Ok, I need your help!

[DebbyA]

Were you given detailed recovery instructions on discharge? I was given a small poster with detailed instructions for every 2-week period.
Activities for weeks 1-2 are "climb stairs, 1-2 times a day" and "walk 5-10 minutes 4 times a day".
Activities for weeks 3-4 are "climb stairs as tolerated" and "walk 20 minutes 2 times a day".
Activities for weeks 5-6 are "climb stairs, 1-2 times a day" and "walk 30 minutes once a day".
Here's a link to their patient instructions, but it's not in nice chart format.
http://www.inova.org/heart/patient_instructions/exercise.jsp

You're about at the time that food started tasting good to me. It could be from medications given in the hospital, since they can take a couple of weeks to clear your system.
I agree with the poster who said people think you look good because they expected so much worse. Lots of people told me my color was so good now. I guess I was really pale before--some say 'gray' or 'blue'.

 

[ponygirlmom]

Were you given detailed recovery instructions on discharge? I was given a small poster with detailed instructions for every 2-week period.
Activities for weeks 1-2 are "climb stairs, 1-2 times a day...

Did they give you detailed instructions for building stairs in your home?

 

[rhino19]

Sorry to hear about your problems, but I totally agree with what you said about the control thing. Remember I have a cop too and from the outside looking in you guys have got to lighten up a little. I love that saying someone quoted about "Rome being built in a day" so, so, so true. Hang tough and you will be back to normal very very soon. Who knows maybe you guys will be even better than before, well we know your heart will be but the rest of your bod! Stay positive, I know that is easy to say but mind over matter. Good luck!
(I pm U)

 

[catwoman]

Sheepdog:

I lost about 24 pounds post-op, regained 6 of those. (A year later I joined Weight Watchers to re-lose those 6 + some.) Losing the 24 pounds so quickly made me look very gaunt and my clothes just hung on.

Ditto on the loss of taste. Only things that tasted good were sweet things: cantaloupe, watermelon, other fruits, tea w/ sweetener, sorbet, sherbet. I ate smaller, more frequent meals.

I was pretty weak, too. Some people here have been able to get out and do 20-minute walks several times a day, but not me. 3-4 weeks post-op, my husband & I walked past 2 houses and around the corner and I was winded, so he brought the car to drive me back home.
John's surgery was minimally invasive and he was walking quite a bit at 2 weeks post-op. Our experiences were night and day. I was in bad shape pre-op; he was not.

If you continue to feel winded, w/out appetite and just crappy, please have your cardiologist, surgeon or PCP check you out to rule out any "bumps" in the road to recovery.

 

[Nugrandma1]

Sheepdog, my husband is in his 10th day after his AVR. He's still tired, but can feel the difference with the new valve. Food just started tasting good the past few days. He has a good day (little pain) and a bad day (more pain) Today is a bad day, he's a bit down, and in the bedroom with the AC on the door closed and his headphones on. He wants to "be alone" for a while.
But he is feeing so much better, his valve was so bad he had no energy and was white as a sheet. His color is back and he's got more energy.

It takes time and eveyone is different.

 

[SHEEPDOG]

Wow

Wow

OK gang,
I am officially 15 days out and the turn around from day 10 is amazing. I still don't run marathons yet but when I walk up stairs at home I don't feel like I ran 100 yds for a TOUCHDOWN. I do get more winded that I did pre op but I recover really fast. I also started eating some more than I was. Still can't do sweets or soda but that is a GOOD thing. My stomach has shrunk so I am forced to eat only small meals. AGAIN, a good thing! If I try to force it past "full", I makes me gag. Kinda like how you aren't supposed to "top off" your gas tank.
Tried to take myself off pain meds but gave that up. The doc gave me the BIG bottle for a reason
I walked the perimeter isles in the HOBBY LOBBY while my wife was looking today. In the A/C and not too fast but I would give each lap just over 1/4 mile. I did 2 laps without a hitch!
I really want to thank ALL of you for pulling out all the stops to help me. I guess I did expect TOO much TOO soon. I know I may have more BAD days to come but I plan to ride this HIGH as long as I can.

