Recovery questions

[amy]

My husband has been home for 5 days. His aortic valve replacement went without a hitch. The first day or two back home, he was feeling pretty ok, considering. The past 3 days, he has felt miserable. At first, he was able to eat. Now he has no appetite and everything tastes "funny". He fluctuates between feeling cold and breaking out in a sweat although he doesn't have a fever. Just walking up the steps to shower, exhausts him. He looks and feels as if a mack truck hit him. Alan saw the cardiologist yesterday for his post surgery check and everything was fine. His coumiden levels are good. Today, he went for a low level stress test to determine whether he could start cardiac rehab. He did fine on the stress test and was given clearance to start rehab. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment available is August 20th. Does my husband's recovery seem normal?

 

[Christina]

Hi Amy.

Yes, his recovery sounds normal. He's only been home 5 days and that isn't very long. Give him time! It'll be about 3-6 weeks before he's going to start feeling better. Appitite will return also, it just takes a few weeks. Remember, his body's been through a lot, and it's ging to take a while to recover.
Cardiac rehab usually starts about one month - 6 weeks after surgery. That's how it was with me. It'll feel good to do that, and he should start the walking already at home, and not wait until he gets to rehab. If he feels tired, just walk a little less, but still do it. Afterwards go to bed and take a nap. He'll want to do that a lot because everything at first is exhausting. But that'll all get better. Just wait!

Wishing you all the best.

Christina
AVR's 8/7/00 & 8/18/00
TMC, Tucson. AZ
Dr. Gulshan Sethi
Mechanical

 

[amy]

Alan

Alan

Alan was walking a lot in the hospital as well as the first 2 days at home. Unfortunately, we are in the middle of a heat wave. It has been in the high 90s and very humid. It is just to hot outside to walk. The cardiologist doesn't want him to walk outside in this heat anyway. Is it normal to go from being cold to perspiring?

 

[Nancy]

Hi Amy-

Everything sounds normal. Temperature fluctuations are the norm. The heat will bother your husband. He'll find it hard to breath in hot weather, and impossible to walk any distance in it. The same for freezing cold weather (but that's a long way off, LOL).

These things will last for a while until his body heals a little more. It'll be several months before he doesn't get exhausted frequently.

But, he will feel better. It just takes time.

Take care,

 

[EVELYN]

HI AMY....JUST FINISHED READING YOUR POST AND I CAN SURELY TELL YOU THAT HIS RECOVERY SOUNDS QUITE FAMILIAR AND VERY NORMAL.....I LAUGHED AT YOUR ANALOGY OF ALAN FEELING LIKE A "MACK TRUCK!" TYCE SAID THE EXACT SAME THING WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.....ACTUALLY HE SAID HE FELT AS THOUGH HE WAS HIT BY 4 OF THEM.

TYCE'S APPETITE WAS OFF....AND I REALLY MEAN OFF FOR THE FIRST 2/3 WEEKS. HE DID DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF JUICE, THOUGH.

TODAY TYCE WENT TO THE CARDIO (5 WEEKS POSTOP) AND WAS TOLD HE CAN DRIVE!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!

IS HE TAKING MANY NAPS? THEY'RE VERY GOOD FOR HIM, SO ENCOURAGE HIM TO DO THAT. PLEASE ENCOURAGE HIM TO WALK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT IN THE HEAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING. WE ARE BOTH WALKERS AND HAVEN'T BEEN WALKING FOR THE LAST 3-5 DAYS EITHER.

REMEMBER, TOO, THAT HE WILL HAVE GOOD DAYS AND THEN VERY BAD DAYS....THAT, TOO IS NORMAL.

SO GLAD HIS COUMADIN LEVEL IS UP. HOW IS HE EMOTIONALLY?

EVELYN

 

[amy]

frustrated

frustrated

He is feeling quite frustrated. He needs help lifting a gallon jug or taking a tight lid off a jar. We did agree that tomorrow we will go to the mall. I will drop him by the front door and then park, Even of je walks 30 feet and then sit down for awhile, that is better than felling sorry for himself at home. Hopefully he will agree to go on mall walks walks frequently

 

[John Cochran]

Amy,
I'm 8 weeks post-op, so these feelings of frustration are recent memories for me. Echoing what's already been said, everything sounds pretty normal, including the frustration with jars, lifting, etc.

