Question for Ya'll on the Other Side of the Mtn...

[Susan BAV]

Okay, Stretch, I'm in a worry-wart kind of mood. But, you also won't want to be breathing lots of contagious air from germy people after your surgery, because coughing and sneezing is an EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT -- EVEN PAINFUL experience following OHS. The first time I sneezed was a couple of months after OHS and WOW, was I sorry for not holding my sternum!

If you decide not to pack your bike and running shoes, like Philip suggested, then I really like the idea about finding a nice hotel/motel suite. Some friends of ours recently stayed for a week in Manhattan and they said that they rented a beautiful (and clean) apartment for less than a motel would have cost. Just an idea to keep expenses down, although room service sounds more fun to me. By the way, you may know that lots of delis and restaurants and such deliver to hotel rooms in NYC and my husband and I have been amazed at how fast they deliver and how inexpensive that is too. You will probably be on a reduced fluid intake and a no/low salt diet though, so keep that in mind.

BTW also, that "popping stitches" post you wrote was something else!

 

[maka]

Stretch
I echo everything that has been said. I just want to add, I don?t know how cold is in Richmond, Virginia, but NY in Dec can be really cold and I don?t think you?ll feel like doing much walking.
I know I did not feel like doing much so early after my OHS plus for some reason I feel the cold even more now that before the operation.
As to the 6 hours drive, my surgeon suggested I rode in the back of the car for at least the first 6 weeks after the operation. Apparently, the concern is a sudden stop and the air bag displacing and hitting you on the chest, not fun with a sore sternum and could be dangerous. Have you consider rather than flying back to Richmond, to fly directly to NC from NY? You can spend a few days there before the holidays resting out (maybe in a nice hotel) and you may be feeling better for the big party
Wishing you a speedy recovery and a wonderful holiday

 

[Turkey Hunter]

All good advice. I had a very hard time with the three hour drive home from Cleveland after being released. Many stops were needed.

At four weeks I did make a four hour trip and hated every minute of it. But made it through.

Be carefull and be sure to run these ideas by your docs.

Don't rush it, pamper yourself and have Christmas come to you.

Bne

 

[SumoRunner]

I got tired walking down the block the weekend after my surgery (about 7 days post-op). I rode in the car from NYC to Albany, about 2.5 hours, on the next Monday.

Goodness, I didn't have it nearly as bad as most of you. I was 43 and very fit when I had the valve replaced and even though I had a partial lung collapse I was out walking a mile the first day home. It did not exhaust me at all but I did require an hour nap after noon and an extra hour of sleep each night. By 3 weeks I was walking 3 miles and by 6 weeks I was ready to start running again. I ran a 5K race at 5 months out, but I've known others who got back to it even sooner than that.

On the other hand, the stuff about the chest discomfort is I think, understated if anything. The worst was a sneeze, that would bring me near to tears. At least I didn't have so far to travel in the car. I had the surgery at Albany Medical Ctr and live less than 10 miles away.

 

[Granbonny]

I agree with the others .that the 10 days in NYC....you will feel weak....Mostly..just wanting to nap.. don't think you will feel like real food. I just wanted cold juices, ect...but, you need to walk. even around the apartment, halls, ect....I'm sure they must have some kind of small refrigerator in apartment.and hopefully a small grocery nearby..that Nona can pick up what you feel like eating/drinking.......I am also sure that both of you will be so glad to get home..that even thinking about another trip..would be out of the question......I was in your shoes. my Mom had passed 5 months before my surgery..and I was wanting to go to Alabama to see my Dad...However, I had the 3 week post-op appointments with both my Cardio/surgeon....and really didn't feel like traveling 6 hours for another 3 weeks...We went then..and stopped several times.Saw him for a few days..came back home and did well after that. ......I think your Mom would understand..if you didn't feel up to the ride over to Ashville.Just lots of phone calls to her.. ..Also, you never know what the weather will be..over the Mountains to Ashville..We had a Condo for 10 years above Ashville. their weather has lots of snow in Dec. Bonnie

 

[StretchL]

Some friends of ours recently stayed for a week in Manhattan and they said that they rented a beautiful (and clean) apartment for less than a motel would have cost.

We'd loveto find an affordable decent place up there... if you have the name of that place I'd love to hear it. Thanks.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi stretch,
you might want to contact or PM "dpickle" from atlanta on this site. he had his ross done by dr. stelzer recently and may have stayed in the apts across the street as well. maybe they've upgraded those apts? i would suggest asking him about what is available in them... honestly, i haven't seen it in 5 years! this might be sufficient for you and noni and certainly very close.
talk to you soon,
sylvia

 

[tobagotwo]

Warning: photo below may be disturbing, as it shows surgical wound.

Stretch,

Don't push yourself in NYC. The winter wind can come down between those concrete canyons like an icy river, unrelenting, stealing the heat from anything it touches. One of the things you don't have right after the surgery is any kind of energy reserve or second wind. Understand: none.

