One Week

[kawhite]

Today marks one week.
My optimism in my pre-surgery post notwithstanding this is a difficult road.
I can't seem to get comfortable in my non adjustable bed, the occasional PVC is worrisome even though I read they are nothing to worry about, and let's not talk about coughing but yet with all that I know it will get better at least I believe it will. Today is just week 1 there are so many ahead.
The support on this board is so valuable

Kevin

 

[joy]

Advice? Got tons for you! Lets see, use your pillow when you need to cough or sneeze, and one peice of advice for bed, do you haave any of those body pillows? You can get them pretty cheap at a walmart or something, Bonnie used a wedge I think under her pillow. SHe'll be along soon. I never used our recliner, but relaxed a lot. Your taste buds will come back soon, you just have to get all the medication out of your system. Do you have someone there with you 100% o the time? I haven't read your profile to see if you are married or not. Just remember to use your spirometer as needed(every couple of hours)and take the pain pills as recommended. Don't worry, it will get better! Good luck!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Kevin-

Your heart is irritated and a little swollen from the surgery. This can cause PVCs because the swelling sometimes interferes with the electrical system in the heart. As soon as the swelling subsides, you should have fewer and fewer.

Being uncomfortable in bed is common. My husband sat up and slept on the sofa for several weeks. He preferred that to getting a recliner. Go figure? It didn't look comfortable to me, but I wasn't the one with all the pain. I'd say, whatever works for you is good, a wedge pillow, mounding up several pillows, a body pillow, or any combo of them. In another week or so, the immediate pains will lessen.

Keep your small pillow near for the coughing. Coughing is actually good, it loosens the phlegm in your lungs which can accumulate. That's why the spirometer is very good for you after surgery. It helps to re-expand your lungs, and keeps fluid out of them.

 

[kawhite]

RE I'm crazy

RE I'm crazy

As I said in my other post it wasn't fair that you jokesters lowered everything in my apartment and now I have to lean to wash my hands in the too low sink. I just realized how well hospitals must be designed. It does feel a little good to be home ok real good but I can see this recovery of 8 weeks is off by about 600 weeks. My current estimate is I will feel perfect around 2015.
Of course if I didn't have the surgery I probably wouldn't be here. So for anyone considering surgery I will tell you right now the pain of recovery is nothing compared to living with the fear your heart will go on you.
Talk to your doctors, family, friends, whoever you need to and then make a decision.
I will almost always say have the surgery.

 

[kawhite]

Good Advice

Good Advice

This is why this forum is so helpful, the advice in the above posts helps to further ease the mind. Why don't the doctors tells you this stuff?

 

[pegne]

Kevin

Kevin

Don't feel too bad. I know how you feel. After my last heart surgery the surgeon put me on steroids to prevent my body from rejecting the cadaver valves they put in. I got home 5 days after surgery and on the 6th I was scrubbing floors. The steroids mixed with the pain pills made me feel like I could do anything. I paid for it soon after. It is the small things we take for granted like washing hands showering, and sleeping in our own beds that are the most difficult. I will put you in my prayers.

 

[pillarpaul]

Way to go, Kevin. Next week I'll be joining you. But I sure don't want to wait to 2015 to feel "perfect".

Paul

 

[Nancy]

Stick with us Kevin, we'll give you the inside scoop.

 

[Georgia]

You're doing great

You're doing great

Kevin - if we'd been in car accidents and had the amount of damage done to our bodies as done in open heart surgery, we wouldn't expect to be well and healed for months. But we don't like to look at it the same way as a result of surgery. I can't imagine why. Really - 8 weeks is bare minimum - we can go shopping and lift 25#, and if we're lucky the incision will look a lot better and feel much better (unless we do something stupid). But we won't be really healed.

You'll do well, I'm sure, because you took the bull by the horns and got your surgery before you were too disabled. But give yourself time and patience.

Just a note: it's astonishing - one day you'll feel great; the next (for no discernable reason) you'll do well to get out of bed. It's hard, sometimes, but keeping a positive attitude is a necessity. That's one of things the people here are incredibly good at - the soaring spirits are a wonder.

Oh - and the low sinks and toilets - just a little joke. They'll be readjusted in the next couple of weeks.

 

[TIM W.]

I am 2 weeks post-op and I can relate 100% to all you are saying. Each day does get better. My doctor showed me a tip for coughing to ease the pain. Press lightly on each side of your incision as you cough. This counter-acts the pressure from the cough. It does reduce the pain so much more than using the pillow because you concentrate the pressure. After you try this a couple times, you'll get to know exactly how much pressure to apply. Keep up the good work.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Kevin

NO WAY 2015!!!!! Keep using that spirometer, napping and walking and you will feel better each week. REMEMBER TO REST!! It is so important. Everyone here has told you all the best things to do, but I'm sure right now you feel as though nothing can make it better. Tyce just had one bit of advice for you:

DON'T SNEEZE!!!

You will be better and look back on it---maybe not fondly, but gratefully because you know the consequences of not having had the surgery. Just don't push yourself too hard and don't expect to go back to work full time when it's time....

Every day will get better!!! As far as the PVC's go, that's your hearts way of saying GRRRRR, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH ALL THE JOSTLING, PRODDING, CUTTING AND POKING YOU DID TO ME!!!
Can you blame it?

Evelyn

 

[kawhite]

Tip helps

Tip helps

The pressing on the side of the incision does help a great deal. Last night I finally just laid down took 2 tylenol w/codeine ignored the PVC and finally fell asleep. There was some groaning and moaning in there but after reading how everyone has the PVC's my mind was somewhat eased.
A friend picked me up this afternoon and we walked two short blocks to a neighborhood restaurant, and we had a light meal, we stayed there for about an hour after eating then walked back.
I felt a little wobbly as I reached my apartment door.
About 5-10 minutes after getting back I felt better. Tomorrow I plan to just walk on the terrace as it is suppossed to be a bit colder and I don't want to push it.
I am finding the spirometer to be fun and useful.

Kevin

 

[mike anthony]

I'm 4 weeks post op and it gets better everyday. I have found for me that if I have a day when I'm not feeling to good. I still go do something and I start feeling better. I try to do at least 45 minutes of aerobics a day. This last Friday I walked 18 holes of golf;didn't play, but it sure felt good. One thing I keep in mind, I let by body tell me how far to push myself. If I'm tired I quit, there's always tomorrow.