The key, I found, was to really pay attention to what my body was telling me. When tired, rest. When feeling up to it, walk, even if slowly and for short distances, and be satisfied with tiny little improvements on each walk. Slowly but surely, it all gets better.

At 8 weeks, I'm walking FAST for 2 to 3 miles, and I ride my bicycle for several miles at 15 to 20 mph...feeling the best I've felt in two years.

The temperature fluctuations lasted a couple weeks for me, as did the problem with food not tasting too good. But that all comes to an end, and pretty soon food tastes really really good! The Mack truck feelings slowly dissipate, with much improvement at 4 to 6 weeks out. At 8 weeks, I have to remind myself not to lift anything heavy, because I feel just fine.

 

[ALCapshaw]

Sounds like a Text Book recovery to me. I agree with all of the prrevious observations and advice. The first week or two is pretty tough but it gets better, slowly. I was teased about 'going through the change' about hot / cold flashes PATIENCE and a Positive Mental Attitude go a LONG way towards a successful recovery.

'AL'

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Hello, Amy

I think the symptoms you describe, the weird tastes (even bottled water tasted BAD), hot / cold (I had a comforter and a big fan within reach) and having the trip up the stairs tire you out for the day could be applied to most of the people on the site.

This sounds very normal to me as well. Trust me, it will settle down!

Johnny

 

[Nancy]

Hi Amy-

He probably shouldn't be lifting a gallon jug just yet. They weigh somewhere around 8-1/2 lbs, fully loaded and it's a one sided carrying position. He's got to be careful of the sternum area and lifting things. A lot of doctors give a 10 lb. weight limit, but still, err on the side of caution.

It's hard for guys to feel weak and helpless, that's for sure.

 

[JenniferO]

Amy: I agree with what Nancy said about lifting things. In fact, the gallon jug of liquid was the specific item they named as the outside limit of what you should even attempt to lift the first several weeks.

Many people have complained of the lack of appetite and the fact that nothing much sounds good. For me, that continued for quite a few weeks as well.

The first couple of weeks, a walk around the block meant I had to nap for two hours. Gradually, your strength comes back.

It was also my understanding cardiac rehab was to be started about the 6 week mark.

 

[amy]

Thanks for your replies

Thanks for your replies

I have another recovery question. Is it normal to become easily winded? My husband is taking frequent cat naps. On occassion, he wakes up from his nap feeling as if he can't breathe. After taking a few breaths, he is fine.

We got a lazyboy recliner in anticipation of the surgery. It was one of the best investments we made. Alan has been sleeping in the recliner since he came back from the hospital. He finds it too difficult to get in and out of a bed.

 

[EVELYN]

HI A AND A....YES, IT'S VERY NORMAL FOR SHORTNESS OF BREATH TO HAPPEN, YOU MIGHT SUGGEST TO HIM TO SLEEP IN THE RECLINER AND PUT A FEW EXTRA PILLOWS UNDER HIS HEAD/NECK/BACK SO HE'S SITTING UP EVEN A BIT MORE. REMEMBER, NAPS ARE GOOD. I KNOW TYCE TOOK THEM EVERY DAY AT LEAST 2 TIMES A DAY FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 2 WEEKS. THEY'VE DECREASED SINCE, AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO THEM ABOUT 2-3 TIMES A WEEK.

IT'S SO IRONIC THAT TYCE IS NOW 5 WEEKS POST OP AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S SO DISTANT. I KNOW IT ISN'T, BUT THE IMPROVEMENT AFTER THE FIRST TWO WEEKS WAS PHENOMENAL! ALAN WILL GET BETTER AND STRONGER EVERY DAY, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT SEEM SO WHILE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IT.

IF HE HEARS HIS VALVE, OR IF IT FEELS AS THOUGH HIS HEART IS POUNDING, THAT'S NORMAL, TOO. I KNOW THAT BOTHERED TYCE IN THE BEGINNING, BUT HE DEFINITELY HAS GOTTEN USE TO IT NOW AND SAYS HE DOESN'T HEAR IT AS MUCH AS HE USE TO.

PLEASE REMIND HIM TO CONTINUE USING THE SPIROMETER FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST 3 WEEKS. WHILE IT MAY REALLY HURT TO TAKE DEEP INSPIRATIONS, IT WAS THE BEST BIT OF ADVICE WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN FROM THIS LIST.

