Just an update

[HarleyM]

When I came home after 9 days in the hospital, I had bouts of dizziness every few hours. This kept me somewhat to the couch. Dr changed dosage of Lowpressor and all went away. My mind is very clear and sharp. Last Friday, 16 days after surgery, I went out to eat with the family and made a pig of myself. 4 platefuls plus desert. Trying to put some of that 20#'s I lost back on. LOL I have had no pain since I came home but some stiffness. Been walking a little but not as much as I should. Today Mother-in-law and I went grocery shopping for 2.5 hours and filled 2 carts. I pushed one all over the store and loaded it myself(nothing heavy cept 50# bag of dog food) LOL No I didn't pick it up only slide it onto my cart. Then went by BK for a burger and then home. Helped carry in the groc 2 bag at a time, very slow by the way, then took a nap for 2.5 hrs. I think considering the surgery I had, my recovery is going very smooth. I feel great! Now I just have to keep remembering that healing is a time process and not to over do it.
INR, it's been running low (1.8) and last week Dr increased me from 5 to 6 mg per day. Go for a PT test tomorrow so we'll see. All paperwork is done for home test kit so I'm waiting to see if ins will pay. Keeping my fingers crossed.
The On-X valve ticks quite loud in me(remember I'm skinny right now)LOL when in a car or bathroom. I'm kinda getting used to it and it's a good feeling.
Again for those waiting surgery, It was not near as bad as I imagined. Lots of info here for you to read so you'll understand your surgery and what to expect. I think this site helped me the most and gave me the confidence to proceed without much worry. I was very calm in the few days before and right up to the time when I was put to sleep. I can't explain how much better I already feel just shy of 3 weeks post-op.

 

[rwsp768]

Just a update

Just a update

Holey Teledo man you are overdoing it. I am at 7mos out and it tires me out to push one grocery cart, course it seems like I always wind up with the cart that has a bad wheel. My doctor started me out on 4 mgs and was only doing INR's once a week. Ten days out I wasn't totally healed and started bleeding into the sack surrounding my heart, felt like a fish out of water gasping for air. Back into the hospital I went, where they had to insert a chest needle to draw the blood out and in doing so, they put a hole in my lung, which then collasped, boy did that hurt. Anyway got to my regular doctor, who started me on 2.5 mgs and did INR's twice a week, slowly buildt up to 5 mgs and now only go once a month. Holding at around 2.4-2.5. Good luck on the home tester my insurance will not pay for it, so I get to buy it. My ON-X doesn't click, once in awhile I can feel it thumping, but no clicking. Once again you need to take it easy and build up slowly, remember what they told you that it can take up to a year to get all your strength back.

 

[hensylee]

you sound great - but DON'T push or pull or slide ANYTHING that's 50#. Your dr would put you in solitary confinement for 3 weeks! Or more. At 3 weeks you are still on the 5# limit. You don't want to pay for overdoing things at some later date. You are still fragile. O/W you sound great. The walking is the best and do that a lot. Congratulations.

No wonder you slept for 2.5 hrs! Take it easy. Don't want to have to send the troops out.

 

[marky]

You sound great!!
I too still have bits of dizzyness, but it seems most common after I eat ?? and when I am tired. I am 11days post op today.
I am going to take my first car ride (since coming home) to vote today!
You must have been pretty healthy going into this..b/c you sound amazingly great now!!
I second that appetite, Man I am so hungry!!
keep up the good work!

 

[Karlynn]

Sounds like you are doing terrific! Keep it up!

 

[Marguerite53]

You DO sound really great. But, ditto on the pushing, pulling, lifting thing. I spoke to a cardiac rehab guy yesterday and he firmly reminded me that I'm on an 8 week restriction for such things and I would be very wise to honor it. (I'm 4 weeks out today).

The walking thing is easier than it sounds. My neighborhood is very hilly so I've been slower to take long walks. The best place for me is the nearest middle school track...flat...soft....maybe you could find one close by.

And aren't those naps amazing? I ususally set an alarm for my naps or else they'd go on for 4 hours!! Haven't slept so much since I was a child. The body knows what it needs, it seems!!

Keep up the excellent progress!!

Marguerite

 

[Randy & Robyn]

I pushed one all over the store and loaded it myself(nothing heavy cept 50# bag of dog food) LOL No I didn't pick it up only slide it onto my cart. Then went by BK for a burger and then home. Helped carry in the groc 2 bag at a time, very slow by the way, then took a nap for 2.5 hrs. I think considering the surgery I had, my recovery is going very smooth. I feel great! Now I just have to keep remembering that healing is a time process and not to over do it.

I know exactly how you feel, Harley. I felt great during my early recovery as well and I tended to cheat by lifting things I shouldn't have and pushing the exercise a bit too hard. No ill effects...just some well-deserved chastisement from my wife.

Great to hear you are doing so well.

Randy

 

[geebee]

Sounds like things are going well. Sorry to nag also but you should not even look at a 50# bag. Spend a little more and buy the smaller bags for now. It will cost you a lot less than hurting yourself.
Isn't it great to be doing something as mundane as grocery shopping? Amazing how exciting that can be.
Enjoy and take care.