How Long Did Your Sign. Other Take Off Work?

[Natanni]

Hi Guys!

We are pretty new here.....Hubby is recovering at home from endocarditis (bicuspid valve) and is going to have aortic valve replaced around the second week of September. We understand that he will be in the hosptial for roughly 7 days post AVR. At this point I was planning on taking 2 weeks off from work so as to be able to help him out at home one week post op (I understand that he may very well not be out in one week so this could change....) Does anyone have any input here as far as post op care at home? We are investing in the recliner within a couple of weeks, and our home is small but we do live outside city limits by 20 miles and I don't feel comfortable leaving him home alone (I work in pt care so I think this makes me even more hysterical lol) I am blessed with a great job working for great docs that undersand our situation and time off isn't a prob.....We were just curious what others have done. Thanks in advance!

Ann

 

[Paul_N]

My wife works for the Postal Service, and was allowed to have 3 weeks off. She had accumulated vacation time available as well. Even though she's full time, she only works 25-30 hours per week.

I was discharged on the fifth day after surgery. She spent the next 2 weeks with me, without a break. At the end of spending two weeks wih me, she was ready to go back to work. I had some pretty drastic mood swings early on, so I put her through her paces. Even if it was only for a few hours, getting out of the house was something we both needed. We're fortunate to have other family memebers close by. They were able to take turns that first month. After that, I was good on my own.

My advice ... absolutely be there for him, but remember to take care of you too.

Good luck and welcome.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

It is good to have someone with him as much as possible IN the hospital to be sure the nurses give him the right meds in the right dose at the right time and that nothing is overlooked. My sister and S.O. took shifts after my OHS.

At home, it is good to have someone there for the first week at a minimum. He will still be VERY WEAK and tire easily the second week so if possible, it is good to have someone there or at least check in on him a few times during the day.

After week 2 at home, if there are no complications, he should be able to minimally take care of himself during the day. Be sure he has a telephone or cell phone handy, a TV remote, reading material, and maybe even a urinal in case he can't get to the bathroom in time or comfortably.

You are fortunate that your (Doctor) employers are understanding and considerate of your needs at this time. Not all (employers) are.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[tobagotwo]

Standard time off allowance is 6-8 weeks, and this is accepted by the vast majority of insurance companies and employers. There are some who go back earlier, but it is usually by their own choice, frequently as self-employed professionals.

When someone can take care of themselves is highly individual. I came home on a Friday, three days after AVR surgery. I was fine up and down stairs, and could take care of myself right from that point. My wife had arranged time to care for me, and I think she felt relieved and in an odd way, even a little cheated. She didn't get to try herself out as Florence Nightingale. In fact, at my urging, she returned to work the next week, after working from home on Monday. That saved her vacation time for us to spend together later.

Obviously, that's not everyone's story. Age, level of health before the surgery, extent of the surgery, and complications afterward are all factors that affect recovery time. I was walking the morning after surgery. There are a few others here who did that, particularly some of the younger guys who had their surgery very recently, but most peopke don't. I suggest you read a lot of the postings from people who posted within the first few weeks after surgery. Compare your SO's situation with theirs, and get a general idea what to expect from that. Valvers are all over the map with recovery rates, and some are several weeks into recovery and still able to walk only a few hundred feet a day.

So, my guess is that "flexibile" is a good mode to be in. I would not have wanted a lot of people crowding me as I went for my early walks, second guessing what I felt was right for me to do, and offering uneducated advice as to what they thought I "should" do. Being able to take the walks myself also helped me maintain independence and confidence.

Heck, I didn't really listen to my regular cardio, because even he didn't know what he was talking about, insofar as my recovery (IMHO ). I showed up at his office one day with a question, and he was horrified to find out that, not only had I walked, but his office was actually halfway home from where I had really walked. I think they get accustomed to working with much older patients (I was 51) who had longstanding heart problems before the surgery, and think everyone should recover at the senior rate.

I agreed with my surgeon's analysis of recovery: "You know how you feel. If you're sure you feel good, it's probably okay to do." (There were a few caveats that went with that, of course, mostly concerning lifting.)

By the way, when planning walks, remember this important maxim: There are no bathrooms in the suburbs. My lack of attention to this simple detail caused me to do some jogging far earlier into my recovery that I had been planning.

Best wishes,

 

[MarkU]

I was able to schedule my AVR just prior to my wife's two week Christmas break and then my daughter was at home for another week after that before she had to go back to college. By that time I was self-sufficient enough to be left by myself during the day.
I recliner would have been great. I spent most of my time semi-propped up with pillows on the family room sofa, watching TV when I wasn't napping (with remote control in hand!)

Mark

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Natanni

IMHO, I think it's wise to be with your Hubby through the hospital stay and for about two weeks once he gets home. I was fortunate enough to be off all summer when Tyce had his surgery....so I was absolutely able to see his progress, make him take his naps, and watch over him (I'm sure he wished I would have been back at work after about week 5!!!)

The hospital stay is a given....you want to be there with him, and I agree with the others, it's nice to be able to monitor what drugs, drs., problems, questions, etc., that come up. Tyce was home 4 days post op, and week 1 wasn't the liveliest, to say the least.....actually it went from walking around the house, using the spirometer, trying to get him to eat, napping, a sllllloooowwww shower or two, and back to bed/recliner. The second week definitely got better, and by the third he was obviously on the road to recovery enough to take small trips with me, etc.

Hope that helps.

Evelyn

 

[Georgia]

I was out of the hospital day 4; my husband stayed home for a week after that; then went back to work full time (but he was only 5 minutes away).

