Echo in two weeks

[Rick W]

Hello to everyone. It has been some time since visiting this site. Hopefully I can get some input from you all. My next echo is in two weeks and I am anticipating the results may not be good. In case I do need AVR surgery soon, can anyone tell me what recovery at home would be like. Such things as getting out of bed, preparing meals, going to bathroom, etc? I heard an "easy chair" is the way to go versus a bed. Does the incision move when getting up? I don't know if I will be able to get someone to stay with me when I come home, so I would try going it alone, if that is possible. Maybe I am thinking too far ahead, but I like to be prepared, you know?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Yaps]

I was able

I was able

to move , some what slower than before.And after about 10 days I was able to cook.
My story may not be the norm though as I had quad by-pass and mitral valve, but the vessels used in quad were blocked further down ..unbeknownst to my drs.. so I really was'nt doing very well. I'd gone into chf and did'nt realise it.
But over-all I was up and moving, driving after 30 days. Bathroom ..oh my..after lasix..lol didn't matter I GOT TO THE RESTROOM .lol
I would have some-one stay with you if possible, as you dont want to be alone and slip or fall.
The incision for me did and still does seem to grind... just dont want to see dr about it..thats my choice though..as I seem to live at drs..lol
Wish you tons of luck.. love Yaps

 

[Eloise]

I was out of it for two weeks out of surgery.I think I was in bed for 3 days,had zero appetite and didn't want to do what my doctors told me to do which was exercise.I'd try to have someone stay with you or at least visit on a daily basis.

 

[Rain]

I could have taken care of myself.

I could have taken care of myself.

Rick,

I came home from the hospital on day 5. My Mom was here when I got home. I still had a 16 year old and a six year old at home at the time. My Mom cooked all the meals and took care of my house. But honestly... if I had needed to take care of myself, I could have. The hardest things I found in my daily routine were putting cloths in the dryer and brushing my then six year old?s knee length hair. Both of which I did anyway.

Personally... if I needed to, I wouldn?t be afraid of it. Of course if possible you want someone there... but I guarantee you I wouldn?t have even considered hiring anyone to come in. Just make sure you have some easy to cook food and a phone near you.

I know one guy who drove himself home from the hospital and took care of himself all the way through it.

Of course it depends on your own situation and how well you come through the surgery.

 

[Tom F.]

Recovery can be a very individual thing, one person's story will not be the same as anothers. In general after you get a week or so out from surgery you will be surprised at how much you can do, but the first week at home can be tough. You will sleep a lot. You will find that taking a shower will be very tiring, at least I did. I suggest a shower chair. You generally should feel no pain, and your incision should be tight and together. But you might not want to do very much at all. If I absolutely HAD to stay alone I could do it, but the comfort of having my wife at hand was very appreciated. Of course, you will not be able to life much, or drive a car. At two weeks you will still be tired, that continues for some time, but you will slowly be returning to a more normal pace.

How will you be getting home from the hospital? When I was discharged the nurse was giving me papers to sign and such, and in the course of it said "when will someone be here to pick you up?", and I said "its ok, my car is in the parking lot". The nurse freaked !

 

[scottvant]

Rick--

Looking back on it now I'm convinced I could have taken care of myself. My parents live 900 miles away, though, and you know how moms worry--just because I knew she wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer, I agreed to stay with some friends of mine for the first couple of weeks. Turns out I did enjoy the company, but it really wouldn't have been necessary. I was released from the hospital six days after my surgery, and I really only felt "out of it" for a day or so. And the only thing that was a major inconvenience was the PICC line I was sent home with (long catheter in my arm, so I could give myself twice-daily infusions of IV antibiotics) and all the rigamarole involved in that little process every day--which you won't have to deal with if you're not fighting off endocarditis like I was.

Sleeping was uncomfortable--I can't sleep any other way but on my stomach--but I had to learn, ACK! That only lasted a week or two, tho, and the weird "snap" I felt along my sternum when I'd stretch or move went away shortly after that...

Your mileage may vary, of course, but it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it was gonna be.

