Please Help! Charliebrown21 Post OP

[CharlieBrown21]

This is Ron Jr. My dad went in to surgery Friday 3-27.. He was in surgery for 7 hours. Originally went in to just replace aortic valve and found that he had aortic dissection. So they had to do a bypass also..

Anyway, he is at home now and says he is in a lot of pain and finds it hard to get comfortable laying down or sitting.

Any suggestion thay may help...???

Thanks,

Ron

 

[hensylee]

Seven hours? My, that's a long time. Think maybe only John C had one longer. Rough operation for your dad. He is going to be very sore, of course, for at least a month. The only thing, if he can't get comfortable, is probably to take the pain meds as prescribed and if that doesn't help, then he should contact his doctor for further instructions. We all had trouble getting comfortable at home and only time took care of it, as it will with Ron. Please give him my best and he is in my prayers.

Thank you for posting for him. We do worry about our mates and want to know. God bless

 

[Bob]

What worked best for me was sitting and sleeping in a recliner. The body position didn't put any strain on my chest like lying down. Food tasted like dirt for a week so I lived on apple juice and sherbit. I hated the breathing requirement but after had to admit it was worth while. The pillow was also a great help. As a guy with all the macho tendencies I didn't want to take the pain pills. I'd wait as long as I could before taking one. That was stupid, just plain stupid. Take the pain pills as long as it hurts! Getting up and taking the daily walk was helpful. Hope this helps. good luck

 

[Georgia]

Poor Charliebrown

Poor Charliebrown

Hi, Ron. So sorry to hear about your dad being in such pain. Ann's right - he needs to use his painkillers as prescribed - so he doesn't let the pain build up.

My suggestions:

1. Does he have a recliner? It seems to be the one thing all of us agree on for getting comfortable right after getting home. Many of us slept in one. If he doesn't have one, I strongly suggest you go buy or rent one for him.

2. Body pillows can also help when lying down. I found it awfully painful to lie on my side, but the body pillow could prop me up so I wasn't flat on my back all night.

3. He may be having muscle spasms in his back and neck. Massage/back rubs are almost a necessity for a few days. He probably could use them three or four times a day.

You're a good son to help your dad. Please let him know we're all pulling for him; we've all been there; and we'll all help however we can.

 

[mike anthony]

I found massages to be the best thing for me to relieve pain. Like Georgia said, sometimes 3-4 times a day. If your Dad is having trouble doing his arm excercises be sure to help him get some movement. As others have said, make sure he takes pain meds if uncomfortable. It will get better every day and week.

 

[dano]

I'd agree with the recliner suggestions. I have a regular recliner and a rocking recliner. I actually preferred the rocker initially as it was a lot easier to get out of. But, it's not quite as comfortable as my worn-in recliner.

Once I made it to the bed, I needed some help getting down and up. When I tried by myself, I had to hold the pillow, sit on the bed, and just kind of fall into the bed from the sitting position. And, to get out by myself, I initially had to kinda just roll out of the bed letting my feet and knees go to the floor and then standing up from there.

I would tell him to take the pain medication (on schedule - at least for the first few days and then as needed), breathe and walk. And keep the pillow handy for coughs, sneezes (hated those) and for laughing. Enjoyed the laughing, but it hurt at first.

Tell him it does get better, but it does take time. And tell him not to try and pick up anything or try to take out the garbage, etc for a few weeks and let that chest heal.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Ron-

I was wondering about your dad today. I'm so glad his surgery is over with and he's home. Pain is normal after this kind of surgery and he did have a dissection repair as well, so he's all banged up inside. By the way, it sounds as if they caught the dissection just in time, he dodged a big bullet there.

It takes a little time for healing to be far enough down the road for the patient to be comfortable when lying down, or sitting. It is very important to take the pain medications right on schedule, not just when you have the pain. The secret is to take them before the pain gets too great. Your dad should also have a small soft pillow to hold to his chest in case he has to cough, or even worse sneeze which can be very painful. Holding it to your chest when bending to get up can help also.

If the pain is unbearable even with the meds he was given, then a call to the surgeon is in order.

In about a week, the pain should be diminished, but the chest and sternum area will be sore for a while.

This is big time surgery and your dad will look unwell and be very weak for a couple of weeks. It takes a lot out of the patient and it's hard on the family too. He will be very tired with little exertion and just to take even a shower can be exhausting. But it does get better, I promise.

You should know that the surgeon's office is set up to field lots of calls after surgery, so don't hesitate to call with any questions. You may get the Physician's Assistant, but they are all wonderful and helpful.

Tell your dad that it will get better and to try not to push too much or do too much for the first week. He might not feel a whole lot like eating just yet either. Lots of folks like ice-pops right after surgery.

 

[Mb]

Hello!

I'd like to back up the recliner suggestion. My husband slept in his for over three weeks. Just could NOT lay down without being really uncomfortable.

We also worked out a system for when we had company. We had a "private sign" between the two of us. When family would come over, and he was getting tired out sitting and talking, he would give me the sign, and I would just say "Hey, sweetie, looks like you are getting tired out. Why don't you go sit for a bit in the recliner?" This invariably prompted our company to leave....in just a few minutes. I might also, if I thought he looked a bit pale, or looked as though he was uncomfrtable, say the same thing.
Your Dad needs a loving advocate right now. And, he needs to put away all his macho for a couple of months. Best wishes.
Marybeth

 

[terry40]

Ron Jr

Ron Jr

You being a great son, it's hard to watch a parent in pain, but time will heal his wounds.

The recliner, extra pillows, and pain meds are the trick for a while, if his pain meds aren't working have him call for something stronger, they want him to move around/walk and he won't be able to that if he is in that much pain.

I also carried a small pillow to hold in front of my chest, when getting up or down, moving positions, coughing, and the dreaded sneeze, I also used a heating pad for the shoulder and back pain.

terry40

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Ron, Jr.

Hi Ron, Jr.

My family moved a twin bed downstairs for me.....near the bathroom. Twin beds are a little closer to the floor...Then a neighbor brought over a wedge. ..Like you see people sitting up in bed..reading...but can probably run to WalMart and buy one or some big King sized pillows and make him one.Recliners? someone would have to be there to pull handle ..ect. for him. Pain pills..make him take them. ( I had Darvacet..2 every 4-6 hours.) Just looked at my 1 pill bottle that I never had to finish. By the way, what type valve did Dad get?..Mech..? he will have to go and have his INR tested soon. So he needs to be free of pain for that..depending on how far he has to walk, ect.Food, don't force nothing on him..but cold juices, ect..and tell him..we are on line for him..Any more questions please ask or e-mail any member. You can find all of us under Members at top of forum. Just click on our user name and you will find either our e-mail or private user e-mail.. He should feel a little better in a few days. Bonnie

 

[TIM W.]

I'm really sorry to hear of your dad being so uncomfortable. I agree with all the others about the recliner. I am 2 weeks post-op today and I'm still using a recliner to sleep in. Please let your dad know he is in my thoughts and each day will get brighter.

 

[hhardt]

All the advice given above is excellant. My only addition has to do with large pills. If he has trouble, tell him to put the pill in a spoon full of apple juice. That makes even the largest "takeable". Plenty of rest and walking is the best advice. And NEVER leave home without the pillow. I also slept in/on the recliner for a long time.

 

[pegne]

Charlie

Charlie

I have a very low threshhold for pain so I know what your dad is feeling. After my second surgery I slept in a recliner. My 3rd surgery was 13 hours long and the 4th was14. This has got to be difficult to watch someone you love go through. I will keep you in my prayers.