Silly Questions...Do's and Don'ts...

[harleygirl528]

Okay, here are some really insignificant and silly questions that I have been wanting to ask but until now it always seems I have more significant things going on...like finding a qualified surgeon...figuring out my insurance so...here goes:

First, my situation is that I am 41 years old, have a 5 cm aneurysm of the aortic root and involving the arch...I have mild aortic insufficiency with a probably bicuspid valve...impending surgery to repair the aneurysm and valve. I am on a beta blocker (metoprolol 25 mg q day). I am anticipating surgery within the next 8 weeks. Also have a compression fracture of T spine...Healed but still painful!

1. Can I go in the hottub? We live in the Pacific Northwest and our house backs to this beautiful forest of Douglas Firs...I love to sit in the hottub and look at the beautiful scenery...also it helps my aching back immensely!

2. Can I be intimate with my husband...this is so embarassing but I have been afraid because of the increase in heart rate...

3. Can I exercise mildly.....I know I can't do any weight lifting or run any marathons...but I would like to lose a little weight before surgery...I am currently about 25 lbs heavier than normal.

4. Why is it that everyone says you can't wear underwire bras after OHS? Every bra I own is underwire and I was just wondering...I realize that immediately post surgery it probably irritates your incision.

5. Is it even possible to hope that I might make it through OHS without any complications post-op? I hear all these horror stories of complications...fluid built up around the heart, a-fib, etc. Is there anyone that has come through without complications or should I just expect something.

6. Is is really 8 full weeks before I can drive? My husband is the executive officer for the naval weapons base here and he is very busy with a lot of responsibility...I can't imagine him having to drive me everywhere...of course I do have lots of friends that can help out.

7. Also, post-op....I have read that it is a good idea to buy a recliner because you can't lay flat...is this true? I don't own one so probably should invest in one.

8. How long before I can stay home alone, without anyone to help me? I just want to be able to plan. How long before I will be able to do mild household chores, like laundry, dishes, cooking dinner...I know everyone is different but an idea would be nice.

Okay, sorry about all these questions but sometimes it helps to focus on the recovery aspect of it...instead of the procedure itself. I should be asking my doctor these questions but right now I don't even have a cardiologist here locally and you guys are, in my opinion, the best folks to ask these questions to anyway! I know that I am going to be so happy just to be on the other side!

Thanks everyone!

 

[geebee]

Call me conservative but, with a 5cm aneurysm, I think you should be doing very little that increases your blood pressure by very much. Your cardio should be able to tell you the best but I would be hesitant about items 1-3.

You will probably find any bra uncomfortable for a few weeks and, if you can get away with a cammy, you will be much happier. The pressure on the incision is painful.

There is an excellent chance you will get through this without complications. However, there are ups and downs as you go through recovery so don't be surprised if things are not perfect.

8 weeks on the driving (6 at the very minimum). The last thing you need is a seatbelt, airbag and steering wheel hitting your chest if you have an accident. Also, just the act of turning can be uncomfortable.

A recliner is helpful but you can get by with lots of pillows and a couch. Some folks are able to sleep flat but I never found that to be the case for many weeks.

Have someone around for 2 weeks. Full time for the first week at least and see how you feel from there.

Just try to set things up for things to be a little rocky and, when they are smooth, you will feel so much better.

Best of luck to you in getting this taken care of ASAP.

 

[Ross]

1. Check with your Doctor about when you can return to tubbing activities.

2.If you can breath and it's not hurting you too much. Mate like rabbits!

3.With the aneurysm as large as it is, I would say very very little excercise and very very light at that.

4.Your sternum will not like you wearing one and then you won't like it either. The weight of glands is enough to tug on the healing bones.

5.Yes it's entirely possible. Many do, though I sure wasn't one of them.

6.6 to 8 weeks, until the sternum heals. Your going to be hurting!

7.It's convenience, not necessity. They will make sure you can lay down and get back up in the hosptial. Recliner makes it nicer painwise.

8.One week, two would be nice, but one definately.

 

[Marguerite53]

I had no complications!!!!

