Home Sweet Home!

[SteveK]

I have to make this short before my wife catches me, she doesn't quite understand my bond with you strangers, but this site helped me immensely and I want to make sure I pay it back by maybe helping someone else.
I came home yesterday after having surgery on Tuesday! I couldn't stand another night in the hospital. Unfortunately last night didn' t get much better, I can't seem to find a comfotable position to sleep in, and wake up with back pain every half hour or so. How long will it take before I can sleep flat on my back again?
Other than that, all is going as well as can be expected. I will go into more details when I am feeling a little better. I have to get a short nap in before my Redwings come on!

Talk to you soon,
Steve

 

[Marge]

Hey Steve! Let me be the FIRST to congratulate you on getting back home. Hope the Redwings win (whoever they are, lol, -- ice hockey??? -- you can tell I am a REAL sports fan.)

Golly -- surgery on Tuesday, out on Friday -- that's pretty darn good. How many days were you actually on the ward after you got out of ICU? From what I've read sleeping, and finding a comfortable position to sleep in, after this surgery is difficult for a while for everybody. Did they give you any sleeping pills? pain pills you could take for your back?

Hang in there, and looking forward to reading more about your experiences.

Marge
(Mitral valve repair/replacement -- coming up February 2004)

 

[Tony]

Hi Steve,

Welcome home to this frigid Michigan weather!!

If your pain is too bothersome, ask your doctors for pain killers.

You are just a short time post surgery so your surgeon must think you are doing very well.

Tony

 

[Nancy]

Hi Steve-

I was looking at the calendar last night and wondering how things went for you, so I'm very happy to see your post.

Congratulations on a successful surgery and welcome home!

 

[Christina L]

Steve,

Glad you are at home now (nothing like home) and are on the road to recovery. You sound pretty darn good for less than one week post surgery!!

God bless -

Christina L.

 

[MarciaB]

Good to see you home!

I think if you are waking every 30 minutes in pain, you are not taking enough pain meds. Please tell your doc. Your body needs sleep to heal and your mind needs it, too. I have noticed that the guys seem to have more problems in this area than the gals. Must have something to do with having more chest muscle for the surgeons to abuse. Hope your feeling better. Remember, one day at a time.

Marcia

 

[Karlynn]

Congratulations on getting home so soon! May the rest of your recovery be speedy.

Tell you wife that there are many spouses and significant others that post here. She'd be so welcome.

Karlynn

 

[hensylee]

Welcome home, Steve - good isn't it?

don't expect to sleep comfortably for awhile yet. As time goes by, you will turn in your sleep and one night you might wake up and find you have turned onto your back and didn't even know it. Happens gradually, but it really does happen.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Steve and WELCOME HOME!!!

I'm a spouse, and I can tell you that I would have been lost without this site. Please, please tell your wife that she is very welcome here, and if she has ANY questions, she can just fire away.....there are MANY spouses or significant others on this site. We, too, go through hell....not just the patient, and the support here is wonderful.

Congratulations on your release!!! From what I can remember from Tyce's surgery, it was about 3 weeks before he was comfortable in bed without lots of pillows, and even longer till he slept on his side. Patience, my friend, but it will come.

Remember the rule: walk, walk, walk, (in the house because it's too darned cold outside here, that's for sure) nap, nap, nap, breathe, breathe, breathe......

Glad you're back posting.

Evelyn

 

[fisher6476]

Steve,
Welcome back. Sounds like you are on track. I have Never been able to sleeo on my back and I still find it uncomfortable to be on my side and I was told not to sleep on my stomach till I got the go ahead from the surgeon (soon I hope). Let you PCP or surgeon know that you are having trouble sleeping. I was DUMB and decided to play hero for a while and got NO Sleep to speak of for several weeks till I told my family doctor and he prescribed sleeping pills for me. I remember how wonderful it was the first time I got about about 4 hours back to back. I still sleep in an easy chair but I can tell that will change soon. Muscle pain seems to be part of this deal so do what you can to get some Meds to make you as comfortable as possible. The rest will do you good. Watch now for the first few days at home to be a little bothersome, but know each day will get better, and before you know it... Well it is great to have you back.
Steve

 

[bvdr]

Welcome home Steve. Glad to hear things are going well for you and I think it is hard for some people to understand the bond that forms between us on this site.

Sorry about your back pain and sleeping problems but it is indeed common and I've read it time and time again on these boards. Marcia might be right about the muscle mass thing....

Make sure you take your pain meds and keep doing your breathing exercises. You are so early on in your recovery....some people don't get into their beds for a week or two! Sometimes if someone massages your back, shoulders and neck it will help promote sleep.

Please keep us informed of your progress. I hope you have a completely uneventful recovery.

 

[Kathy]

Good for you, Steve. You got away from the hospital quickly.

I had a lot of back discomfort and found that a heating pad was a great help during the day.

 

[Ross]

Welcome Back Steve

That back pain is going to be riding you for a few weeks. Let the Doc know and be sure to take your pain meds. Other then that, get your wife, neighbors wives, and any others you see walking by, to give you back massages 3 times a day. That seems to help even more then pain meds.

 

[KathyH]

Hi Steve, Welcome back home!
Glad to hear that you are doing so well- other than the pain that is. The others have given you good suggestions, they should know, they have been there. You know, I can understand how your wife feels about being attached to the people on this board. I was lurking on the site for quite awhile before I logged in as a member. It's to the point now that I want to know how the members are doing, I want to know details about the surgery. This sure is a good support system, as well as a place to get alot of good information.
Kathy H.