Thanks again

 

[DeWayne]

I understand the food dilema. I could hardly eat anything for almost 2 months after surgery. It taste worse than cardboard. I could not drink a coke, hamburgers my favorite food were horrible! Seems that pork tasted the closest thing to normal for me, so I had a lot of pork chops and pork roast to get me through the storm. I went from 168# at time of surgery to 190 the day after then proceeded to lose till I was down to a nice 152# before taste came back and I started to gain weight again.

Its a by product of the anesthesia I am told. It will return, patience.

2 weeks is not long, give yourself a break! It takes time, I didn't really start to feel like myself till I hit 6 months, fully at 1 year. If depression is really hitting you talk to the doc and get some pills. No sense in feeling like that when you don't have to.

 

[AngelaR]

Hi Greg.

Just wanted to post my two cents. Ray struggled with the same issues about muscle atrophy. Like I told him, your muscles aren't brand new, they may shrink but they certainly won't disappear and as soon as you are able to lift some weight again they will pop back out in a few short weeks. Got to love muscle memory =)

As for food, Ray didn't eat anything but banana pudding and apple juice the first 10 days. And water. He looked deflated. But he is 12 weeks post now and he looks great. All the weight he lost he put back on much to his chagrin

When you are used to living in hyper drive it is hard to down shift. Appreciate it because in no time the wife will be saying heart surgery? puh-lease get up and help with these house chores and mow the lawn!!

 

[melanie]

I am at the one month mark now. I have experienced everything you have. I do not have any taste for food. My favorite is steak and I turned my nose up at it last night. I have been walking, but I still get winded. I am ready to start running, but my body is not. I wish there was some chart that you could go by to rate your excerise progress or what you should be able to do at certain time frames from your surgery. I guess everyone would be different. I have been in the military for 25 years. I need to run and push myself, so sure the depression is setting in. Everyone at work stays on me constantly about trying to do too much. My doctor told me I could start jogging some, but to listen to my body. Well, when I tried it, my body was saying "what the hell are you doing"? "Patience" I keep repeating that to myself. I feel a lot better knowing that all this is normal. I love this forum

 

[Lynlw]

I am at the one month mark now. I have experienced everything you have. I do not have any taste for food. My favorite is steak and I turned my nose up at it last night. I have been walking, but I still get winded. I am ready to start running, but my body is not. I wish there was some chart that you could go by to rate your excerise progress or what you should be able to do at certain time frames from your surgery. I guess everyone would be different. I have been in the military for 25 years. I need to run and push myself, so sure the depression is setting in. Everyone at work stays on me constantly about trying to do too much. My doctor told me I could start jogging some, but to listen to my body. Well, when I tried it, my body was saying "what the hell are you doing"? "Patience" I keep repeating that to myself. I feel a lot better knowing that all this is normal. I love this forum

Have you looked into cardiac rehab? They are the ones that are best at letting you know what to do when /how much ect.

 

[ricks399]

Hey sheep

Hey sheep

thanks for leading the way! I had my surgery on Monday so I'm right behind you and then I can read your postdates to get an update on the future!

I've got a hypothesis that this is harder for men to deal with on an emotional level. Kind of funny but I went through the mood swings, sadness and crying jags (or wanted to be crying but kept myself barely under control jags) pre-op so maybe I won't have that as much post-op.

But I think the major deal is that you are a cop, you're in an occupation that requires physical effort and rewards typical masculine traits in our culture. You need to be in control and take charge of situations. You need to be strong.

Now you need help putting on your socks! And probably from a woman, no less! You are dependent on caregivers in situations where you use to help others. I can't open a refrigerator door or take the cap off of a 20 oz caffeine free diet coke! Instead, my wife has to do it. So I have to admit to myself - I'm dependent! I'm like a baby in some ways and I just have to accept that. As for emotions, we typically label those as "womanly" traits but our rational sides are "manly". We all know we are both but finding the balance between them can be hard.

