Bad nights

[Mary]

It's really good to hear that it's not "just me". Do any of you have these days when you feel totally weak, have more pain, like going backwards in your healing process? I have one of those today, don't even feel like walking , and it scares me.

Oh Bani,
Of course I do! About the time I think everything is great, I wake up the next morning hurting and feeling really tired.
I'm 4 1/2 months out and I experience it, so I can imagine how you must feel at 2 weeks.
Are you taking naps? I hope so. JimL told me to try them, and the extra rest helped alot during the first few months.

 

[Karlynn]

It's really good to hear that it's not "just me". Do any of you have these days when you feel totally weak, have more pain, like going backwards in your healing process? I have one of those today, don't even feel like walking , and it scares me.

Bani, you are still a newborn babe in the recovery process. You need to have patience with yourself and go with the flow. We often think that everyone else must be doing better than we are, because we expect to just spend a few days recovering and then assume life as normal. Mary's suggestion of naps are good. (14 years out - I still take that suggestion! )

Don't hesitate to call your doctor if you think you are not progressing as you should. Chances are you will find you are doing fine, but peace of mind also helps with sleep. Don't be afraid to let the doctors earn their large fees.

As far as the breathing issue, remember that they were monitoring you while you were in the hospital, so if you were stopping breathing then, you would have been told about it.

 

[PaulW]

Just starting to sleep better

Just starting to sleep better

Bani,

I'm just starting to sleep maybe five or six hours a night after more than two months of very little sleep. In the first weeks my wife was up with me at night frequently due to my anxiety and pain. She massaged my neck and shoulders and back a lot--at least three times per day and in the night--and this helped a lot! I had a large amount of anxiety which has gradually decreased, but is still at a high level on bad days.Strangely enough, my new ace inhibitor, Lisinopril, seems to be helping me sleep better recently. I trust that everything is going to improve for you too with time and rest. And do not forget your exercise. My treadmill is one of my new best friends! My anxiety decreases immediately after my treadmill sessions. Best of luck to you!

 

[Superbob]

Better Days

Better Days

Bani,

You are most definitely not alone. I am more than 8 months post-op and I still have some sleep problems and occasionally take a sleeping pill. But it's getting better and I do get some sound sleep now, and you will too. I found I needed to try to just quit worrying about it -- just rest, maybe watch some TV, see if anyone else is on vr.com at crazy hours In the early days after the surgery, I did find myself waking up in the recliner worrying about breathing problems, but I had had some oxygen problems post-op and was on the vent for a day extra, so that was a normal worry. But it passed. What's the saying about time healing all wounds? Things will get better.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[bani]

What would I do without all of you....!

My surgeon who did a wonderful job as a surgeon, told me yesterday that most people would not experience my degree of anxiety, and that made me feel like a freak.

On the other hand, I talked to a friend in Germany ( that's where I am originally from), and she told me that with this kind of surgery people in Germany stay in the hospital for three weeks to begin with, and then there is cardiac rehab. You are right: I have to be more patient with myself...

 

[joanne6]

anxiety

anxiety

Bani,
I also felt that I was more anxious than other heart patients but now I know that it is not just me. I would be fine during the day when people were around. At night after my husband went to sleep I would have more anxiety. Found myself on the computer in the middle of the night. Walked around the house. Tried falling back to sleep in the recliner. After the first few weeks the night anxiety disappeared..
It sounds like you are doing well for being so new after surgery. I think many of us (myself at the top of the list) expect too much from our bodies too soon.
One day at a time.
Joanne