Everyone has their story to tell. Be optimistic!!

PLEASE be sure to line up complete help for the first 4 days home. After that, your daughter can help with things. Laundry is unbelievably impossible!! You cannot carry anything, you cannot reach into the washing machine and pull anything out, you cannot lean into the dryer and shove things in. BUT your daughter can, under your guidance.

When I say complete help, I don't mean toileting or anything. Even your shower you'll probably be fine with. But....you'll want someone else to comb and dry your hair. It's the reaching, twisting, pulling, stretching stuff. believe it or not, several of us were not even able to open the refrigerator door the first 2 days! It also is VERY IMPORTANT to have someone around who can keep you on schedule with your pain meds. You will be mentally foggy and shouldn't really be taking care of your meds the first few days.

Many of your friends will want to help and won'[t know how. Driving will be a great thing to line up. Food is also nice. If they want to bring by a dinner, say great!!!! Let one of them co-ordinate the first week or so. Your family will be greateful. This stuff is hard on them, too, emotionally. They'll be tired too.

I loved my recliner. Never owned one and my husband was fine to buy me one on sale at LazyBoy. We've moved it downstairs and are waiting for one of the kids to claim it for their first apartment. I rested in bed propped up by every squishy pillow in the house. Then I'd go sleep in the recliner in our study, so that when I was awake in the middle of the night I wouldn't disturb my hardworking honey, AND I could get online with these wonderful folks if I just couldn't sleep. Buy one!!! I went back to my bed after about 6 weeks, then for some reason at about 3 months out I went back to the recliner for afew weeks. It's just a nice alternative. What is difficult for some, initially, is boosting yourself up out of bed with the arms you are not supposed to use for awhile because your sternum is supposed to be healing. Our bed is rather high and getting in required quite a dance. Rolling out was no trouble, but the recliners are just easier to get in and out of.

Items 1,2,3. Personally. I'd avoid ALL of them until you're over this surgery. But that's just me. Kind of a worry wart. The 25 pounds.....please....don't give it another thought. In the scheme of things it honestly does not matter right now!!! You have your whole lifetime to lose that 25 pounds....eat healthy, make good choices and do not worry over it!!

Hope this helps. I know there will be a lot more answers coming along for you.

Best wishes!

Marguerite

 

[WayneGM]

Ditto to everything that's been said above. I didn't have a recliner, but used lots of pillows. I also had a footstool to raise my feet while sitting on the couch. We have one of those a lazy boy chairs but because it is spring loaded, I had difficulty opening and closing it in the early weeks of recovery.

 

[Bina]

Harley, nothing is silly, these are good questions.

1) I would skip hot tubbing if the water is very hot.

2) Hmmm...I would say you don't need to be having any screaming, wild, near death, orgasms, but you can reasonably accomodate your hubby.....is this too much info????

3) Little exercise, you will lose weight with surgery anyway.

4) Skip the wires, find a bra with cotton material covering the elastic, less chance of irritation. Buy undershirts.

5) Many people come through with no problems, some a-fib is common at least for a few weeks as the heart adjusts and remodels.

6) Driving.....everyone is different, but 6-8 weeks is normal.

7) I propped up the head of my bed, still do. Couch was impossible for me.

8) My heart was very jumpy and thumpy, I could not stay alone for a long time.

 

[Isis]

Bina,

For #2 that is no where near too much information. Please elaborate

 

[Adrienne]

I am another one who had no post-op complications. The only thing even close was between day 1 post-op and day 2 post-op when they realized I had gained about 10 lb. in one day, so they gave me IV lasix and kept me on the urine catheter an extra day. That is the extent of it. When I went home, everything went the way it should. I was even able to lie flat in my bed and sleep on my side. It was very difficult to turn, but I managed.

As far as needing help, it's true that you shouldn't be lifting laundry for a while. As far as cooking, my husband did it all for a week, but then I was getting bored and mainly took over (easy cooking).

You truly should not drive for 8 weeks (actually, I was told 6 to 8 weeks) because your sternum takes time to heal, and not only will it hurt turning in certain directions and doing certain movements, but if you were ever in an accident, all the surgeon's wonderful work will be ruined!

