Short of Breath

[Braveheart]

I am almost 9 weeks out of surgery. I find that if I push myself the slightest bit, I become short of breath. I did not have that at all pre-surgery. My blood oxygen is usually in the 93-97 range.

I have had a number of ekgs in the last few weeks, and they are normal. Is my shortness of breath common, or is it possible that I need to slow down during the healing process?

 

[vishalchhaya]

I had my AVR surgery 3 months back and stil facing short of breath issue. All my reports are normal.
I also face feeling of fainting sometime. When checked i found that it is because of cervical. My posture is not good after surgery. Now i am going under Physiotherrpy.
If anybody have any idea about other problems we can face after post-surgery please help us.
Also about the excersice what can be done as after post-op it is difficult to do excersice.

Rgds
Vishal

 

[DebbyA]

Have you had the shortness of breath all along, or is it recent? Do you have any feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen or feel like something makes it uncomfortable to draw in a deep breath? Are you still weighing yourself daily?
There is a possibility of effusion. Mine didn't have the usual symptoms and went undetected too long, so I always worry that someone else has the same thing--usually I'm wrong.

When you push, do you mean you are increasing your exercise gradually, or making a big jump in effort? At 9 weeks, the big jump could cause some shortness of breath.

 

[tobagotwo]

Your mother was right: Posture, Posture, Posture! We do tout that here. It reinflates the lungs and helps return maximum flex to the ribcage.

If you're using a lounge chair that curves your back into a "C," you're making trouble for yourself. If needed, put something under the center of your back to straighten it.

If you don't have pulmonary hypertension, your xrays say no other lung issues, your echo shows nothing, and you don't have fluid around your heart or lungs, it's kind of move it or lose it.

Go back to the doctors. If they can find nothing, get walking (walk pacer, pedometer, and heart monitor not required: it's the movement, not the speed). Work, especially desk work, may be stressful, but does not at all count as movement or exercise. Don't sit anywhere for more than 45 minutes without getting up and walking around.

Best wishes,

 

[realkarl]

Braveheart: I think almost everyone experiences shortness of breath post-surgery. From what I have gathered, how long it takes to recover varies greatly, and it takes both time and effort.

I have followed the exercise program suggested by the hospital, starting with 3 daily walks just a few minutes each, up to currently 2 x 30 minutes daily. In the beginning I was very short of breath pushing myself just a little bit, like I could not walk up one flight of stairs without a rest in the middle. It was somewhat frustrating and even scary, but it has gradually improved since then. It's slow going and I have to be patient. I have plenty left to catch up to where I was pre-surgery. I thought recovery would be somewhat quicker, but I keep at it, every day. This way I can keep track of daily progress (if any), as well as detect a problem, if one develops. I am currently 6 weeks out, and with the current rate of improvement, it will take at least twice that to be back where I was pre-surgery. Then with new and repaired valves I plan to surpass that, and get in better shape than I was.

You should probably get everything checked out, and if all appears normal, start a daily exercise program. Keep in mind you have to be patient and start slowly.

Good luck,
Karl.

 

[zipper2]

My 2nd surgery it felt like nothing changed so short of breath
Ii tired so easily and you need to walk sleep ear rest i had to
couple months to my recollection and stairs and walking for short
time left me breathless my spirometer helped me alot throughout
this time,they said i had alot of fluid retention after surgery i was
able to be the water tower of our city
It all takes time and some of us longer,hope your keeping close
with your Docs and on top of this but mine lasted into 3 months
after surgery i was beginning to worry nothing got fixed,but it just
took me longer to heal and honestly been since Jan and im still
healing with other issues...back at work...but still healing in other
areas of surgery taking along time for me this time.All the best to
you

 

[Braveheart]

For the first time I went to the mall to walk, without my husband. I have a trekking stick, which I found useful. It helped me to stand up straighter, and found that I did not have the back pain that I usually do when I walk w/o it. I also made it my business to sit down every time I saw a chair.

Anyhow, after walking back and forth once, (it is a pretty big mall) I started to sweat. I had sweat literally dripping down my face, even though the place is beautifully air-conditioned. This scared the hell out of me, because sweating was what happened when I was in a-fib. I took a Valium and 1/2 of a 25mg. metropolol.

I really tried not to overdo. I made myself slow down when I felt that I was moving too fast. I cannot figure why this is happening to me.


I got home all right, checked my pressure, and all seems o.k. I caught hell from my husband, who made me promise, for the time being, not to go to the mall by myself.

I have an appointment to begin cardiac rehab on Thursday. I am questioning whether I am ready for it, but will leave that decision to the pros. When did all of you begin rehab?

 

[Cooker]

Everyone is different ... I had SOB twice after surgery ... once caused by anemia and once fluid around the heart ... recovery takes time ... at 9 weeks you are still healing and have a long way to go ... be patient .... baby steps

 

[Eva]

I had SOBs after my surgery by two months and I got worried. Luckily, it was a matter of overdoing this for me. Hope you get good results when you see your doctor.

Keep us posted.

 

[Braveheart]

Everyone is different ... I had SOB twice after surgery ... once caused by anemia and once fluid around the heart ... recovery takes time ... at 9 weeks you are still healing and have a long way to go ... be patient .... baby steps

Cooker- I think that the operative phrase here is "be patient". Intellectually, I agree with you completely. Emotionally, I just want to get back to normal. And I am such a stubborn mule!!!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I didn't see an answer to the Question about weighing yourself Daily (birthday suit or undies only), recording the numbers on a chart of calendar. An increase of 3 lbs in one day or 5 lbs in a week is a sign of fluid retention.

Are you ankles or lower legs showing any signs of swelling?
The usual test for leg swelling is to
Press your shin and see if you get a Big Dimple.
How long does it take to go away?

 

[Braveheart]

Al- In fact, the home health people have left me a great gadget that records weight, blood pressure 02 and pulse rate. I use it in the morning, and it sends the results to their office. So far, so good. I have had problems with edema in the past, so I am very aware of it.

I will miss the gizmo when I stop using the home health people, probably this week, because I am starting rehab.