Preparing for post surgery breathing exercise

[Lasker]

Hi All,

Does anyone have any tips on easing the breathing exercise you have to do after the surgery, blowing into the little tube to keep the balls in the air? I hear this is one of the painful parts of the experience post surgery in the CICU because of the sore sternum.

I still have almost three weeks to wait before entering the hospital, and intend to do the breathing exercises Carla is doing. (Like all good intentions, this one is practiced only some of the time.) Even though I'm not a smoker, it can't hurt to try to strengthen the lungs.

If anyone has discovered a way to prepare, or to focus one's attention to minimize this discomfort while in hospital, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

My recliner was delivered today, so I'm gettting closer.

Lorraine Lasker

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi Lorraine,
With the spirometer you are going to be sucking in on the tube to help expand your lungs. It wasn't that painful at all for me, and I haven't really heard anyone else say that it was painful for them. Just start out slow and you will build up from that.
Glad to hear you got your recliner. It was a life saver for me.
Take Care

Dave
_____________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[Nancy]

Joe didn't find the spironmeter terribly painful either, maybe a little, but you won't be able to inhale very well at first, after surgery. The respiratory people will be in to visit you and explain everything, and set goals for you.

Most hospitals will give you a heart pillow to hold to your sternum when things you are doing cause pain. They are very helpful. You will also be asked to cough every once in a while, and that may be painful. Sneezing is the worst. You can try this prior to the hospital. There is an acupressure point just under your nose, at the top of your lip. If you feel a sneeze coming on, you can pressed this point very hard, and it will stop the urge to sneeze. kepp that in mind for any post surgery sneezes.

 

[hensylee]

No blowing - I tried that and they giggled at me! Sucking in is how it goes. No pain. The only bother is how often you have to do it. And the staff pushes you to do it. If they don't, push yourself. This is one of the most important parts of your recovery. I had a buncha trouble gettin that little ball up there - never did go far. Not to worry - you will do fine. This is one of the least worrisome things about the whole surgery, but very important, too.

 

[Ross]

I was supposed to move the ball?

 

[bvdr]

Yep Ross. The first few days after surgery I kept checking to see if something was blocked in the tubing. Before surgery the little ball went up so well. I picked it up a few days ago and it is a tangible measure that I have certainly made alot of progress. By the way, after checking out my progress, I pitched the thing in the trash. I remember you post about bacteria making a home in them after a while. ( I ended up with two of them at home post surgery somehow. I hope they both were mine!)

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi lorraine!
glad to see that you are really getting prepped for your upcoming surgery.
i think the reason that the breathing did not bother joey either is that it is done in little increments. it's not the type of thing where you try to get the ball to the top the very first time. it's a progressive thing.
glad you got your recliner. how is it?
please keep us up to date as you prepare for your big day, ok?
wishing you all the best, sylvia

 

[Lasker]

Thanks for your wishes, Sylvia.

Everyone was right about how these chairs are great for sleeping. I sat down to try it out in front of the TV, and before I know it, I was fast asleep. And this is before the surgery!

How is Joey making out with his possible need for ablation therapy?

Lorraine

 

[Bob]

The Spirometer didnt hurt it was just a pain in the ### to do it. When the tech brought it in and demonstrated it I thought,"sure you little weasel I'll do as long as you ar here but when you are gone..." Then my nurse told me it had something to do with keeping the lungs clear and I couldn't go home unless I sucked on the darn thing, so I did it. Then at home my wife nagged me and threatened there would be no more ice cream till I made the ball bounce. All in all it wasn't a big thing even tho I hated it. You would think with all of the breakthroughs in medicine they could find something better than sucking on a tube!

 

[Lasker]

Thank you for the responses:

Now that I know one inhales I can practice mentally or physically, and that the device is called a spirometer, I am ahead of the game.

Lorraine

 

[Ross]

HA, I still can't move the darn ball! I'm defective.

 

[medtronic of borg]

spirometer

spirometer

I had blow bottles once...it is made of two littler bottles ,accually about 800cc. The thin tube between them came out of the bottom of one and up to the top ofthe first bottle over then down into the second at its basse. each one had a long clear tube to blow into. It was much funner and harder to do then what they use today.

Med