sorry for the late update.......

[rocksoldier]

hi everyone ! went in on 5-27 and came home 6-2. tricuspid was repaired with a 32 MM annuloplastsy ring. mitral was replaced with a shiny new st.jude's valve. and had the circumlflex coronary artery replaced with some saphenous vein.WHEW !!!!!!!!i came home on oxycodone,but now i'm on vicodin-which is woefully lacking in the pain control department ! the nurse practitioner at surgeon's office was SUPPOSED to take care of it all...BUT-NO ! so i had to call the on call doc sunday and could only get vicodin. i'm not really walking-least outside. i have NEVER done well in humidity cuz of my asthma. and now that my chest has been sawed open,i deal with it even worse!. my pretty red pillow is my new best friend,however. my appetite is CRAP! hubby got me a store b-day cake that i normally love. my b-day was the 5th and i've had maybe 1 piece of it. NOT NORMAL FOR ME,AT ALL!!!!! hubby will take me to surgeon today and-i have heard that open heart patients often suffer from post surgical depression. definitely have those days/moments ! i ofter curse that i woke up after 6 hours of surgery..... i do NOT deal well with pain. hubby says i moan in my sleep. but-thanks for all the useful tips and whatnot i got from here b4 my surgery! do NOT like it when a kitty gets on my chest,side or belly !!!!! so i sleep with my heart pillow in an attempt to protect myself.....trish

 

[Phyllis]

Glad you are home and I promise each day will get better. Come here and whine all you want- we provide the cheese!

 

[Cooker]

I 2nd what Phyllis said...it will get better very day...Hang in there!!!

 

[EireCara]

I hope you get the pain issue sorted!!!!!. Wishing you a boring uncomplicated recovery. Hang in there. Best Wishes.

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome home. I will get better, just give it some time. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[Ross]

Vicodin never did a thing for me either. See if they'll give you a limited amount of Percocet. It's addicting, so a limited amount would be in order, but it works.

 

[geebee]

I'm with Ross - insist on the Percocet. The problem with it is they cannot call it in - needs to be a written script. However, you could get one when you visit your surgeon - hopefully. You should not have to deal with pain.

Wishing you a smooth recovery.

 

[AgilityDog]

I'm sorry you are hurting, but glad you are here to Kvetch about it!

Boy, I remember barracading myself with pillows against the crazy puppy and fat cat - ouch!
It does get better, really it does.

 

[Freddie]

Hang in there Trish......one day at a time. My other half commented that I too moaned in my sleep, so I guess thats normal......its something they will have to gets used to for the time being.
I was only sent home with Extra Strength Tylenol, but I hope you will get pain med you need.
Prayers coming your way.

 

[Mary]

Tobagotwo always suggests tramadol for pain. I asked for it when the visiting nurse stopped by and didn't suffer the queasy stomach I get from percocet.

I would really keep the cat away, and I would try to make sure and walk. If the humidity is high, walk around your place. Without the walking I think you're more at risk of retaining blood around your heart and fluid in your lungs.

 

[Lilianne]

It makes me very-very happy to find out that you pulled through the operation and you are back home. I suppose that pain is an issue but the important thing is that you are brand-new and back!
Focus on your recovery.

With my warmest wishes,

Lilianne.

 

[CRM-Mom]

Every day will get better. I hope you get the right pain meds so you can be comfortable and recovery is easier. I moaned in my sleep at first - it must be part of it all. I also had tearful moments when I was very tired in the first 3-4 weeks. It almost felt like the "baby blues" after you have a baby and get depressed for little stretches. It's the only thing I can think of to compare it to. I agree with the others that walking - even inside the house- will help. I had trouble with fluid retention and the activity does help. Best of luck for a smooth recovery!!

 

[MNmom]

I feel your pain

I feel your pain

My aunt brought up depression at my first post op appt, because I started crying when I got my blood drawn and told the nurse what all I had just done. Granted, it was the second day home from surgery, so my Dr and I didnt feel it was a valid time to be assessing depression. Yes, I cried at the drop of the hat, but I think if in three weeks I am still acting this way then I would be more concerned. That was yesterday, and every day truley gets better. No crying fits today. Yet.
Ingrid

 

[jjay32]

Glad to see you are home. I hope you get the pain relief you need. I have 2 cats, one is a 17 pounder and he loves to get on top to say hello. I too am thinking of ways to discourage that for when my time comes!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
jjay