Questions from new member

[Jwalke]

Hello all,
Had aortic valve replacement and double by-pass on Sept. 26, 2003. Have been reading all I can about recovery period. So glad I found this sight. Guess there are a lot of people in the same boat I'm in.
Feeling pretty good, but sternum still sore. Some days are better than others and seems like I get really sore a couple of days before I really improve. Am to the point where a cough doesn't hurt so much, but a sneeze is baad.
Walking a mile and a half twice a day. Doing some putting but not much else.
Like to hear from some of you about the following:
When can I play golf
Coumadin and alcohol
Does it sound like I am recovering at a normal rate?

Thanks,

 

[Ross]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Golf-The general consensus is to wait 3 months and then follow your Doctors advice. Swinging the club on a sternum that isn't fully healed can lead to prolonged problems.

Coumadin and Alcohol- Consistency is the key. If you like 2 or 3 drinks a day, have them, but be sure you do it everyday. Some people here go a little extreme at times which I wouldn't recommend, but they've had no lasting problems. The danger with alcohol comes with intestinal bleeding. If you have an ulcer or something that is aggravated by the alcohol, the Coumadin will have you bleeding seriously.

You sound about on Q for recovery. Perhaps your sternum is a little more tender then it should be, but everyone recovers at a different rate. If it continues to bother you, see your Doc.

 

[Georgia]

Welcome

Welcome

Sore sternum: like any other broken bone, you'll feel the weather. I'm a walking barometer - changeable weather, aches and shooting zingers. Most of the time, OK.

But it will REALLY hurt if you're lifting stuff too heavy. Doing so can really jeopardize your recovery, so don't do it. My advice was 5-10 lbs. to 3 months post-surgery, up to 25 lbs up to 6 months; after that limit's off. Many on here say they were alowed to lift up to 50# from 3 to 6 months.

Good luck; glad you stopped by; hang around.

 

[hensylee]

Welcome J - nice to see you. You will have many answers to all your questions.

Sternum - I think it's always sensitive. After all they took a saw to us, then tied it all back together. When I press that area it still is tender - so I quit pressing it except to answer questions as to its tenderness! (mine was 3/2000). It will all get better and one of these days you will not notice that it's tender and it will let you do the things you want to do. As for golfing, I don't know. Lifting - don't do it til the dr lets you. Sneezing - try to stop it because it takes a good while before you can do it without the evilness of it sending stars your way. Janie named it the evil sneeze - she is soooo right.

Sounds like you are right on schedule in recuperation. Just keep on walking and walking and doing what you are sposed to do and one day you will say - wow, I am over it!

God bless

 

[Nancy]

Hello there jwalke-

Welcome to the site.

There's so much information here, and you will love the friendly people. We all get it as far as this surgery goes.

You could always call your surgeon about whether golf is a good idea at this point. I'm sure he has a Nurse Practitioner, of Physician's Assistant who could answer that question for you. You just want to make sure the sternum has healed enough to twist your body like you do with golf. Not a good thing to hinder that healing, it could be a mess.

It sounds like your progressing right on schedule.

Congratulations on a successful surgery.

 

[Rain]

Welcome to the site, Jwalker!

Welcome to the site, Jwalker!

Okay.. so I added an r.

Playing golf? Wonder if that would be anything like driving an SUV, brushing longer than waist length hair on six year old, mopping floors or putting clothes in the dryer?? I did all of those things from about day 7..... Not a good idea.... I don?t know if that?s the reason or not, but my sternum STILL hurts sometimes.

Alcohol... yup, the key word is CONSISTENT. Just don?t drink so much you fall down and bonk your head... that could be a problem.

It sounds to me like you are right on target with your recovery.

Cheers!

 

[Heather Fisher]

Sounds like you are doing great. I can't answer any questions about coumadin. As for the sneezes, yes they hurt. Just don't get a flu bug where you have to pay homage to the porcelin goddess. Now that really hurts!!! Keep up the good work!
Heather