Hints for up coming surgery

[KathyM]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some hints to help make the surgery and recovery easier. I would like to lose some weight,but that is not a must. I would only need to lose about 10 pounds so I am not really worried about that. I hear alot about back pain, that concerns me. I have such back pains after the cath. Also waking up with the tube really seems to freak me out, but I think I will be okay with that. Do they keep you medicated until that comes out?

I am trying really hard to think of how all of you say the waiting is the hardest. Thank you all so much for all the help.

Any other hints would also help.

Thanks
xoxo
Kathy

 

[roundsgirl]

Hey Kathy,
I really didn't have that much time to worry before I really realized that I was going to have to have the surgery. Things went fast for me, once I showed signs of how bad my heart was, like a little over a week, then boom I was in surgery.
About the tubes for me, I had to breath on my own for I think like 30 minutes before they took me off the breathing machine, it was a rough 30 minutes, but felt great once it came out, the other tubes will be a couple of days after, but just the same you will be glad to see them come out. I'm one of the ones going through a slow recovery, I'm a little over one month out and am frustrated that I feel as though I should feel much better by now. My doctor and family says I don't have enough patience. So just try and remember to give yourself time, it does take time to get over this major surgery. Then on Friday I found out I have pneumonia in my right lung, which has really put me in the dumps, with the coughing etc.
You will do fine, just walk, do your breathing exercises and forgive yourself if you get to feeling frustrated. These are wonderful people here they will give you some good advise. I'll be praying for you and a successful surgery and recovery. Everyone is different, so don't be disappointed if you think you are not doing as well as you think you should.

Take care,
Lisa

 

[Philip B]

Hints

Hints

Hi Kathy,

I don't know when your surgery is scheduled, but if it's soon, losing weight won't probably be much of an issue. Weight loss varies; many of us lost a fair amount of weight following surgery. I think my own weight loss was in the neighborhood of twenty pounds.

If your physical condition allows it, exercise is a good thing before surgery. Find an activity you enjoy and do it. As with any kind of exercise, it's important not to over do it.

Fear of waking with the tube in place is pretty common. Experiences vary from folks who have vivid memories of waking with the tube to those who don't remember it at all. I'm one of those who don't remember it all. I did end up with a broken tooth from trying to chew through the tube. The ICCU nurses put bite blocks in my mouth when I refused to stop. My wife remembers all this very well. You can be assured that regardless of which catagory you are in, the nursing staff will get you through any tube issues you face. Remember, they're pros; they'll take care of you. Every member of my family that spent time with me in ICCU following surgery commented about the excellent care the nursing staff gave me. It's too bad that I don't remember any of it.

The waiting is tough because OHS is a big deal and it's pretty normal for one's mind to anticipate the worst possible outcome. It's easy to imagine you'll be a part of the very tiny percentage of folks who don't make it even though your odds are huge for a successful outcome. Hopefully, your wait will not be a long one. I only had to wait three weeks for surgery and I was a mess. One thing that helped me was to stay engaged in activities that helped me focus on things other than the surgery. It also helps to be able to share your feelings and fears with those whom you are close to. Other members may be along to share their insights on this.

Hang in there and try to take things step by step. You'll do okay.

-Philip

 

[lcwhitney]

when you wake up on the ventilator after surgery breath as deep as you can with the ventilator. After you are off of the vent and moved into a room do exactly what the staff wants you to do. Do the breathing treatments cough and deep breath and walk in the hall to begin building up yourstrength so, you will be ready for cardiac rehab.

Lettitia

 

[Magic8Ball]

I hear alot about back pain, that concerns me. I have such back pains after the cath. Also waking up with the tube really seems to freak me out, but I think I will be okay with that. Do they keep you medicated until that comes out?

Do a search and you should find many posts on this subject but just a few pointers...

Weight loss of that amount isn't worth the effort.

If they offer you drugs, take them...don't try to be a hero, relaxants, pain killers etc...take them all...you don't get a certificate for being tough.

