Problems or Normal?

[danbrown]

I first would like to thank all you whose posts helped me to better understand the procedure I went through and how to deal with it.

Wednesday, April 16 I had an aortic valve replacement of a bicuspid valve that my surgeon said was "crappy" and highly deformed. My sternum was completely seperated during surgery.

I really do feel pretty good but have a couple of problems? that I am wondering if they are normal. My surgeon's nurse said they were...but.

First, my incision was glued and still oozes some (I have probably stressed the incision sight by some coughing and bms). Also, my blood pressure is fine but my resting heart rate is between 95 and 102. My doctor said that this will go down over time as my heart adjusts to the new valve. I am taking 50 mg Metoprolol.

Thank you,

Dan Brown
56 yrs old
Yukon, OK

 

[Gusdog]

First, my incision was glued and still oozes some (I have probably stressed the incision sight by some coughing and bms). Also, my blood pressure is fine but my resting heart rate is between 95 and 102. My doctor said that this will go down over time as my heart adjusts to the new valve. I am taking 50 mg Metoprolol.

A resting heart rate of around 100 doesn't sound abnormal from what I've heard. Your heart has been through a rough experience, so it will take it awhile to adjust.

As far as the incision goes, you're only 10 days out, so I don't think it's a problem that it's oozing. The only thing I can tell you is, take it easy with BMs. You could hurt yourself if you strain too much. Stool softeners are a good idea.

Glad you made it over the mountain. I hope your recovery is uneventful.

 

[Dina]

Since you are just 10 days post op , I would think that your heart rate is
not too bad , I know mine was like that for several days.
As far as the incision , it helps to have some support to hold the sternum
together so it can heal - your doc should be able to get you something.
If the incision is oozing - as long as it doesnt look infectious ,is coming apart or look real red and inflamed , or you have a fever it should be ok,however if it remains this way and doesnt show improvement soon ,make sure to see someone.
Best wishes,

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Welcome Dan.

Most Surgeons don't worry about a post surgery elevated HR until it goes over 120 bpm. 80 to 100 is VERY COMMON. It will go down in time.

EVERYTHING about recovery from OHS takes Time and most of us get impatient with how slow it goes. DON'T let your impatience prompt you to push to hard too fast (even w/bm's . Pain Killers and some other meds (I forgot which ones) can cause constipation so yes, Stool Softeners and FIBER will help with that annoyance. Shreaded Wheat is a good source of fiber. Metamucil and some other supplements are also good, but check with your Surgeon (or Cardiologist or PCP) before using.

It wouldn't hurt to Call your Surgeon's office / Nurse about the oozing, especially if it doesn't clear up early next week.

Any more Questions? Feel free to ask away.
Surely someone here can help you out
or at least point you in the right direction.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[ctyguy]

You resting rate will come down over time. Mine was about 100 for about a week after surgery. I take 100mg of Metoprolol and now at 8 weeks post-op my resting rate is usually in the mid-70s.

Your incision sounds normal given its only been a bit more than a week. At 6 weeks the top half of my incision was still oosing and I had to go to my PCP to have it checked. The nurse took a Gauze Pad, wet it with Saline and then irrigated it. That was fun ! Im still not fully healed but its nearly there now.

Sounds like your doing well and everything sounds pretty normal.

 

[danbrown]

Thanks

Thanks

Thank you for your posts. I feel much relieved now.

 

[Bina]

Hi there!
My hospital sent me home with some stool softeners, some of us need them, some don't.
I think it was called Colace. (Do NOT take laxatives....too harsh.)
Try the softeners or eat some bran, lots of fruit, veggies and water.
Don't overdo things, rest often. I take Metoprolol to keep HR where I like it.

 

[CHDDoug]

Incision

Incision

I can't speak to the heartrate because mine was always on the lower side (Ross procedure...not mechanical). As far as the incision, the oozing is perfectly normal! I had the same thing happen to me and I was freaking out about it. At 4 weeks, I went up to see the surgeon's nurse specifically for my oozing incision and chest tube holes and she said that it was perfectly normal. She told me to wash those sights with liquid Dial soap...will help to dry them up. Also, she told me to put peroxide on the sights a couple of times a day with a sterile q-tip. After a week of that, mine dried up. I would run the peroxide thing by your doc...some agree, some don't.

I'd say you are doing very well and all is normal.

Take care.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Sounds like things are going good.

When I had my sternal wires removed, my incision leaked quite a bit for quite a while, leaving stains on clothes and my mattress! The surgeon told me that this was normal and preferred, because if there was oozing that didn't leak out, it would build up under the skin and have to be drained.

 

[Philip B]

Normal stuff

Normal stuff

As others have mentioned in their posts, it sounds like you're experiencing normal stuff. The folks from Mended Hearts gave me a couple of small chest pillows to help with supporting the sternum when coughing was necessary. The pillows really helped. I even carried one with me when I walked during the first few weeks after surgery.

Unlike others, I didn't experience any gunk coming from my incision. My sternum was wired together (and still is) and the incision was glued together.

Again, as others have said, it's not uncomon to have a fast resting heartbeat following surgery. It will drop as you go through the recovery and rehab stuff. At a little over one year post-op mine typically averages between 60-70.

I would suggest finding some kind of exercise that you enjoy and developing an exercise routine. You don't have to become an exercise junkie, but you'll probably see improvement in your heart rate and BP if you do routine exercise. My cardiologists once told me that he'd see much less repeat business if more of his OHS patients stuck with getting exercise.

Just hang on and keep working at the recovery stuff. Do make sure to listen to what your body tells you it can handle. It will get your attention if you don't listen.

-Philip