Like Sumorunner, I recovered very quickly. But that's certainly not a given. It's different for everybody. In fact, I felt really good. But as Sumorunner also said, there are distinct limits to what you can do, and whatever you do, you have to sleep right afterwards. When your energy runs out, there's no more, you just fold. So, going for a walk and "seeing how you do" can be dangerous, inthat there are damn few places to sit in NY. Also, in your condition, you won't be able to recovery energy if it's cold (especially if there's a wind), and you may easily be lured into going too far, as you won't be certain how much energy it will take to to get back.

I also want to remind you that when you're walking the streets, there are no bathrooms in NYC. Check out the neighborhood before any jaunts. Locate the places you could rest (sitting), shelter from possible cold winds, find bathrooms. Find halfway points of interest, where you could stop to sit, rest and do something (eat? shop?) or watch something before heading back. Just finding places you will be able to sit can be critical that early in the game. Don't do anything in a hurry. You'll have no adrenaline.

I never had pain while walking, and you probably won't either. I had tramadol to take if I wanted, but I still have half the bottle left in my cupboard, so I didn't use it much.

I had my surgery on a Tuesday, and was home on Friday. Here's a picture taken that Friday outside my house, with an open-shirted disco pose, to show my mother that I had had the surgery and really was okay. You can see the bandage from where the chest tube was removed the day before (just below the bottom of the incision), and a big bruise that was there from the surgery. And my hair's in need of a shampoo from the hospital. You can't really make out the staples in this picture, but that was probably for the best, as it was for my mother. I have others that show them quite well: a 13½" Frankenzipper.

I hope you feel that well three days after your surgery, but that you have better taste in shirts...

Very best wishes,

 

[Susan BAV]

BOB - what a visual;thanks for the warning

Hi again, Stretch - I emailed my friend and happily she was online this morning. She said that she and her husband found the Manhattan apartment on a site called VRBO.com, which she said stands for "Vacation Rentals by Owner."

 

[jerseysue]

post-op in NYC

post-op in NYC

I don't think you're going to feel like doing much, certainly not being a tourist! I would follow your Dr's advice, but about all that is usually recommended is getting up and walking as much as you can, and resting a great deal. It takes several weeks before travel is usually allowed. I did have to fly from Seattle to Minneapolis about 7 weeks after my surgery, my mother was not going to be around much longer, and even that was a push trying to manage a suitcase and airport lines. I remember feeling that it was very stressful on the sternum.
I would take the time to rest and heal.
Sue

 

[tobagotwo]

Other thoughts...

There can be a fair amount of swelling in the chest area, bringing forth an unexpected feminine side in the appearance of a man's upper torso. That lasts for almost a week. The belly was all mine, though.

The unappetizing shirt was silk. Silk shirts are ideal in texture and temperature control while the wound is healing. They don't rub.

Find out if they use a lip clip for the breathing tube. It leaves you with a fat lip for two days afterwards. Beg them to use tape instead.

I found that patient-controlled fentanyl was much better than the standard morphine. Although everyone is different, for me it was the same pain control, no grogginess, no reality issues, no nausea, no "morphine constipation" that other patients had trouble with. You need to ask for this ahead of time, if you decide you want it.

Also, tramadol was a great, take-home painkiller. Again, everyone is different, but for me it didn't cause the grogginess and disconnectedness of percodan/percocettes, but it controlled pain perfectly. Again, mention this ahead of release time, when your surgeon is visiting you on his rounds.

You can do things. It's just that your energy runs out much earlier than you expect. You will have no endurance. If you want to walk, you can do it in hops. Consider that a 20-minute walk might take you several hours or more with rests. You can't be impatient, or become frightened by it and push to get back home when you have nothing left. Sit, bide your time, your energy will slowly return. Then amble along at a leisurely pace until it's time to sit again. Keep bearing in mind that you have all day.

Getting in and out of cabs will not be especially easy at first. Car doors are heavy, and take much more sternum that you would think. Let Noni open - and close - car doors for you. Also, getting in and out of a back seat requires more twisting that you realize.

If you go shopping, don't carry things. Any things. Even reaching for your wallet may give you a surprise twinge.

Stupid things, like putting on shoes and socks, tying shoes and buttoning buttons require your sternum in ways that you can't imagine now. Worse is combing your hair or shampooing (well...washing your head, anyway). Anything over your head is concerning. I don't wear them anyway, but I wouldn't have attempted a T-shirt for a while.

If you have no unusual extenuating health circumstances, flying home ten days after the surgery shouldn't cause a problem. Quite a number of people here have done it. But you don't carry your carry-on, or struggle with your luggage at any time. You don't go into the overhead rack to get your reading glasses or pen. Be aware that just the airport will probably wear you out completely. Try to use porters and those in-airport chauffered golf carts wherever possible.