I was sent to cardiac rehab 3 weeks after surgery; couldn't drive until 4 weeks out, so hubby had to chauffeur - fortunately, he was able to take a couple of hours out of his day for this. You might want to find out if this will be an issue. I think most folks don't start rehab until a little longer after surgery.

I was glad my husband went back to work when he did - I was really really tired of him hanging around. I just surfed my Lazyboy, napped, breathed, and walked around the house.

 

[OldManEmu]

Ann
I am not sure of your husband?s age however my situation was similar to your husband?s endocarditis and an AVR.
I was in hospital for 10 days post operation not because of complications, rather the valve was in such bad condition the doctors were unsure if the endocarditis was still active so treated me with IV antibiotics until the lab confirmed that the endocarditis had been stopped by previous treatment.
The first 3 weeks are a little difficult; I found that I needed a nap each afternoon for about an hour. I also found it painful to lift more than 2 kilograms in this period. The sternum stopped clicking after about 3 weeks this is when things started improving rapidly. I could however do day to day things such as dress/shower and prepare basic meals after discharge from hospital unassisted.
I started shuffling around the hospital the day after surgery when the drainage tubes and bladder catheter were removed.
On arrival home from hospital I spent my first 10 days reading and watching a little TV and going for a walks. I found initially that going for 2 short walks each day rather than 1 longer one was much less draining of my limited energy.
I started rehab 3 weeks post operation.
The doctor told me not to drive for 6 weeks post surgery so I didn't.
I know others have a different opinion however if someone was only available for 2 weeks I would want them there for the first weeks after discharge from hospital.
In hospital you have a buzzer to get help if you need it.

 

[Mb]

Hello!

Mu husband was ten days in hospital, dual valves. I had planned to take a full two weeks off from work, and it eneded up being three weeks. Then I went back for one week half days, and then for the next couple of weeks, I came home at lunch time, to ascertain his condition, make him lunch, and generally chat. Our 30 year old RN daughter lived with us at that time, so she was around a bit as well.
I found we both needed that time. I needed it frankly, to recover emotionally. He needed it as well. One of the things people often don't mention is visitors at home. When he looked as though he was tired, I could say, hey, time for the recliner, and the company would take the hint, and leave. I think if I were not there, they would have overstayed, and tired him out. So, all in all, two and a half weeks off from work full time, and two more weeks half time. It worked out pretty well for us. But, frankly, he was in pretty bad shape when he finally had the surgery, and is in chronic a-fib. Perhaps this made a difference. I do know that some folks here certainly recovered better/easier than he did. We also did find out two months later that his tricuspid valve then showed a severe leak, so no doubt this compromised a quick recovery as well. - Marybeth

 

[terryj]

I was lucky and able to use 4 weeks sick leave to stay home with my hubby after surgery. He was in hospital 8 days due to INR not coming in range. He really needed me the first 2 weeks home and I was glad to have the 3rd week to stay with him. I did have to drive him to PCP to get his INR checked weekly at first. By the way he had a mechanical valve due to a bicuspid aortic valve

 

[Natanni]

Thanks for replies!!

Thanks for replies!!

Thanks so much guys, it really helps us gage how to start planning. So far, the IV Rocephin has been going very well here at home (knock on wood). He will be done (we hope!!) August 17th! Then there will be serum cultures done at one week post antiobiotc, then again the 2nd week post treatment, then another (his 3rd!!) TEE and if his valve is still all clear, he is ready for valve replacement! Sometime we are thinking 2nd week of Sept. He feels GREAT! He was eating up a storm when we got home from the hospital and gained weight back plus a few extra I have been making arrangements and at this point I am planning on the taking the first two weeks off and then we shall wait and see how he does. I am thinking HE may be anxious for me to return to work at that point, lol.

Thanks again, you guys have been great!

Emu...Nathan is 34

 

[hensylee]

Ann - being in the hospital with him is very important. You know him better than anyone and will recognize anything not just right before they do, probably. My nurse cousin was with me and for another surgery, daughters were there. Second surgery, nurses were not vigilant and I came down w/pneumonia. I think if a family member is there, the staff is a bit more attendant - imho. At home, he will need you for at least a week. Maybe more, depending on his recovery rate.

I am Ann, too. Welcome to VR.

 

[joy]

Wow, so many new members on the forums! I had my surgery about 4 years ago, and while I was in the hospital, my mom was here to watch the kids, she stayed until 1 week after I got home(my husband was home as well), and the week after that I had my grandmother here, and my husband went back to work. He took the next week off, and the week after that I went over to a friend's house so she could help me with the kids. Basically, I had help for the first 4 weeks after I got home, but my husband worked only a few blocks away from where we lived and could be home in two minutes flat if I needed him. If you don't have kids, he'll be fine after a couple of weeks, as long as he has someone like next door to help him if he needs it. He won't be able to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for 6 weeks, and it's good for him to get out and take SHORT walks OFTEN. I stress short because he will need to start out slowly. Baby steps. Everybody here will agree...don't get two discouraged if he has bad days, it's hard work to recover from OHS. He will be fine though. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

 

[inlaguna]

How quickly we forget - but, I think that when my husband was discharged, it was recommended that he not be alone for the next 2 weeks. Although, he was home only one day when he woke me to tell me that he was going to walk to Starbucks. Alone. That 6 city-block walk grew to heading out of his way on return to go to drugstore. So, it's all a general rule of thumb. 2-3 weeks should be fine. Count on the two at least.