I kinda remember the tube but also now don't recall any feeling or fear associated with it. You are pretty drugged up when you wake up and as long as you are breathing they will pull it out as quick as they can...its over in a second and you move on...really its nothing to freak out about in the scheme of things.

For back pain i reccomend a V pillow...my mum bought me one on about the 4th day in hospital and it saved me...i still sleep with one now...my wife calls it "gloria the tart" as its always in the bed with us..

If you smoke, give it up now...post surgery coughing should be kept to a minimum.

Don't eat one big last meal as it stays in your guts for a few days until your bowel kicks back into life and then you have to pass it

On the same subject take a stool softener for the first few months to ensure you don't have to do a purple face push with fresh stitches ready to pop (i kept taking mine for nearly 8 months...)

One weird one is that in ICU i had a 'special' mattress which was inflateable...it was so they could move me around and keep circulation going by inflating/deflating different sections at different times....i HATED it..would have rather lay on the floor...just when i got comfortable the bloody computer would deflate/inflate different sections....may just be because i'm on the larger size but i'd ask and try to not get one...

Regards.

 

[Curtsmum]

Like Philip said the waiting is tough because you can't stop yourself thinking about all the horrible things that can go wrong, once it is over you only have to consentrate on getting better, although no one is saying it will be easy. Iam saying this as a carer not somebody who as been through ohs myself, so i dont fully understand what you go through but know it is not easy watching your child go through it either.Wishing you the best of luck with your surgery and hope you have the best outcome and a speedy recovery.

 

[witzkeyman]

don't sleep flat. ask for extra pillows while on the recliner. walk around as early as possible. keep the urine bottle close and make sure you always know where the Nurse call button is. just my advice from my experience 2 weeks ago.

 

[marie]

You've gotten a lot of good information. I am two weeks out tomorrow (Mardi Gras here) I did have trouble with the vent and for me that was the worse part. I woke up on it and it took awhile to get me off. I had some shoulder pain. It was pretty painful but no actual back pain. The chest tube was in longer than I wanted but I listened to the doctor about when to take it out. That kept me in the hospital a little longer and I had PVC which kept me another day. So my stay as told to me prior to surgery was three to six days and I was in for six. I'm home and so far everything is going well. I eat, sleep, walk, read and watch TV. Every day is a little better than the one before.
I sleep in my own bed from day one at home but with a wedge pillow and a couple of others. Ask questions and read this forum. Lots of good information.

Good luck
Earline

 

[Blnmakerr]

For me the key to an uneventful recovery was walking as much as possible in the hospital and doing the breathing exercises repeatedly...

I woke up with the berathing tube still in and it was not pleasant at all, but the meds made it tolerable. The staff kept saying to relax and breath with the ventilator. I had my chest tubes removed (not pleasant either) three hours after the ventilator tube was removed. They said my lungs were back to 90% in the first 12 hours in ICU so I was moved to step down...

Try and relax and wait for that "sense of calm" that will come over you just before the surgery. I can't explain it but you will be amazed at the inner strength you will have just prior to (and before meds) the surgery...It will get you through this...

Best wishes for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery....Look forward to hearing from you on the other side of the mountain....

 

[Susan BAV]

For me the key to an uneventful recovery was walking as much as possible in the hospital and doing the breathing exercises repeatedly...
I woke up with the berathing tube still in and it was not pleasant at all, but the meds made it tolerable. The staff kept saying to relax and breath with the ventilator. I had my chest tubes removed (not pleasant either) three hours after the ventilator tube was removed. They said my lungs were back to 90% in the first 12 hours in ICU so I was moved to step down...

Try and relax and wait for that "sense of calm" that will come over you just before the surgery. I can't explain it but you will be amazed at the inner strength you will have just prior to (and before meds) the surgery...It will get you through this...

Best wishes for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery....Look forward to hearing from you on the other side of the mountain....

Very important information here--particularly in regard to the walking and breathing exercises, I think.

