Finally Had My Surgery

[clc]

Well, after what seems like forever and a switch in surgeons and hospitals, I finally had my aortic valve replacement on April 25th. Reports are that I did well and my stint in CCU was a breeze. I was moved to the step down unit sooner than normal. I was released from the hospital on April 30th. Since I've been home, I have become increasingly concerned. I'm not feeling any better post surgery than I was pre sugery. I still get out of breath and have no stamina at all. I am also finding that I can't seem to lay in my bed and have been sleeping in my recliner. I am seeing my cardiologist today and plan to discuss all of this with him also. Has anyone else experienced any of these problems post surgery? If so, how long did it take you to start actually feeling better? Am I expecting too much too soon? Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

 

[Nancy]

Hi clc-

First of all BIG congratulations on having the surgery behind you. To answer your question, yes, you are expecting too much too soon. It will take about 6 weeks post op before you start to feel better. Everything you are experiencing right now seem normal and things most everyone else has been through. This is major, major surgery. It cannot be compared to any other surgery, except possibly lung surgery.

You will be exhausted and breathless for some time. Your heart has a lot of healing to do and your body has to get rid of the anesthesia and other medications that are used. It takes a surprisingly long time for these to be gone from your system. Also, most people are on new medication right after surgery and will be adjusting to them.

You might also not have much of an appetite. Many folks cannot sleep in bed for about a month. Each person is individualistic in their recovery, but it sounds like familiar ground to me.

What say, the rest of you?

I am sure your cardiologist will be making sure there are not any problems, but I bet he'll find that you are in healing mode.

Good luck with your recovery. Things really do get better, it just takes a little time.

 

[Anne-Marie]

Hi CLC,

I had my AVR the day before you did and had an uneventful stay in the hospital. I'm slow, still short of breath at time, but feeling stronger each day. I'm also using a recliner, It's much more comfortable than trying to lie down on a bed.

When in hospital, I asked why I couldn't hear my mechanical valve ticking. The said my heart was swollen after surgery and once the swelling went down, I'd hear it. I do hear it now, but the point is, we've been a through a fair bit of trauma, and we need to give ourselves time to heal. If my heart was swollen post-op, I doubt it is functioning at an optimum just yet.

I need to nap during the day and my stamina is still way down there. I know that's not because the surgery failed, but because my body has been trhough a lot. I've had surgeries before (not open heart) and you just need to give yourself time.

Best wishes!

 

[ccrawford]

Relax CLC

Relax CLC

Hi CLC - I got over the mountain just a few days before you did, and beleive I can respond to your concerns. I've been sleeping in a recliner ever since, and figure I will return to bed in a few weeks or so. I've just purchased a bunch of new pillows to create a sloped bed or wedge in preparation for that, but there is no hurry-Lazy Boy is taking good care of me. I'm almost off the pain pills now, but sometimes take one if I've tried to push the excercise too much. I'm walking (albeit slowly) about a half mile a day and trying to increase it a little each day. My appetite has returned (darn it) and I'm just a few pounds under what pre surgery weight was. Sutures come out in a couple of days, and my pulse has slowed down a little in the last few days. Recently had a little scare in that my INR ran up to 6.9, but it's back down and all is well. I've got a mechanical aortic valve and a single bypass, and I'm looking forward to seeing those small improvements every day. I beleive it will take me from 4 to 6 months to return to peak health, but think about it, it took me about ten years for the valve to slowly go bad. Have patience, and learn from all the other experts on this site. Most of all, enjoy your sunrises and sunsets. Chris

 

[Georgia]

We sure made a lot of cardiac surgeons rich

We sure made a lot of cardiac surgeons rich

Hey clc - there have been a slew of us who had surgery this winter and spring. The docs must have needed a little getaway vacay.

Seriously - sounds like you're doing about like the rest of us. I am confident that you'll hear the same from your cardio. If you've perused some of the other threads on this site, you'll see the reference to the mountain and the truck; you have to climb the mountain, and the truck always gets you!!!

Just think - if you'd literally been hit by a truck and had thoracic damage, you wouldn't expect to feel good in two weeks. This is bigger. Your entire body and all systems were zapped; and you were most likely not in great shape prior to surgery due to the valve problem; all of it takes time.

And there's one more thing to remember - depression and emotions bouncing around are really common during recovery. If you need help, get it asap. And we like to help, too.

Keep posting and let us know how you're doing. It's a big help for recovering.

And the mantra - walk walk walk, breathe breathe breathe, nap nap nap.

 

[mike anthony]

I have had two of these open heart surgeries in the last year and both times I have had to be patience. I'm currently 8 weeks post-op and starting to feel pretty good, but I still have days when I start to feel tired. So, I just listen to my body on those days and take it easy. You will be amazed how good you will start to feel in 4-6 weeks. Take care and be patience.