 

[Arlyss]

It is primarily your systolic blood pressure (top number) that is of greatest concern re. your aneurysm. You do not want a spike in blood pressure to tear your aorta. Any activity that raises your blood pressure too high should be avoided.

You should measure your blood pressure and pulse at home. Twice a day is reasonable. Write down your blood pressure and pulse and look for trends. The beta blocker you are taking may or may not be enough protection for you. Those with BAV are known to have blood pressure that fluctuates with stress and exercise, and you need enough medication to keep the peaks from going too high.

I suggest a visit to the following website, which includes information about blood pressure, practical topics, FAQs, as well as description of surgical options regarding aortic aneurysm in the chest. These are the kinds of things, including blood pressure control, that should be individualized for you by a physician(s) with the expertise to do so.

www.cedars-sinai.edu/aorta

Please be aware when you visit a site like this that it is specific to the expertise there. Aortic surgery is not a "commodity". There are a few centers in this country who have developed specialization in it currently.


Best wishes,
Arlyss

 

[MikeHeim]

I'll pipe in on a couple:

1. Ask your Cardio (when you get one) about the hot tub pre-surgery. Post-surgery, I believe the typical advice is to stay away for 4-6 weeks. There are two reasons for this. First, hot tubs are a cesspool of bacteria, and present a serious infection risk to your wound. Second, the temperature of the water in a hot tub will raise your body temperature by a non-insignificant amount. This will cause your blood pressure that your healing heart just doesn't need.

3. I was told to keep exercising, but keep my heart rate under 130 pre-op - but I didn't have an aneurysm.

5. It is true that most people don't have any major complications (like myself). Keep in mind that the people who didn't have complications don't post to note that they didn't. Therefore, when you go through the post-surgery section, you're getting an extremely skewed view of the post-surgery population. However, I do think virtually everyone has some quirks in their recovery. (In fact, a "These things are normal post-op" sticky might be a good idea.) Things like night sweats, regular fevers, lack of appetite, and almost constant PVC's are things that happen to a lot of people post-op, but I certainly wouldn't consider them complications as they are perfectly normal and eventually go away on their own.

6. I think I was cleared to drive at 6 weeks.

7. I never had a recliner to sleep, but it sure would have been nice. I used the pillow-propping method.

8. You are right that everyone is different. The important thing to realize is that you CAN stay home alone as soon as you are comfortable with it. The hospital wouldn't discharge you if you needed constant attention and were in any danger. However, you need to know that there will be periods where you will feel relatively fine one minute, and so exausted that you can barely stand the next. It certainly is nice to have someone around when that happens. Overall, I think about one week after your discharge is probably enough time.

 

[plexxer]

I'm afraid I can't give much pre-surgery advice regarding activity, as I just had a BAV with no aneurysm, so it was easy to tell when I was working too hard (or in the case of #2, too much fun , but I would say that limiting yourself in those activities, but not cutting them out, would be fine. (IE, not so hot and rough - I'll let you figure out which goes with #1 and #2 .

I can say, however, that getting yourself in shape before surgery would probably help the healing process. I don't know if I would do anything aside from light exercise, ie. walking a level incline a couple miles a day. I would also start cutting out unnecessary calories and sodium from your diet, including alcohol, getting your blood sugar in check if it is out of line a bit (they actually gave me insulin in the hospital saying they have found out your blood sugar goes out of whack after surgery and getting back in check quickly helps with recovery). You will have lots of time to indulge yourself when you are recovered. A lot of people don't get to prepare for a intensive surgery and recovery like we (usually) are able to, best to take advantage of it. Myself, I drank about 3 gallons of OJ in the couple weeks prior to my surgery - wanted to give my immune a big boost