Best wishes,

 

[maka]

StretchL

Don't be shy about calling the airline to provide you with a wheelchair at the airport. They can pick you up at the curb if necessary. You can always refuse it if you think you won't need it when you get to the airport but the walking distances at the NY airports can be lenghtly, particularly if you are flying out of JFK. Don't push yourself. Better safe than sorry

 

[Lynlw]

Hey Stretch, I was just thinking of more things to remember post op in NYC, the first is if you go out be sure to wear a scarf coverring your mouth, if it is cold windy it can make your thraot burn when you are not recovering from surgery . and the big thing is when you are thinking about going around NYC in December is it is really crowded, especially around the tourist places are where lots of people go like times square and rockefella, we go up in december and some times i swear you could go down the block with out walking just being pushed along in the crowd, ANd people will be in a hurry bumping you, which i'm sure would be an unimaginable pain if they hit your chest.
I just reread justin's page to see what he was doing when and rember he was 17 and in great shape, he had surgery on mon and was home fri morn. and the biggest thing he did in the first 2 weeks was go see star wars at midnight the day it came out.
IF you go fro car rides don't sit in the front for a few weeks the airbacks could really hurt you. Lyn

 

[Dennis S]

Other thoughts...

If you have no unusual extenuating health circumstances, flying home ten days after the surgery shouldn't cause a problem. Quite a number of people here have done it. But you don't carry your carry-on, or struggle with your luggage at any time. You don't go into the overhead rack to get your reading glasses or pen. Be aware that just the airport will probably wear you out completely. Try to use porters and those in-airport chauffered golf carts wherever possible.

Best wishes,

My wife called ahead and told them I was flying home after open heart surgery. They (Northwest Airlines) met us with a wheelchair and zipped us through a special, abbreviated security line. This was probably a greater fuss than absolutely necessary, but I didn't feel one bit bad about the special treatment-and it was a big relief to my wife, who was feeling very responsible for me.

 

[Susan BAV]

Another thought: One time we had arranged for transport help with an airline because my son had just been discharged from a hospital in MO a few days after awaking from a bad coma, and we were heading back to CA for intensive therapy...

...and maybe because Levi looked somewhat normal at a glance, we really had to insist we needed the cart. A couple of crabby women had hopped on in front of us (they had evidently not requested the cart but decided to take advantage of the "perk") and they had taken our place and we really desperately needed to be shuttled. Levi was in a really bad way. Anyway, the angry women scowled at us as we crowded on also and they demanded the driver take them here and there. My son and I ended up really rushed to get to our gate during a plane change.

My point? BRING A CANE so you look the part, one needing transport assistance! Hopefully your wife will be more aggressive if necessary and less shocked than I was then. (do I sound like I'm still mad?)

 

[LaughClown]

There is a NYC skyline boat tour that Ive heard alot of good things about. You could take a taxi to get on, find a seat near a window and see the sunset and stars (they time it that way) see the statue of liberty and the harbor without leaving your seat. Obviously you will have to see how you feel but Ive heard very good things about it (I reggret not doing it myself)
Hear is a link to one of the cheaper tours I found and I think there are more so you can look under "NYC skyline boat tours" and look around.
http://www.nytours.us/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=3201

 

[Nan]

Hi Stretch, we are also going to be in NYC in early December (although we aren't traveling as far, just 2 1/2 hours or so) and will be staying there for several days.....we got information from the hospital about housing options....we will be staying (or my husband will be for most of the time) at the Helmsley Medical Towers near Weill Cornell at a much better rate than most hotels.

It probably wouldn't be convenient for you as it is on 68th st, and you will be further uptown, but I wonder if Mt. Sinai doesn't offer similar information for you. Hope so!

I have appreciated everyone's cautions about moving around in NYC as it will apply to me also.

Good luck with your surgery.

 

[PegB]

Hey Stretch!

I think that after your last surgical experience, that you are going to be up and running after something as simple as OHS! You'll certainly want to take advantage of every handicap perk you can get for your flight home, since the airport is going to mobbed at that time. Let them carry everything for you, and speed you through those lines. Show your scar if you have to...(it freaks everybody out at first !!!). Once you get home, just play it by ear and see what you're feeling up to. It might make a big difference to wait a week to go see your Mom and have a big New Year's celebration instead. I think when you're with other people you try to act a little more normal than you really feel, and it's exhausting. I know you don't need to be told twice about taking it easy once you're home.

You are going to sail through this, and be just fine, but I do hope you'll have some more great stories to tell about your adventure. Since you plan to have the pictures, you might want to put a daily journal with them, and get it in print! Maybe something along O.J.'s theme...."This is HOW I DID IT"!

 

[Nan]

Hi again, actually the Helmsley Medical towers is between 70th and 72nd....not really all that far from Mt. Sinai. (20+blocks or so?) If you want to check it out, the tel.# is 212.472.8400.

 

[temp69]

Dude:

If you're having OHS you won't feel like going out and doing anything. If it's minimally invasive or something I couldn't tell you. But good luck!