Post-op Question?

[Coach Kilby]

How difficult is walking stairs when you first get home after surgery?

I just brought the recliner home this evening in preparation for my June 2nd surgery. Unsure whether to set up camp on first floor or second floor?

Just how tough is it to climb stairs?

 

[Paleowoman]

Before you are discharged after surgery they will make sure you can do stairs okay. BUT it does depend on how often you need to use the bathroom ! I have frequency and need to go around 20 times a day - physio at the hospital said no way could I climb stairs 20 times as soon as I was discharged ! I was sleeping downstairs on the sofa as that was the only way I could sleep sitting upright comfortably for the first few weeks and I was climbing the stairs so many times to go to the loo that it was very exhausting and I'm not sure, in restrospect and from reading up about this, that it was a good idea. However, for night-time I got a commode (Red Cross lent it) and that was really useful - maybe I should have used it in the day time too. But you're a guy and there's other ways to go in more simple devices

So, to answer your question - it depends how often you need to go upstairs, but for the average person you will be able to manage it fine and they won't let you home until you can manage it.

All the best for your surgery.

 

[ski girl]

My apartment is at the top of 30 stairs and I managed fine, although I stopped 1-2 times in the first week or so. I think having to walk up the stairs was probably good for my recovery!!

IMHO you should try to be 'normal' as soon as you can, it helps with your recovery (mental) when you don't constantly feel like a sick person. BUT that is just me!

 

[pellicle]

IMHO you should try to be 'normal' as soon as you can

People don't often call me normal ...

 

[dwhist]

Everybody is different but like others I had to do stairs at hospital as part of release to show I could handle them. I had no issues when I got home with stairs and was fortunate to be able to sleep in my own bed on second floor.

 

[epstns]

I really didn't give stairs a second thought. Our house is built on 3 different levels, and although I tried to consolidate reasons for trips up and down stairs, I never worried about doing it. I just took my time and went about my business.

 

[Cromey]

You should be fine Coach.
Once discharged I could easily walk the 2 flights of stairs to my bedroom. I wasn't sprinting up them but never had any issues.
I agree with Ski girl, dont count yourself as a sick person, dont make excuses get on with life. If you mope about the house not moving it will take longer to recover.

 

[Paleowoman]

YI agree with Ski girl, dont count yourself as a sick person, dont make excuses get on with life. If you mope about the house not moving it will take longer to recover.

Everyone has to move to help with their recovery, the hospital will get anyone moving the day they are out of high dependency. At the hospital I was at we were expected to walk several laps of the corridor each day and around the hospital too, doing stairs once the physio was happy with progress. We were expected to wear day clothes during the day too. However, one person may take longer to recover than another. I went into surgery extremely fit - did a six mile walk the day before admission - yet, as a combination of analgesics, pain and "surgical insult" I went downhill for a few weeks, no matter how much I moved and tried to get back to normal.

Writing this because I don't want anyone to feel badly if they don't recover as quickly as someone else ! One person may actually be sick after open heart surgery when another isn't, nothing to do with excuses or moping about the house. I'm sure everyone does their best and everyone wants to get on with life !

 

[Coach Kilby]

Awesome answers!

Thanks for the help. That really clears things up.

 

[R1Phrankey]

I agree with dwhist: Everybody is different but like others I had to do stairs at hospital as part of release to show I could handle them.
Same for me: stairs are no problem.
Also at home, no problem doing stairs.
Today I am 8 days post-op and today I did a 1 hour walk and I was not very exhausted afterwards.
But: I must say, my physical health was very good going into surgery. Did a 60 miles road bike trip just 1 week before surgery. (I do not recommend this with severe aortic stenosis, but I wanted to undergo surgery in best possible health).

 

[TheGymGuy]

Stairs will be no problem for you coach. Spend your time at the hospital being active and taking stairs at home will be just like it is today, albeit a bit slower at first.