 

[pillarpaul]

Patience

Patience

Like Mike and the others say, have patience. I am just about 4 weeks post-op. Regaining your capacity to take deep breaths and your stamina is very, very incremental. Some days you may even feel it go backwards. That is very normal. When I look at where I am today compared to the week after surgery, it's night and day. Yet I still nap about two hours every day. Just allowing my body to heal - and it truly is.

I bought a reclining bed (Sleep by Numbers) just before surgery. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't. I don't know how anyone can possibly sleep on a regular bed for a few weeks post-op.

Sounds like you're doing well. Take your time and enjoy the slow but sure recovery.

Paul

 

[Creed3]

clc,
Everything you have described sounds completely normal considering the type of surgery you just had. I was the same way. You have to give yourself some time to heal. It will take awhile. Try to look at your recovery on a week to week basis, not day to day. You will really start to see some improvement that way. Congratulations and welcome to this side of the mountain.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[vlamus]

clc -
I'm now 10 weeks post Pulm valve replacement and can tell you at about the 2nd, 4th and 6th week post-op I went through a little "depression" over the fact that I wasn't feeling better and thought I should be further along in the recovery process. At 8 weeks I went back to work full-time thinking I was ready, and ended up regretting I was so ambitious. I missed the naps and my body told me so. I have since learned healing is a slow process and can't be jump started just because your spirit is ready to go. Now at 10 weeks post-op I am back to part-time for awhile and starting to feel better. Things are not 100%. As far as the recliner, I slept for the first 5-6 weeks propped up in my bed with several pillows and my arms supported. Finally around the 6th week the pillows started to go. Hang in there. Vla

 

[hensylee]

Hi C - it's too early yet to feel on top of the world. Your body has been through a gigantic mind-blowing experience and it will take you some time to feel better. My friend, Paul, has undergone bypass and he, too, isn't happy with his recovery - he's a go-getter and wants to go and get. Don't be too discouraged yet. When you go to your dr, please discuss this with him/her and you will be reassured that this is most likely expected. If it lasts longer than your dr says, then he/she will adjust your regimen as needed. So, not to worry yet, you will get there but it takes time. My diary tells me that I, too, was SOB, sore, weak and anxious to get on with things, but I just couldn't hurry it along. Not my fault - nor yours. Just your body telling you to take it easy for a time. It will tell you when you can move along more. God bless

 

[carbomedic]

Hey there,
I've been there. Sounds just like me. Lazy Boys are the way to go. Don't worry. I hurt for a while too.
Patience

carbo

 

[clc]

Thanks

Thanks

Thank you to everyone who replied. At least I now know I'm not a failure at this valve replacement thing. I also talked with my cardiologist and he said I was progressing normally and everything looked good. Since my visit with him, my feet and legs have started to swell like crazy so I talked with his office this morning and they will be calling in some water pills for me today. New surprises around every corner!

 

[Bob]

Dont want you to feel bad but recovery takes time. I am 15 weeks out from mitral valve repair and I still have a problem with fatigue and chest pain. I couldn't sleep in a bed for a month and still nap in a recliner. It will come. Just take it easy.

 

[Jane]

Don't Worry

Don't Worry

My surgeon said it would be a good 2 months before I felt ANY benefit from my surgery, and in some ways I felt even worse for a while than I did before, (breathlessness and fatigue) although I did lose the angina straight away which was a real bonus. I would say that at about 6 weeks I began to feel noticably better.

I started to have some brilliant days, but would invariably overdo things on the good days and have a few awful days to follow as a result.

Once you are able to increase your walking and general activity bit by bit, things will gradually fall into place.

I had my surgery exactly 5 months (25th Nov) before you and it was only last week that I was able to sleep with only 2 pillows. Also, don't be a martyr with the pain relief. If you need it, take it!!

I also only returned to work last week for a few hours each day and am really enjoying it. (I was late returning as they found a bit of a problem with my tricuspid valve now.) I have to pinch myself when I realise that I have gone through such a big operation (aortic valve replacement - mechanical valve), and here I am feeling absolutely normal apart from ticking like an unexploded bomb.

If the ticking diturbs me at night, I put some music on the headphones, or the radio, and this distracts me from it.

I do have to be aware of my body and to repect my energy levels. This has particular relevence to the problem with the tricuspid valve rather than the operation itself. If I do something daft like carrying boxes of books from the attic or carrying heavy printers, then the right side of my neck pounds away for quite a while afterwards. I believe that it is just nature's way of saying, "serves you right, don't be so daft!!"

You/ we have been through a tremendously traumatic surgery and you have to give yourself the time and space to heal both physically and mentally from it. You will get there. Allow yourself the time to do it.