 

[bvdr]

I didn't my sternum opened but other than that the surgery was the same. I got home on a Saturday. My husband stayed with me on Sunday and on Monday he went in to work part-time. I was so glad to have the time alone. I felt perfectly safe. I had a phone and everything I needed. I also had no responsibilities (not saying I was irresponsible ) such as small children to attend.

As you can see, recovery is very individual. Check out some of the old threads about preparing for recovery. I think you will find some helpful reading. I wish you the very best.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Rick,

MOST patients find it uncomfortable to sleep on their back or sides for the first few (2 or 3) weeks as your sternum may 'shift' a little when you turn until it begins to heal. This 'shifting' may be a function of how tightly your surgeon wired your chest together.

Sleeping in a recliner is the most common solution. A rented hospital / adjustable bed is another solution. Some people report success with a body pillow in bed or sleeping on a couch with lots of pillows.

You will most likely get VERY TIRED VERY QUICKLY during the first week or two (or more). It would be good to have someone with you for the first week at least. Having some to prepare your meals for the first couple of weeks would be a MAJOR benefit. A cordless phone or cell phone is especially helpful. You REALLY don't want to trip or fall during the first few weeks. Catching yourself with your arms would be VERY uncomfortable and might 'undo' the healing of your sternum....

At 6 weeks, your sternum should be healed to about 80% of its normal strength. It takes 12 weeks to reach 100%, assuming no complications. You will most likely be restricted to lift NO MORE THAN 5 LBS for several weeks and then gradually increase that to 40 lbs on a schedule provided by your surgeon. Most surgeons prefer that you not drive for 6 weeks but many seem to relent to LIMITED driving in light traffic at 4 weeks.

Most first time patients under 60 who are in otherwise good health can return to non-physical type work after 6 to 8 weeks. Starting out part time for a couple of weeks helps make the transition easier. It takes several months for most of us (over 50) to recover our stamina.

Planning ahead for all contingencies as you are doing is wise.

Good Luck!

'AL'

 

[Rick W]

Thank you to all who took the time to respond to my question. I now have some idea how my recovery could proceed after I get home. Everyone had helpful comments regarding their own recovery. I hope I can be of similar help to someone in need on this site in the future.

Rick

 

[tobagotwo]

Everyone's recovery is different. I was 51 and active before the surgery, and had no real complications. The luck of the draw was that I tolerated the surgery very well, and my early recovery went very smoothly. I was walking on day one, and home on day three. I went up and down stairs with no problem (good thing, because the only bathroom is up there). I didn't need to have anyone home to get by, although my wife was still very reluctant to leave me, in case "something" might happen. I also slept in my own bed from night one, which I guess might be the case for about half of new valvers.

You should set up a nest for yourself, a base of operations for after the surgery. A recliner is a good tool for that, as you should rest with your feet up when you are not walking. If it?s real comfortable for you, a couch may work, but it will be harder to get up out of. Basic things are a table or two within reach for food, drinks, reading material, your spirometer, your prescriptions, TV remote, a blanket (you may get chills easily at first), the phone, Kleenex, thank-you cards, a pad of paper and writing implements.

There are some things you won't be able to do well (or at all) at first, because of your wired sternum:

• Open jars
• pick things up off the floor (Bend over in general)
• brush your teeth manually (If you don't have an electric, get one of those inexpensive battery ones)
• brush your hair
• wash your back
• blow your nose (Hard to get any force behind it with a busted chest)
• wash pots and pans (Too heavy, bad leaning angle)
• carry a gallon of milk (Over your weight limit)
• sneeze (Just don?t let it happen. Just don?t.)
• yank open a door (Car or house ? open it slowly)
• put on sock, put on and tie shoes (it?s slow, at first)
• hold babies (Don?t do this. They slam their heads into your chest.)
• hold babies (Don?t do this. If they squirm off, you can?t grab them.)
• get up from lying down quickly
• drive (That's okay. You want to walk anyway.)

You?ll think of your own, too. Nature will tell you?

Obviously, I was lucky and blessed. I think a lot of it floated up from this site, as all these people are incredibly supportive. There are others here who've had similar fortunate recoveries, and many who've had struggles of various degrees. However, you should know that it can go fairly easily, just as well as it can be hard.

Best wishes,