walking post op

[jcat2006]

Hi,

My husband had surgery to replace his aortic root about 4 weeks ago. He was in the hospital for about a week and then completed about 10 days of cardiac rehab. He had some neurological problems after the surgery with his left arm and leg, but is doing a lot better and can walk on his own, although his left leg is still weak. He is still very tired which is to be expected. My question for you all is how much should I encourage him to walk at this point in his recovery? He came home on Feb 3rd and I was home with him up until Feb 13th. While I was home with him I would make sure he would do his exercises and walk a bit each day ? not overdoing it and always making sure that he was in the correct heart rate range. However, since I have gone back to work he has stopped the walking all together, aside from walking around our small apartment. Should I be pushing him to get out there or is it okay to be taking it easy at this point in the game? His physical therapists did tell him he should be walking each day, but he complains that he is just too tired to do so. It is expected that he will be starting out patient cardiac rehab in early March so I am just wondering if I should leave it alone about the walking or try to motivate him to go for at least a 5 minute walk each day.

Thanks all for any comments?.Jen

 

[DinahS]

Walking

Walking

I would say that if he didn't want to, then don't make him now.

Rehab will help in knowing himself what he can and can't do. My husband didn't have valve replacment, but we found out in 2003 that he had 100% blockage in an artery on the right side of his heart. They couldn't do anything for it surgery wise, but to his advantage and the doctors surprise natural collateral arteries had already started growing around it. He was only 35 at the time, so we were in shock. We just thought he had an ulcer or something. Anyway, he had to go through cardiac rehab after weeks of another type of therapy called EECP that forced his collaterals to grow quicker. He was bummed big time about the whole thing. So he didn't want to do anything b/c of depression and shock and fear. I just let the doctors handle it and I made sure he ate right and took his meds right and let them deal with the exercise stuff. Rehab really helps them b/c it lets them know their limitations and shows them they can do more than what they think.

I wish you the best in this road of recovery. It's very hard to go through, but it will bring you closer together and your love will grow b/c of it.

God Bless!

 

[rbl1999]

Hi, I would definately encourage him to walk, it is the best thing you can do for yourself after surgery. It is SO easy to say that you don't feel like it, but, believe me, he will start to feel so much better, both physically and mentally. I did not start cardiac rehab for about 5 weeks, but I was walking before that. Even just 5-10 minutes a few times a day..His body needs to be up and walking, his recuperation will be so much faster and better... Rose

 

[Praline]

Walking

Walking

My surgery was 4 weeks ago today. I was in the hospital 12 days due to an episode with ventricular standstill which got me shipped back to ICU for a few days. I came home January 29th. My instructions say to walk 10 minutes at a time 5 times a day, for a total of 50 minutes a day.. I can easily do that without getting overly tired. I am also supposed to be " up and about" for most of the day, resting when I need to. I go back next week, February 21, for lab work, an EKG, a chest X-ray, and an appointment with my surgeon. I think I have to wait until 6 weeks after surgery to go to cardiac rehah.

 

[MikeHeim]

I would also encourage him to walk as much as possible. I think that the biggest benefit for me was that I would breathe much more deeply and consistently when I was walking around.

 

[Phyllis]

Please encourage him to walk as much as possible- there were even huge wall signs on the cardiac floor at Brigham that touted walking for recovery. Dick had an uneventful recovery and worked his way up to a 3 mile walk each day before his 6 week visit to the surgeon. Your husband has had a much rougher go of it, but I still think that walking as much as he can each day will speed his recovery.

 

[Rich]

I believe walking is by far the best therapy you can do.
Just over a week after my surgery, I was walking at least a mile twice a day, every day.
It really built up my strength and endurance. I was 58 back then so I wasn't exactly a young kid.
I asked my surgeon and cardiologist about cardiac rehab, and they both laughed and said you sure don't need that.
So he should take his time and not overdo it, just slowly work up to a good long walk every day.
Rich

 

[hensylee]

In the hospital, I walked often and often was the only one in the halls. But when the troops came along and made everyone walk, the halls were crowded with flapping gowns. The staff told us how important walking is and that we should do it a lot each day and more when we went home. It gets the blood flowing and is possibly the easiest exercise to do after surgery and gives the entire body benefit. It also helps the lungs stay clear. A second abdominal surgery didn't leave me with any enthusiasm for walking because they injured my hip during surgery and I couldn't walk without great pain. I outright informed them I was NOT walking - got pneumonia. Not a good thing. I came close to seeing that light in the tunnel. Tell him how important it is and that he should try for a bit each day. Once he's in rehab they will evaluate his disability and match it to his ability. Good luck.

 

[jcat2006]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your comments. I managed to get him to walk around the block yesterday! I will also point him in the direction of your posts..some how when he hears advice from someone aside from his nagging wife he listens more..LOL

Thanks again!!

Jen

 

[Georgia]

Getting up and walking is the most important thing he can do (after using the spirometer). I know it's really boring - I had winter surgery and terrible icy weather for ages afterward; had to do all my walking in the house - round and round. yuk. Cardiac rehab helped, and I started at 3 weeks out, but I needed that movement prior to rehab.

btw - Depression often shows up as being tired, and it's extremely common after ohs. If he doesn't begin to show more interest in his recovery, you might want to consider that he's having some depression. Many of us took meds for depression for a while after surgery.

 

[barbwil]

Little boys, big boys, all the same!

Little boys, big boys, all the same!

Thanks everyone for your comments. I managed to get him to walk around the block yesterday! I will also point him in the direction of your posts..some how when he hears advice from someone aside from his nagging wife he listens more..LOL

Thanks again!!

Jen

Jen, that's just the nature of the beast! I have nagged my hubby about health issues since 1999 when he had a bad myocardial infarction (guess there isn't a GOOD one but his left extensive damage to his heart).

But he always tells people he is convinced he would not be alive today if it weren't for the way I take care of him. Go figure!!

Keep up the good work; he'll thank you later.

God bless, Barb

 

[Karlynn]

Jen, do you think there might be a little depression involved in his lack of desire to walk? How has his attitude been otherwise? Depression is VERY common in post-op valvers. It can correlate to just how extensive the surgery was. He (and you) have been through the rocky rapids on this and it's not so easy to bounce back physically or mentally. Don't hesitate to mention it to his cardio if you think depression may be an issue. Many here have been prescribed something to get them over the hump.

He also may be afraid to walk by himself. I was so physically ill before my surgery that my recovery took a long time. I was afraid to do anything too active when no one else was around. If I'd had a cell phone back then, I probably would have had a bit more courage, taking it with me so that I was just a call away if I felt bad.

 

[BDMc]

Listen to Karlynn

Listen to Karlynn

I just want to second what Karlynn said. I didn't go through anything like what your husband did, and I still had post op depression. I would be surprised if your husband isn't troubled by it! I do think the walking is key in recovery. My ex had me out every day! She was fantastic. She was my cardiac rehab (which didn't exist to my knowledge back then). You've both been in my thoughts and prayers. All the best, Brian