my out of state support group - how long do they need to stay?

[ssar]

I recently moved to another state. Shortly thereafter, found out I need AVR. So am bringing in friends and family from out of state for support and help during and after surgery. I'm currently planning to have my people here from the day before surgery till about 2 1/2 weeks after the surgery day. Is this enough time? Will I be able to live independently after that time? FYI, I'm getting the mini-sternotomy.

:confused2:

 

[kfay]

You don't say how old you are or what the general state of your health is. Everyone heals differently. Having said that, I think, generally speaking, if you are reasonably young, can get around well on your own, and have no complications, by 2.5 weeks, you should be ok on your own. There have been plenty on here who have been fine by then and several who have left the hospital and went home completely alone. You might not be cleared to drive yet, you'll need to ask your surgeon's office how long he keeps people from driving after a mini. If that will be a huge problem for you (think: grocery store, Dr's appts, etc.) then you might need someone to stay longer. Perhaps you can stagger your caregivers over a longer period of time so they aren't all there at once.

It'll all work out in the end, it all ways does.

Best of luck.

 

[Freddie]

From my own personal experience, after 2 weeks I was on my own and doing very little besdies walking. I was unable to get to from point A to point B, someone had to drive me.

Kfay has a very good point/idea about staggering your support group.

 

[ssar]

some more info

some more info

Looks like I left out some relevant info. I'm 50, in good health other than the BAV/stenosis problem. Staggering the group is a good idea, it is actually already being done out of necessity, because this came up suddenly, and the group members have difficulty taking much time off on short notice.

 

[Jkm7]

I have had two OHS, four years apart, and after each, I found I was able to do all personal care for myself (shower, wash hair, dress, make light meals or warm meals brought to us by friends.) DH was home evenings and nights with me but I was fine on my own all day. I really required very little help. Everyone is different so there is no 'definite' but odds are strong you won't need much help more than a week or two.

Driving to appointments, as pointed out above, can be the biggest hassle. Even if you think you feel up to it, often insurance will not pay if you have an accident and your doctor has not cleared you to drive.

This is probably all quite overwhelming to you ( it is to most of us when we first learn we need this surgery) but hopefully, we, here can help you through it.

Best wishes for a smooth surgery and bump free recovery. Many of us think the wait for the surgery is the worst part.

 

[Philip B]

Support?

Support?

As someone else already noted, everyone seems to have a different experience.

Personally, I did just fine on my own without much help following surgery. I took five days off for surgery and my hospital stay, and returned to work half days the following week.

Between my wife and the nursing staff, I had more help than I needed while in the hospital. I really had no issues with anything when I got home.

-Philip

 

[ALCapshaw2]

It is a good idea to have 2 or 3 people 'take shifts' to verify all medications / injections / blood draws to make sure you are receiving the prescribed medications, in the proper dose with no missed doses or double doses once you are in a room. With NO complications, you could be released to go home in as little as 4 or 5 days (a few have gone home after 3 days). Any 'hiccups' can add a few more days in hospital.

It is very helpful to have someone to help at home for the first week and maybe even into the second week home if possible.

You will have a Lifting / Pushing / Pulling Limit of 5 or 10 lbs for the first several weeks which slowly increases as the sternum heals (6 weeks to reach 80%, 12 weeks to reach 100%).

Most Surgeons recommend NO Driving for 6 weeks but often relent for Limited Daytime Driving at 4 weeks, mostly to do necessary chores such as Follow-Up Appointments with Doctors and getting to the Grocery or Pharmacy.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Eva]

Welcome aboard and I am glad you found us

Great advice you have been given above. I like to just add, for reassurance, that I was 57 when I had my surgery and was in good general health other than my two leaky valves.

I too was able to take all personal care of myself from day one at home which was 11 days after surgery...I could not leave the hospital before my INR reached an acceptable range.
My hubby helped me wash my hair and my back the first day at home, then I did all on my own.

I am not sure if everyone goes home with the special socks that help with the blood circulation. I definitely could not put them on alone! luckily one of my sisters stayed with us for a month, who helped me with the socks and drove me to my doctors when hubby could not leave his office. I did not want to drive before six weeks...I was afraid of being involved in an accident which would interrupt the healing process of my sternum. She also helped opening the medication bottles for me for about two weeks.

At two weeks I felt fine and able to help out in every sense at home, but my sister wanted to pamper me, being the youngest in the family.

Best wishes for a smooth surgery and a speedy recovery.

 

[Mentu]

Hi, Sarah, my sternum was closed with clamps instead of wires so I had very little discomfort immediately after surgery. At the time, I was 59 and, otherwise, in good health. I, too, had no difficulty from the very first caring for myself, the two cats and a pond with 30 koi. Before surgery, I worried about how well I could care for myself once I left the hospital and arranged for my best friend to come for a couple of weeks. Just before the AVR, the shortness of breath and palpitations were making it difficult to do much of anything which really magnified my concerns. My friend arrived a week before surgery and it was really a comfort to have him there.

My AVR was on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, I awoke in my room having been moved from the ICU during the night. I was quite astonished to find that I felt really good; I felt very weak but good. My heart felt as though it was beating stronger than ever before but in a good way - not like the palpitations of just a few days earlier. The first walk that morning left me feeling exhausted but that improved with every hour. By Friday afternoon, I stopped taking any narcotics (I just didn't need them) and on Saturday in five strolls I walked a little over a mile in the hospital without any difficulty. Sunday morning I was quite ready to hear that I could go home and spent that night in my own bed without any difficulty.

I let my friend get meals ready on Monday but, as I told him at the time, I didn't feel fragile just weak. I still felt sore but there was no significant pain and walked outside that afternoon. One of my neighbors stopped me on my walk and asked "Aren't you supposed to be having heart surgery soon?" When I told him it had taken place the previous Tuesday, he was really shocked...."But you don't look sick! How can you be on your feet so soon?"

Sarah, heart surgery has changed a lot in past decades. Unless there are complications, you should be able to take care of yourself when you go home. Having someone with you at first is very reassuring but you probably will not need them to care for you. It is nice, however, to have the company of friends for a few days just in case there should be a problem. After the first week at home, since my surgeon didn't want me to drive for 5 weeks, I did rely on friends to give me a ride to the grocery store, the barbershop, and once in awhile just to go out and meet friends at a restaurant for a nice dinner away from home.

I spent most of those days at home, in the weeks before I could drive, maintaining a walking schedule and resting. The small tasks around the house were no problem. I couldn't carry a full laundry basket but I could make several trips with smaller loads. The cats were quite happy to have me at home all day and started napping with me in the recliner after walks. I didn't throw any dinner parties but I did invite friends over for coffee and cake every once in awhile and after the 2nd week, I made the cake myself.

I have to admit that the 6 weeks I spent at home were really very pleasant. Every day I felt stronger and it was so nice to be free of the pre-surgery symptoms. Driving again at 5 weeks felt quite liberating. At 6 weeks, I returned to work and began Cardiac Rehab. Just as it was good to have the weeks to recover at home, it was also nice to pick up the threads of my life and get back to a normal routine. The cats were despondent. Heart surgery was not something that I had planned for and I would have preferred not to need it. The valve replacement did not, however, turn out to be the terrible traumatic event that I imagined it would be. On the whole, it was rather anticlimactic. I don't know what a typical experience is, Sarah, but I hope your's proves to be just as routine as mine. Take care.

Larry