GOOD LUCK TO THE BOTH OF YOU. I DO HOPE WE ARE ALL ABLE TO GET TOGETHER IN THE FALL FOR AN EAST COAST REUNION.....IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE FUN.

EVELYN

 

[Mara]

Amy-
All the things you describe are "normal" recovery. A lot of the things: alternating between hot and cold, tiredness, etc are left overs from the anesthesia and the by-pass pump. Alan's body has been hit by a Mack truck. This is a traumatic surgery, no doubt about it.
All with start to get better as time progresses. He has only been home a few days. By week 4, he'll be ready to get back to work and other things.
I walked inside or early in the a.m. or in the evenings. I had my surgery in July mid- summer hot heat and high humidity.

Also, Nancy and Jennifer are right, Alan should not be lifting anything! A gallon jug feels like 10 gallons when you've had your chest cracked open! All those muscles on your chest you use to lift things have been whacked.
Tell Alan to relax, he'll get better. Don't push it.
-Mara

 

[Igor]

Amy,

I am in FL and about 10 weeks post op. It was very tough to walk outside of the house when I came home, the temperature was no lower than 90-95 during the day.
My cardio suggested to go walking inside of the shopping mall and it was actually a great idea. I was going to the shopping mall almost every day during the first few weeks.
The first couple of weeks were the most difficult weeks, I was sweating really bad during the night and sometimes during the day. Almost everyday after 8-9 PM I was feeling cold. I think this was a result of low hemoglobin level and in about a month all these symptoms almost disappeared. I guess, it all just need more time. Good luck.

 

[hhardt]

the Mack Truck

the Mack Truck

I remember the truck well. All sounds normal to me too. Especially the hot/cold feelings. Just let him control the settings. The exercise is good. My walks started early in the AM and originally were just to our mailbox. The challange each day was to add another box. Takes lots of rest. The recliner was great and I finally graduated to the couch with pillows (4). Took a long time to graduate to our bed. My wife got a child monitor to hear how I was doing at night. Sometimes I would wake up in a panic, not know where I was , cold sweats, etc. They all gradually weakened and stopped. You are most important right now and he will really know this next year. Mine was 16 months ago and I told people just today how wonderful my wife was to me and just what it really means and how I can never repay for all that.

 

[amy]

Tonight we noticed that Alan's hands looked very pale and were cold to the touch. Is that also considered "normal"?

 

[EVELYN]

YEP, NORMAL....MATTER OF FACT, HE MIGHT BE COLD FAIRLY OFTEN. WHILE TYCE WAS ALWAYS WARM PRIOR TO HIS SURGERY, SINCE BEING ON THE COUMADIN, I'VE NOTICED THAT HIS HANDS ARE COLD AND HE ALSO GETS COLD MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

QUICK QUESTION.....DID YOUR HOSPITAL GIVE YOU A BOOK ON WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE SURGERY? ST. FRANCIS GAVE US QUITE A GOOD SIZED ONE ON WHAT WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL AND WHAT SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT PRONTO.....IF I CAN STILL FIND IT, I'D BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE.

EVELYN

 

[ALCapshaw]

That seems strange.

BOTH hands, or just one?

Sometimes I have noticed one that one arm goes to 'sleep' if I am laying on my back. I found I was pinching an artery to the arm. Rolling over on my side relieved it. If he leans back in a recliner and it has a hard surface, he could be pinching the arteries to both arms.

If that's not what is happening with Alan, I would call the cardiologist's office (or PCP) and ask to speak to the on-call Dr or Nurse Practicioner. If they are not available, call the ER and ask for a nurse.

'AL'

 

[joy]

Hi Amy, I am glad that Alan is doing well! His recovery is normal. I know for me, I could lift up to 5 pounds for like 3 weeks, then it went up to a gallon of milk, but I needed help opening my medicen bottles. It was tough for me, because I had a three month old! I could walk, but I live in Washington, and it doesn't get too hot out here, it's been about 65-70 degrees out here. Johnny can tell you that. Anyways, congratulations on Alan's great recovery job! It's good to see him over the mountain and on his way to the bottom!

I was wondering how you were doing? I know this is hard for you, too. Just remember to relax and take breaks for yourself as well! YOu are a big part in Alan's recovery, and you are doing a very good job!