Rough past couple of days

[marc_kowal]

Hi guys,

It's been 2 weeks since my surgery and I was feeling great last week. Doing a good amount of walking, spirometer was about 2,000 w/ each breath, and I was feeling better every day. A couple of days ago (maybe last friday), it seems like I started to go backwards. My appetite got worse everyday, my pulse rate is up ( usually in the mid 90's when it was normally in the 70's), I feel tired and exhausted and I'm not doing as much during the day now, which could be the result of not eating as much. I know my docs said to expect two steps forward and then one step back, but it's worrying me. My INR was 2.8 last Thursday, so I'm not too concerned about my levels, unless I don't start eating right soon. Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[dwhist]

I am almost five months out. Based on what you are saying, I think a visit to the doctor may be in order to rule out any issues. Have you checked your temperature? Also are you checking your weight each day to see if any sudden increase. Many factors and may just be your body saying slow down to give it time to catch up. But you need to rule out other issues first.

 

[Bina]

At 2 weeks post op I was still under the bus (and in hospital). Sometimes it is just a matter of needing more rest, but check with
your doctors to be sure. Your body has been through a tremendous onslaught with this surgery and will let you know when it is
time for rest. Best wishes.

 

[marc_kowal]

My temp has been good. No fevers. Blood pressure was low one day. Weight has been ok. I'm about 8 lbs under my pre-op weight, but I could afford to drop some pounds.

 

[epstns]

Marc - I would keep a watch on it, but don't panic yet. At two weeks, I was not "thriving" by any means. In fact, at four weeks, I was re-admitted to the hospital for a couple of days to balance out the meds and deal with some digestive mayhem the meds caused. After the four week point and its couple of hospital days, I really started to pick up speed. By six or eight weeks, I had caugh up all the time I was behind, and the rest is history.

 

[neil]

agree with the above posts, at 2 weeks i was still crawling out from the truck which had just hit me

 

[marc_kowal]

Thanks guys. I guess it's also a little post-op depression since this is my first set back. I just don't want to wind up back in the hospital and away from my family again.

 

[dcc617]

at 6 weeks, I'm still not eating much. My partner says I should just order from the kids menu. The good news is I've lost weight AND have leftovers.

When is your next Drs visit? I would suggest calling your cardiologist.

Dave

 

[TheGymGuy]

2 steps forward 1 step back is exactly what I've heard as well. If you are really worries see your doc. Otherwise, if you weight is stable, you can sleep some, and eat some, and no temp or weird pains, it's that one step back, and tomorrow or day after you will feel better and things will look up. Your body might be sending you a signal that you need rest now. Give it a day or so, rest and nap plenty, and let us know what's going on.

 

[Ovie]

I hear ya. I've got a bit of the post-op blues, I'm almost a month out and have been having alot of difficulty breathing, with no improvements. I saw my Cardiologist, did chest x-ray, EKG, and checked me out and said everything was great. I feel as if that's not the case.

 

[epstns]

Ovie - Are you still using your spirometer? I found that using mine, even weeks after surgery, helped me to get my lung capacity back. In my case, the tip of my left lung didn't re-inflate until weeks later. After that, things went much better.

 

[Duffey]

I think you should try getting a little more rest. Naps are real important in the recovery process. Overall you sound better than I did at 2 weeks. As the others have said, it takes a while before you feel like you've fully recovered.

 

[marc_kowal]

Was feeling a little better today. Picked up some Ensure and Boost to help supplement my lack of appetite. Cardiologist said it was ok to use these. BTW, chocolate Boost tastes just like chocolate milk (made by Nestlé ). Still feel like I'm lacking in the energy dept. compared to last week, but hopefully getting more in my stomach will help. I'm walking less then last week, but hopefully getting more food in me will help with that. I also wonder if coming off the Oxycodone is what's affecting my stomach and making it feel full all the time. I only take one at bedtime and extra strength Tylenol during the day. Have a scheduled appt with my family doc tommorow and INR test on Thursday. Hopefully tommorow is another step on th right direction.

 

[sarahsunshine]

Hey Mark,

Hope it’s just a bump in the road. At 2 weeks is when My step son suddenly lost his appetite and felt lowsy and he ended up having an infection. He did end up getting a pretty good fever, though. Just keep an eye on things. Personally, if you are still feeling way down for another day I would go to the doctor and just make sure your white blood cell count isn’t too elevated. That. At least, should rule out the infection worries.

Hope it's just that you need more calories and rest!

 

[Boston Tiger]

One thing to watch out for in recovery is doing too much on the days that you feel really good, because I found I suffered afterward whenever I pushed things too far. I took oxycodone for my first week home, and didn't eat much that week because everything tasted so strange. I switched over to Tylenol after the people in the hospital said they really didn't want to renew my prescription, since I was supposed to be weaning myself off of that drug. It's too bad they didn't stress that too me when I was going through the checkout process. Things did improve for me once that drug cleared out of my system.

 

[marc_kowal]

Just saw my Family doc today. TVitals all were good and the check-up went well. Since I felt sooooo much better when I take the Oxycodone like I was doing (about 3 pills a day), I should continue to take them and not wean myself off of them just yet. He re-filled my script and said use it if I need to. He wasn't worried about me becoming dependant upon it yet. The pills definitely make a difference and I feel like I did last week, which is a good thing!

 

[Lynlw]

Was feeling a little better today. Picked up some Ensure and Boost to help supplement my lack of appetite. Cardiologist said it was ok to use these. BTW, chocolate Boost tastes just like chocolate milk (made by Nestlé ). Still feel like I'm lacking in the energy dept. compared to last week, but hopefully getting more in my stomach will help. I'm walking less then last week, but hopefully getting more food in me will help with that. I also wonder if coming off the Oxycodone is what's affecting my stomach and making it feel full all the time. I only take one at bedtime and extra strength Tylenol during the day. Have a scheduled appt with my family doc tommorow and INR test on Thursday. Hopefully tommorow is another step on th right direction.

I'm glad you called to get checked out. I think thats a good idea when things start seeming worse instead of better. FWIW did your cardiologist remind you that Boost and Ensure have tons of vit K and can mess with your INR if you just are starting taking it or stopping it? I cant imagine stopping the oxycodone would make your stomach feel worse, but everyone is different

 

[marc_kowal]

My cardiologist ok'd the Boost and Ensure. I know they are high in vitamin K, but I needed some nutrition in me. Only took 3 of them over two days, so it shouldnt have messed my numbers too much (I skipped my daily salad on both of those days, so it should hav helped to balance me out some). I have my weekly INR test tommorow, so we'll see.

 

[marc_kowal]

Last night I was getting ready to take my pain meds when I noticed I was feeling warm. Took my temp and it was 100F. So I held off on taking the meds (it has acetamenophine in it) be cause I didn't want to mask the fever. It never went any higher and went down itself in about 90 minutes or so. Called the cardiologist this morning and they ordered Blood Cultures to be done while I was getting my INR test. They also have an Echo set up for next Tuesday. My incisions look good and don't hurt. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing.

 

[Greg a]

In your corner hope for the "nothing" verdict