things without loosing their cool. I found myself with every ache and pain wondering what the heck was that. Well, I know that there is a long road ahead of me and I was wondering is it normal to have a sense of anxiety about ones well being. I think it is the once bitten twice shy thing. I used to be so confident in my health. I would say that the valve thing has shaken that a little. I will say that the support here on the sight has been paramount in helping regain that. I am very anxious on moving ahead and want to be reasonable but would really like to gain a sense of carefree living that I once had. Here's to being alive ! God bless. Seth

 

[Guest]

I think it is only natural for us to worry about illness after our surgery, especially the first six months post op. I had bronchitis and an ear infection 3 wks ago, did not feel good at all, wasted no time getting myself into the doc. My PCP gave me 875 mg amoxicillin twice a day for 7 days, she did not want to give me an antibiotic that would interact with my coumadin. I saw my surgeon for my final post op visit a week later, asked him if I needed to worry about getting sick and he said I was just like everyone else now, I was far enough out from my surgery date that I should not worry.

 

[marie]

Seth
I'm guessing your feelings are normal although I have not had the flu I have a concern with every little thing. If my heart beat is slow, fast loud etc I'm thinking Ok what's that mean. I'm only a little over three weeks out and doing fine. I have some A-Fib which I'm on medication for and it's stable but I do worry a lot.
Earline

 

[Adrienne]

I had a low-grade fever in October and was panicking that it was endocarditis (which I had in 2004). I even packed a bag for the hospital saying that if it lasted more than a day or so, I was going to the ER. It went away after a day. Also, I realized my stomach was a little delicate, so I think it must have been either something I ate or a very small stomach virus.

It's hard to not worry about things like that.

 

[Nancy]

Seth-

You've had a huge change in your life. It is certainly understandable that you would feel all "asea" right now, and probably for a while yet. Slowly and steadily, you will make peace with the new you and everything won't seem so strange. Allow yourself the time to adjust and try not to beat up on yourself if you are not acting perfectly. I think if you get upset because you are upset, it just compounds the problem. Go with the flow and let the tide carry you along until you gain your confidence back.

It will return and you will be surprised that you will be even stronger emotionally for having gone through such an experience.

 

[Magic8Ball]

The funny thing is, since surgery approx 14months ago i haven't been sick, not once.

Although i'm paranoid about getting sick and having something affect my INR....when guys at work are sick i give them a wide birth.

Worrying about it is natural.

 

[netmiff]

Yeah, I, too, have turned into a bit of worry-wart - every little ache and pain is examined in my head, and the worst is imagined. Only 5 months out, though, so I am hoping that will settle down eventually.

Between being told it was "now" as opposed to "sometime" was 6 months for me; I was under a lot of other stress, my MIL died suddenly at that time, and as shelived with us, and DH is executor, there was a lot going on. But what with the restrictions the cardio put on me, my chronic depression and the extra anxiety, I was worrying about everything before-hand, too. So, maybe it is just an old habit that is hard to shake. A little caution is not a bad thing, but I know I am overdoing it !

 

[MikeHeim]

I'll let you know when I hit that sense of being carefree again. Obviously everyone on this site thinks about being a heart patient every single day, so we're most likely not the best indicators. It probably has to do with the type of person you are as well. I'm pretty Type A, so I think it's natural to constantly overanalyze things and worry.

 

[BDMc]

It Is Only Natural

It Is Only Natural

Seth, It will get better/less with the passing of time, but to some degree, it will always be there. I don't worry compulsively about my health anymore, but any symptom can sound the alarm bells. Sorry to hear you were ill. I know it's a nasty bug making the rounds this year. Hope you are feeling much better! Brian Mc

 

[shellyb]

My husband had AVR Oct. 3,, 2007. He was diagnosed with influenza a couple of weeks ago. I was the one who pushed him to call our family doctor. So, trust me, family members worry also.

shellyb

 

[Cooker]

Seth...I got the crud back in December...I think....That was the first sick spell since my AVR nearly two years ago....It is natural to be a bit more concerned but I don't obsess about my heart....if valve replacement would make us immune from sickness everybody would get one

 

[Philip B]

flu

flu

I was hit with by a flu bug this week. It was a pretty mild case and I didn't find myself too concerned. My response to getting the "bug" was pretty much the same as my response before I had surgery last March. My heart is functioning normally; to loosely quote my cardio doc, "Like new," so why sweat the little stuff like a bout with a flu bug.

As others have noted in their posts, it's undoubtedly normal to be concerned about health issues after one has gone through OHS. I do think the advice which was offered about trying to relax and go with the flow is good advice. You've survived OHS; you're tougher than you probably give yourself credit for.

-Philip