As far as complications, you know, this is a very complicated surgery with a lot of facets. There may be a hiccup in the road, but the hospitals that specialize in these see A LOT of combinations of problems, and the staff on-hand is trained to deal with them, specifically. You can help ease any potential problems down the road by throwing care into the wind and just making sure, after surgery, you basic needs are covered. You need access to the shower, you need to sleep, you need to stay medicated, you need to stay fed. Everything else, let it pile up, you can handle it later. I live with my wife and we have a 17MO boy, so I knew things would get hectic without my help around and I did what I could to help the days before surgery - I cleaned everything, made lists, got every foreseeable bill paid ahead of time. Things are still a bit chaotic in the morning, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask

Joel

 

[Freddie]

I never used a recliner. The hospital showed me how to get out of bed, yes it was tough, but I think it made me stronger.
As for driving: I started at 4 weeks due to a small emergency here at home. If your roads are anything like ours those little bumps in the road feel like major speed bumps. I remember holding my chest while driving on familiar roads due to those "little bumps".
I did ask the doc for some sleeping pills 2 days after I got home. I was very agitated and restless.
As for wearing a bra, gee I think I waited until he scabs were gone and only then wore it a few hours at a time.

 

[Ross]

2) Hmmm...I would say you don't need to be having any screaming, wild, near death, orgasms, but you can reasonably accomodate your hubby.....is this too much info????

Now tell me WHY NOT? One of the best things in life should be done heavily and with zeal.

Lorie forgot to tell you that most all of us are (Under sexed) perverts in here.

 

[Mary]

Bina,

For #2 that is no where near too much information. Please elaborate

I say, forget about accomodating your husband.
You let your husband figure out the best way to accomodate YOU! You're the one who's been through open heart surgery! If he needs to come up with some new moves, so be it!

Seriously, I do understand your concern about your heartrate. It's hard to concentrate on hitting your peak when your heart starts throwing a few extra beats here and there, but don't let it deter you! It will be fine, and it's like anything else post-op, your heart is learning to readjust.

 

[Bina]

Well, the second question pertains to PRE-OP....I wouldn't want to be hanging from the ceiling, panting like a dog with a 5cm aneurysm waiting to rupture.....oops too much info again!!

 

[harleygirl528]

Thanks evryone for the wonderful responses....many of them made me laugh out loud which is a welcome thing right now.

I agree with not going in the hottub...guess that is whey the public ones always have a notice warning heart patients to use caution...just makes sense.

In terms of #2....I think I will continue to partake in that activity at least on a limited basis..it definitely takes my mind off all the presurgery jitters....I'll just tone down the enthusiasm a little!

I did have one more question about the bra and sternum healing..Ross mentions that the "glands will be tugging on the healing sternum"...I am somewhat large busted....and am now wondering how that will play into the healing of sternum...they are heavy and without a bra definitely will be tugging on healing incision...has anyone experienced this and what did you do? I even thought about "wrapping them up with something or how about those tube type bras...a little support will probably be necessary for me to avoid that tugging on the incision.

So glad to hear that many of you did NOT have problems post-op. I am going to think positive and hope that I am one of those...but be prepared as well for the "bumps along the road."

I think the recliner is a good idea...at least initially, but I hope that I am one of those who can sleep in my bed relatively soon....

By the way, I was able to schedule another consult with Dr. Verrier at the Univ of Washington in 6 days. I think a couple folks on this site and used him and been very happy...apparently he is like the top cardiothoracic surgeon in the Northwest. Also, still waiting to hear back from Cleveland Clinic.

Take care everyone and thanks for making me feel more confident, and making me smile...every day!

 

[Marguerite53]

OKAY! I can help with this. I have the boobs from hell! My scar hypertrophied and I wonder if it wasn't from the weight of them pulling the healing incision. I wasn't too good about wearing a bra. Many women suggested cami tops and they were so much more comfortable.

PLEASE look into a surgical bra

Actually.....I'm going to PM you

Marguerite

 

[marie]

As much as I hate to admit it I don't know what a surgical bra is and I'm in the waiting room and have the same concern.

 

[Bina]

I remember over hearing the docs telling another woman to make sure that she keep wearing a
good support bra, day AND night for the first few days or so......
For some reason they skipped the bra talk with me.

 

[Mary]

I didn't wear a bra for several months. It was summertime so I went with a camisole like Granbonny suggested.
But we are all different . . . . !