Today feels like a new day

[SuzanneSLO]

Glad to hear you haven't had any further setbacks. I think you comparison to a premie is apt; a year from now the slow start won't make any difference.

I envy you that you are off pain meds but wonder if that is slowing your recovery as well. I'm still on Tylenol and when I try to reduce my dose, I really feel more lethargic.

Hope you keep feeling better. -- Suzanne

 

[canon4me]

Glad to hear you haven't had any further setbacks. I think you comparison to a premie is apt; a year from now the slow start won't make any difference.

I envy you that you are off pain meds but wonder if that is slowing your recovery as well. I'm still on Tylenol and when I try to reduce my dose, I really feel more lethargic.

Hope you keep feeling better. -- Suzanne

Suzanne, your point is well taken. I'm a little ignorant when it comes to things like that but how can that slow my recovery by going off pain pills early? And if I choose just to take Tylenol, how many can I take per day before it comes close to damaging my liver? Thanks for raising this possibility for me because I never would have given that another thought!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

From my experience, it's a balancing act.

When I limit my pain meds, other things become difficult such as sleeping, breathing exercises, walking, eating and just accomplishing ordinary tasks. On the other hand, I think the pain meds probably don't help with regulating my bowels and may also diminish my appetite.
My surgeon prescribed tylenol for my pain. The maximum dose is 3000 mg per 24 hours. The bottle does caution taking it without doctors approval if you are also on warfarin.
I hope this helps. -- Suzanne

 

[canon4me]

That did help! I have noticed since I took myself off of both oxy and Tylenol is that just turning in bed at night takes awhile to avoid pain. And yes, I am not as able to take deep breaths without pain meds so maybe I should rethink that if only for the consideration of Tylenol.

 

[epstns]

canon - Another way to look at it is that with some over-the-counter pain meds, you are more likely to freely do the physical things that you should be doing to recover. When you breathe more fully and move, healing is enhanced. I don't think that using Tylenol for a couple of weeks will cause any bodily harm, but I'm not a doctor. I just self-medicated with ibuprofen and got along fine.

Suzanne - I doubt that Tylenol has any effect on your bowel function. I do know that narcotic pain meds will slow the bowels, but I've never heard that said of Tylenol. Of course, I don't take Tylenol. Whenever a medical pro suggests Tylenol to me, I tell them that for me I might as well eat the buttons from my shirt. Tylenol seems to do absolutely nothing for me, so I "cheat" and use ibuprofen if I need over-the-counter pain meds.

 

[Agian]

Are you back on the warfarin? If I remember correctly, you were taken off it.

 

[canon4me]

Agian, I am off Coumadin and probably won't go back on that unless I have a major rhythm problem, which is now under control it seems. Steve, your point regarding pain meds is very well taken and last night I took some Tylenol and it helped me sleep. I seem to wake up about 2:00 am every morning and then stay awake for about an hour and then fall asleep again. I am taking a nap in the morning and a nap in the afternoon, each of about 45 minutes to an hour duration. For the first time I can feel what it feels like to have a valve that opens up. I was severely stenosed with my old valve and trying to take a deep breath felt like somebody wrapped a thick leather belt around my chest. The hospital called today and will start my rehab this Friday. I have been walking on my gravel road outside my home. Do you think I could start walking on my treadmill?

 

[Sten Osis]

Re: Today feels like a new day

Isn't that a great feeling?............a valve that opens up all the way? Talk to your surgeon about exercise, but I'll tell you what mine told me. I wanted to know how briskly I could walk. We have some hilly roads here so I needed to know how hard I could push it. I'm on a beta-blocker for 30 days so my HR isn't going to get up to what I commonly hit pre-surgery, so I can't judge my efforts based on that. I was told that I could go as hard as I wanted as long as I don't get dizzy or short of breath. Like I said, talk to your surgeon first.

 

[canon4me]

I've been a little lazy going outside to walk so I think I will begin to walk on my treadmill. I can slow it down to nothing almost, so I know it will work out. Nice thing, I can precisely measure my progress and it has a heart rate monitor on it as well. Also, and this is big.....today for the first time am I able to deep cough without tremendous pain and I am already noticing I am bringing up phlem from my lungs so this is a good sign! Hey, my progress was a little later in coming but I had two setbacks that landed me in the hospital twice, so I am very pleased with today. Also, does anybody know what causes the night sweats??? Still having those but not as bad in intensity I believe.

 

[sood]

I started on the treadmill just under 4 weeks post op so you should be fine. Glad to hear you are feeling better!

 

[canon4me]

Thanks, sood! Without health, we're nothing. It feels really good to be on the upslope!

 

[epstns]

canon - You're back on track now! The treadmill should be fine, just watch out for distress. Start out slow and don't over-do it, but walk at the same pace you would do outside. You should be able to carry on a conversation while walking, otherwise you are going too hard.

For the last couple of years before my surgery and the first year or so after, I stayed on an indoor treadmill because I could monitor my activity and keep a detailed journal. I kept track of the decline in my exercise tolerance to know when I was ready for surgery. Then after surgery, I watched my ability go back up past where I was pre-op. The wonder of modern electronics. . .

 

[kimcdougc]

I took the oxy for (3) weeks post op. Then went to Tylenol for (1) week. I am now 5 1/2 weeks post op and not taking anything. I did notice after not taking the oxy I could walk more and actually breath better. Took (3 1/2) weeks post op for me to sleep in the bed. Now I am sleeping 7 hours without waking up. Just take one day at a time and do what feels right for you. There is no right or wrong answer. About the night sweats, are you running a fever in the evening while sleeping? I have been running a low grade fever almost every night until 2 nights ago. Took Tylenol every night for it. Just a thought. Hope your recovery just gets better everyday. Know we are all here for you. - Kim