I woke up on the breathing tube again but this time it was a much worse experience--next time I will probably make a pre-op request for Verced/Versed (a med that will disallow you to remember the vent experience). I had read here to ask for pain med before they remove the chest tube, so I did and had no pain. Also, my kidneys had some problems working at first so I was under special care for about three days post-op.

Hope all goes well for you. Take care.

 

[Freddie]

For me, I kinda (in a foggy state of mind) woke up with the breath tube, kinda saw my other half at the end of the bed then it was back to sleep. I kinda remember them removing it. But when I woke up again (and tried to stay awake) it was gone. So it wasn't an issue, nor did I have a sore throat or coughed at all during my recovery.
One thing I would like to recommend is to exercise your shoulders/arms. I think if I was told before hand to strengthen the shoulders/neck and back I wouldn't have been so sore.
I think it was Wes who mentioned a few exercises to do before surgery. You may want to look at his threads to check it out.
(Please if I'm wrong regarding Wes, someone please correct me......Thanks)

 

[harleygirl528]

Kathy,

I am just 3 weeks post-op today and from my experience here is what I found most important:
Take a family/loved one to advocate on your behalf while in the hospital. My family was such an incredible support to me both emotionally and otherwise...invaluable.
Walk as soon as possible and as much as you can. This helps boost your immune system and gets everything working, including your lungs and bowel system.
Use the spirometer (breathing machine that they give you), not just in the hospital but when you get home.
Drink lots of water and take a stool softener day #1 (they usually give you stuff in the hospital) but it is important to continue after getting home. Pain meds cause lots of problems with bowel function and it is so very important to keep things moving. And, if the stool softeners aren't doing the trick, get more aggressive with a laxative like Milk of Magnesia.
Keep a positive attitude, visualize yourself completely healed and doing all the things you love to do.
I did not wake up with the ventilator tube in...BUT, I gave the anesthesiologist and my surgeon very specific requests in this regard...I basically told them I was claustrophobic and that I did not want to wake up with the breathing tube in and anything they could do to ensure that would be greatly appreciated. I kept reiterating this and reminding them over and over, even up to the point I was in the holding area waiting to go into the OR. Let them know your wishes in this regard. It worked for me. I have only small little snippets of memory during this time, them telling me to lift up my head, open my eyes, etc. but don't recall the feeling of the tube, the tube being pulled out or anything Thank God!
My back and neck were the most painful part of this surgery for me. In fact, my family says when I woke up in ICU after the breathing tube was pulled (I have no memory of this) I began instructing them to rub my neck, back, etc. and complained of the back and neck pain immediately. Incision pain for me didn't start until about 2 weeks post-op...almost like the numbness wore off...still only minor though compared to neck and back. I am still taking pain pills mainly for the back pain but I did have back problems prior to surgery so this may not be a typical reaction to OHS.
Easier said than done, but try and incorporate relaxation into your daily routine prior to surgery. I started meditating daily to help myself with the anxiety. I bought the guided meditation tapes and they really helped. I just locked myself in my bedroom and layed on my bed and turned on the CD's. They are great. And, that sense of calm before surgery, it really does happen....I am a very high strung person and was extremely nervous and even I experienced it.
You are going to do fine....stay connected with the site even after surgery. I can't tell you the support I have experienced by communicating with others who have gone through the same thing. I even have a couple friends I met on this site who I talk to on the phone and that's been wonderful. Take care and keep asking questions.....those of us who have gone through this feel a wonderful sense of purpose and fulfillment by being able to help others as we were helped!

 

[BackDoc]

What she said...word for word.

Stop thinking about what might "freak" you out and start to visualize yourself as you want to be afterwards.

It does no good to dwell on what you have no control over. The breathing tube will come out, you will wake up alive and well, and you will recover. How fast you recover is really up to you; if you want to recover quickly you will walk ASAP, and you will do your breathing exercises.

Back pain--it will not kill you. Breathing tube--you will survive and hardly remember it if you do wake up with it.

be positive, positive, positive!