So oddly enough we are receiving a 2nd chance in more ways than one! Not only can our bodies heal but we have an opportunity to reassess our selves, our personalities. Hey, maybe it feels good to cry at a movie or over a song. Maybe those tears are a response to our recall of things we had long forgotten or spent a lot of energy repressing.

So what do we do? Go with it, I think, accept it and not prejudge these new feelings because they are different. Maybe (as Martha Stewart says) "it's a good thing". Anyway, looking forward to keeping up with you on your journey.

 

[Freddie]

Now you need help putting on your socks!


Sheepdog & Rick,
Things will get better, and its okay for a woman to put on your socks. My SO needs help getting socks on and they didn't have OHS

As for sweets Sheep, have tried having any mints? Just a thought.

You two hang tough, and cry when you need to, its good for the soul......a form a stress release.

And remember, one day at a time.

 

[Jkm7]

As a woman, I can assure you it is no easier on us emotionally but for opposite reasons.

Many of us are accustomed to being the care givers. We take care of our families and suddenly we cannot do that but even worse, we need our families to take care of us.

We cry more easily under all sorts of circumstances and this is no exception, as least from my perception. I had no shame or embarrassment crying just before my cath. I didn't burst into hysteria but tears rolled down my cheeks and were noticed. So WHAT!!! Knowing all we face and ultimately all we have been through, I think the lucky ones (both male and female) are the ones who allow themselves to show their emotions. Holding them tight to ourselves, holding them in, doesn't do us any good and it shuts our loved ones out. Just an opinion I formed along the road of two OHS in four years.

My cardio asked me how I was doing about a week from my surgery date and I had no shame telling him a cross between terror and hysteria. I think he would have known I was less than forthright if I said otherwise.

 

[SHEEPDOG]

too true

too true

At almost 3 weeks now (OK 2 1/2) I am MUCH better.Getting ready to go to the movies with my son. I also agree with the emotion thing. This is SUCH a BIG thing to go through.As I understand it, they put you in such a DEEP sleep for surgery that the next step is NOT WAKING UP!That HAS to mess with ones emotions. I will get through just fine and perhaps cry at a song or two in the process.
thanks

 

[Bonzo Dog]

................... I will get through just fine and perhaps cry at a song or two in the process.
......

Not going to see The Dark Knight then?

 

[SHEEPDOG]

Nope, no joker

Nope, no joker

Actually I went to see SPACE CHIMPS with Zachary, 6yo, and loved it. Lots to laugh at, NO POLITICAL MESSAGE, nothing to hide his eyes from, just a good stupid kids movie! Actually did feel a tear come up when the lead chimp and his love interest chimp hoked up at the end. But I do that when Old Yeller dies too.

 

[ricks399]

Hey sheep

Hey sheep

JKand Freddie make som good points. I agree there is nothing wrong with a woman putting on your socks and that it's okay to be dependent. And I hadn't considered JK's point about women being nurturers. But there is something I said that kind of got lost and that these changes are not bad! Some people reacted to your initial post like okay, this is normal but you'll get over it. I was trying to suggest that maybe we shouldn't strive to get over this but to use it, to incorporate it into that better version of ourselves that we hope results from this whole process.

I still have to disagree with JK because women crying is not seen as something that they need to "get over". Expressing emotion is much more acceptable in women than men, at least here in Cincinnati (the Heartland so to speak, pun intended).

If you saw the Analyze This/That movies, in one of them Robert DeNiro went to a psychiatrist because he was becoming emotional and crying over things. He told the therapist that someone "could slap a pair of t_ts on me and call me a woman". The humor comes from exaggeration of something that's true - men don't cry (usually).

Sheepdog, I hope you don't get over this. Don't explain away your tear at Spacechimp. I understand: I once cried like a baby (in a theater!) when "Elf" saved Christmas