Hit a Little Bump in the Road to Recovery

[Resqrn]

Lorie,
I'm so glad to hear that you are doing better. Sorry that you have had the "bumps". But Isn't living life better thru chemistry a hoot? The sleeping thing, I was able to sleep on my side post surgery. It took a bunch of pillows to help postion my body, head-back-legs-chest-arms, and included my heart pillow. It was kinda like my own little cave, comfy yes not so good for snuggles though, that came later. That insentive spriometer was definatly a "pain" but thanks to my wife, she made me do it every time she came in the room, they do work well. Fell better and easy does it.
Mike

 

[thenewmarket]

Lorie,

Thank you for your honest, insightful post about your bump in the road! My husband is the ultimate optimist and he went in for OHS expecting to have a picture perfect recovery. NOT! We can hope and pray for perfect but we must be prepared for our individual reality!

His surgery was four months ago, and JUST THIS WEEK we got our first report that his hematocrit was back to normal. He had tremendous blood loss after surgery, and it has taken this long to rebound. We still have one more hurdle to cross as his BUN level is still not right. This is monitored on a monthly basis so we are still dealing with the healing process.

I hope this post finds you recovering quickly.........thank you for encouraging others by sharing your reality!

 

[South Sound Sailor]

Hey Lorie

Hey Lorie

I'm reading your posts in this thread with a lot of interest. Feb 5 is coming up real fast for me and as much as I want to believe what my doctors are telling me about a speedy recovery, I am expecting my fair share of bumps/hurdles/hills. It's good to know what I may be dealing with over the next several weeks.

And I'll be thinking of you and all of the Western WA crew as I walk into Tacoma General Tuesday morning.

 

[Tom F.]

Oye! Hang in there. Many of us have these little "issues", they go away in time.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Yep, just takes time Lorie..

Wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and wishing you the very best..!

 

[harleygirl528]

Okay, a little update on my recovery.....very funny that I remember eagerly reading all the post-op posts before I had surgery and I remember one common thread among many of them is that "the truck that hits you sometimes turns around and hits you again." And that is how I have felt for the past few days. I just don't feel like myself. I am aching and hurting all over and just feel like saying "enough already!" Seriously, I do know that I am very fortunate to be over the moutain and to have had a successful surgery and a valve repair rather than replacement...and I have been very good about following all of my doctor's recommendations....but it just seems that my progress has slowed down so much. I am 2 1/2 weeks post-op and I just don't feel that great. I force myself to exercise (I walked 2 miles today in 41 minutes) and try to be thankful and happy but I just have this general malaise. Did anyone else experience this? Is this perhaps the dreaded post-surgery depression? I just don't have any energy or motivation and half the time I don't want to talk on the phone or have people visit. I was feeling so great....what happened?

I think that the pleural effusions are still bothing me...still have some pain with deep breathing and shortness of breath after climbing the stairs....I am hoping and praying they will resolve on their own and I won't have to be drained. I will be seeing my doctor this week and will mention these symptoms to her and see what she thinks. Thanks for listening everyone.....and for your support and encouragement.

 

[roundsgirl]

Hey Lorie,
Yep I know exactly how you feel. I'm not sure about the feeling good at first then going down hill, but the feeling of "enough already", yeah I know how you feel. Then it's hard to write about it, thinking of what you feel compared to what you think you should feel. And it's not that we are not greatful for making it this far, it's just hard to explain I guess. I will be thinking of you, I'm sure better days are ahead for both of us. Hang in there.

Lisa

 

[South Sound Sailor]

Lorie

Lorie

You struck a chord in me when you said you were eagerly reading post-surgery threads prior to your own surgery. That's where I am right now.

I just wanted to extend a thank you for taking the time to share so much of what you've gone through, both pre and post-surgery. At the risk of sounding like I'm trying to find a silver lining, what you've written will help many others over the next several months as new people join vr.com. Also, in the past few days, I've grown bothered by people telling me "don't worry, everything is going to be OK." I know their intentions are good but that's simply NOT what I need to hear. I find myself wanting to drift into a daydream of being in perfect health, that I'll wake up and this will all be some crazy dream. Those daydreams do me no good. I need to hear straight facts about what my future may hold for me. Your candid posts help me stay grounded to reality and that's where I need to be.

There are quite a few surgeries coming up soon, mine included. I suspect to some degree we're all hanging on the words you are writing. Keep writing, keep fighting.

Thanks Lorie.

PS: Thanks for the supportive comments about my upcoming surgery.

 

[dan777]

Lorie

Count me in in terms of general malaise... mine has at least three stars I gotta believe that comes with the territory. I am at the 2.5 week point as well. For me, I get depressed especially when ANYthing out of the ordinary happens or if I feel "limited" in terms of my activities. I allow myself 20-30 seconds of feeling sorry for myself then I remember that even with the bumps I am over the mountain and the grass is greener here.

Best wishes on your continue recovery!

 

[gadgetman]

"the truck that hits you sometimes turns around and hits you again."

Yep, thet thar Mack Truck does sometimes haf a revahse. But them tire tread marks does fade wif time.

