Fatigued

[Babydoll]

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering before surgery how people dealed with the fatigued ,dizzness and palptations? I have been getting really drained by the end of the week from working and trying to do normal life stuff. Friday I was so sick and fatigued that my boss called my mom to come get me. I felt like such a baby Am worried that am going to get worse before I get better.
Stacey

 

[Ross]

Think maybe your overdoing a bit? Sounds like it to me. Slow down where you can. Your not going to be better before the cure, so do what you can and do no more. Rest when you need too.

 

[Nancy]

I certainly agree with Ross. Your heart is telling you that it is too stressed and that if you push it, it will act up. You cannot will this away with determination, or taking your mind off it. See if your wonderful boss can give you a long nap break during the day or cut your hours a bit so you are not stressing your heart.

All this will be a memory. So hang in there. You will be feeling better.

 

[Babydoll]

It's hard for me to slow down. I feel like am not doing anything now. I hate not being able to do normal stuff like just go to work. I love my job and it's hard for me not to be there my patients are great it's like my extended family.When I slow down and rest is when I start thinking about my surgery! Wish I had a magic wand and be half way normal again.
Stacey

 

[Nancy]

How about a magic scalpel? Would that be a good substitute?

 

[Mary]

This little lady has the magic scalpel in her left hand; we just can't see it!
Mary

 

[Karlynn]

Sounds like your body is forcing you to slow down. Unfortunately the body waits until the last minute to put the breaks on and then it's like driving 40 mph into a wall. Is there anyway you can pace yourself? Work half days? See half your patient load and have others pick up the slack?

Don't try to prove to yourself that you are superwoman despite the valve problem or your recovery after surgery is going to be slower because you've debilitated your body pre-surgery.

 

[Bryan B]

Stacey,

I experienced a lot of fatigue between the time I found out I needed surgery and the surgery itself. Here are the reasons I theorize caused the added fatigue:

1.) STRESS! Knowing you're about to have OHS is stressful and mentally fatiguing.

2.) AWARENESS! Now I knew why I felt fatigued...before I blamed it on everything but my heart.

3.) BETA BLOCKER! Toprol XL will really put a drag on you. I went on this about the same time I found out I needed surgery.

4.) ENDOCARDITIS! After my surgery my surgeon said he tried to repair my valve but the endocarditis had left several perforations that prevented him from repairing the valve. So along with the first 3 things on my list, my valve was functioning worse than ever.

Numbers 1 & 2 is enough for anyone to feel fatigued. Try not to fight it, don't overdo it, and it will get better after the surgery!

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi There Stacey

Hi There Stacey

Hi There Stacey,
I am in the same situation you are, which is waiting for surgery, and I get all those symptoms as well. As for the fatigue, I am just now learning not to be resistant to what my body is telling me. I know this is hard, as I just overworked my heart, by walking a distance that I feel a 38 yr old male should be able to do...the reality is that my body is speaking up for a reason, and when it says rest, I have to tell myself that it doesn't matter what other people's opinions are, and I stop what I am doing and rest. As for the dizziness, Does your doc have you on an alpha/beta blocker like Coreg and a Blood Pressure pill such as Zestril? I was put on Coreg at the same time as my Blood Pressure pill, and WOW! Talk about Dizzy spells. The combination of these two pills dropped my blood pressure down to 70/30 and when he took me off the BP pills, the dizzy spells stopped. As for the palpitations, I keep telling my doctor about them and how frequently I get them, and I am relentless on this because it seems that this is the only way the doctors will listen...You practically have to Scream at them to get them to take you seriously. I hope these ideas will help you in feeling a little better anyway. Take Care Harrybaby666

 

[Susan BAV]

Hey Stacey -

When's your surgery date? The last year before my surgery, I had better times for symptoms and worse times for symptoms. The worse times gradually became more intense and more frequent. Last summer was really awful. We took a European trip in July during the heat wave and I was exhausted, bloated and puffy, having all kinds of crazy arrythmias, etc. And it got worse after that.

Stress, heat, too much exertion, not enough rest... these are some of the things that seemed to contribute to my worsening symptoms.

Best wishes.