Bubba

Lorie,

Just consider your post-surgery experiences as additional information for those still in the waiting room. Good luck on your continuing recovery.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[WayneGM]

Have you seen your GP lately for a post-op check. If you are feeling very lethargic, I suggest you may want to. That was an early sign of my pericardial tamponade episode which occurred in week 3. I ignored it, not knowing any better, figuring that was what OHS recovery was supposed to be like. I hadn't found VR.com at that time. I ultimately ended up rushed into the OR because it went too far and I ended up in CHF. As a result, I got another week of hospital food and another couple of surgical scars. My surgeon gave me s**t for not calling him at the first signs I was wasn't feeling well. His words..."if in doubt about how you are feeling, call for at least the next 3 months". Anyway, I hope it's nothing out of the ordinary but it might be better to be safe than sorry IMHO. Best wishes.

 

[WayneGM]

I forgot to mention, for the first two weeks, I was feeling pretty good...energetic, doing my walking, eating ok, etc, but then became lethargic with no energy and SOB in week 3.

 

[Susan BAV]

I'm glad you shared that with her, Wayne, because when I read Lorie's last posts yesterday, I was wondering if something wasn't going right.

 

[marie]

Lorie

Lorie

Lorie
If you reading this can you update us. We worry you know.
Earline

 

[harleygirl528]

Hi guys,
Just had a chance to log on and wanted to update you all. I am feeling much better today,far less pain upon deep inhallation and less achiness. I did have an echocardiogram last week and it showed only a slight amount of pericardial effusion on the left side which my surgeon felt would resolve itself. Apparently they leave a small hole in the right pericardium so that fluid can drain from around your heart. My question is, where does the fluid drain? I am feeling very bloated and have even gained a few pounds. I am going to my GP today to discuss all these issues and, if necessary, will go back to the cardio. I am acutely aware of the possible complications and will be sure and have the doctors rule these out since I know Wayne, thanks to you sharing your story, the longer one waits the more complicated these things can become. Thanks for your concern everyone. I talked to Debbie today who is just a week or so behind me in post-op recovery and we are experiencing a lot of the same things so maybe some of the general lethargy and soreness just comes with the territory. I will let you all know what the doctor has to say today. Thanks again!

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear you are feeling better today, and seeing your GP. Hopefully it's nothing but it's best to validate. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Mb]

Dear Lori:

Just as a side comment.....my husband Wayne's effusion occupied 2/3 of the space under his lung, compressing it to 1/3 capacity. There was NO way his body could absorb all of that. If yours are slight, then I am confident they will resolve on their own. - Marybeth

 

[Mb]

Hye Lori:

I am a bit confused.....do you have a pericardial effusion or pleural effusion?

Mb

 

[harleygirl528]

Hi there, after a visit to the GP she feels that the fluid in my lungs is probably only minimal and will not require a drain. She said that if I had that much fluid in my lungs I would be way more symptomatic. She also said that my scar looks really good, although it certainly doesn't look good to me. One of the drain tube holes is still open up and leaks fluid and blood but does seem to be healing. Also, recently have noticed some yellow fluid draining from the top part of my scar, is this normal?

MB, I actually have both. The pleural effusions were causing the painful breathing and seems to have gotten better. The pericardial effusion, noted on echocardiogram done the same day as the chest x-ray, is pretty minimal and my surgeon feels will also resolve on its own. So, I have both but it seems that neither are very severe and should resolve on their own.

Wayne, when you had the pericardial tamponade, was your only symptom the lethargy? Did you have an echo that showed the fluid? Since you were in CHF, what other symptoms did you have? I know that for me besides just feeling like s#%t half the time I have had extremly low blood pressure and have had to discontinue almost all of my bp meds except for 25 mg Atenolol. Is low bp a symptom of anything?
Unfortunately, my GP isn't extremely knowledgeable in cardiac issues so any time she gives me the green light on anything I wonder if there is more to the story. I have emailed my surgeon in California with my symptoms just to be sure. I am also considering going back to the cardiologist for follow-up testing.
Couple more questions, when did most of you start driving again? My surgeon said 3 weeks but the occupational therapist at Cedars who did my discharge instructions said 6 weeks. Also wondering when I would be able to use my arms again to help lift up my body when moving around in bed. Everytime I try to use my arms to hoist myself around it hurts so I avoid it. Getting comfortable in bed is still a huge issue and I so want to sleep on my side but it still hurts.

Thanks for your input, everyone. It is much appreciated!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hi Lorie,

The standard recommendation for driving seems to be 6 weeks but many Doctors (surgeons / cardios / PCP's) seem willing to relax that to 4 weeks with LIMITED Daytime Driving, especially if you are having trouble finding someone to take you to follow-up office visits.

Be careful using your arms to help position yourself.
I tied a rope around the bottom of my bed to help me use my legs to pull myself up in the first several weeks post-op. Another technique that helps is to swing your legs out of the bed and use their momentum to help you pull yourself up with you ab's.

Your description of the symptoms of your Pleural Effusion caught my attention. I'm betting that is what I had after my second OHS. My PCP, 3 ER Doc's, and a Pulmonologist never did figure it out. Finally my Cardio realized the 'layers of my chest wall were sliding against each other' making deep breaths difficult and PAINFUL. One week of anti-inflamatory meds (Plavix?) did the trick. I'll check my records to see if he listed it as Pleural Effusion.

'AL'