What could have happened?

[JohnCalderwood]

Hello,

I am 8 days post AVR. I was getting a little stir crazy so I though I would do a little light gardening. Not long into it I felt my eyes rolling back and I nearly fainted. I know now I probably should not have been doing this but what do you think could have happened? Would it be worth it to buy (if you can) some of that smelling stuff, what is it called, to help you come to. Scared the crap out of me. Little lesson learned. Thoughts welcomed.

 

[kpearse]

Don't do that again.

 

[Ross]

Your body is simply telling you it's not ready for prime time play just yet. Your only job for the next 2 weeks is to eat, sleep, deep breath, walk some and repeat.

 

[JohnCalderwood]

So you guys figure I could try again at about two weeks? Another 6 days. Okay thank you. Makes sense Ross. Thank you.

 

[Bina]

John, I am officially giving you sh-t......WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING? YOU HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY. RELAX.
Don't make me go over there and smack you.

 

[Superbob]

If by gardening, you mean working out in the hot sun, I would not think about doing that for a few months, and in moderation then. Your body has been through a lot. It needs time to heal. Extremes of heat or cold can be really rough on a mending heart. Please take care.

 

[nngbwh]

You are just 8 days out. You need time to heal. Just take it easy for awhile. And remember not to lift anything heavy.

 

[Nancy]

You are not supposed to do anything strenuous until you are discharged by the surgeon. You also, no doubt, have severe lifting restrictions. The surgeon has cut into your heart and split your sternum wide open. If you had a broken foot, would you be doing this kind of stuff? Well, this is about ten times worse. The hospital medications and some of the anesthesia haven't even gotten completely out of your system. You are way too impatient. I am scolding you right along with everyone else. Sit in your recliner, take up knitting , watch baseball, sleep, do some mild walking and healthy eating and do whatever breathing exercises were given to you. Get your strength back, and you will be a new man. 6-8 weeks is considered the early recovery period when you have to be cautious, and you won't fully heal until almost a year has passed.

If you pull your sternum out of alignment and cause it to not heal correctly, as some have done, you will live to regret digging around in the garden.

 

[Jkm7]

To be blunt.........

If you want to do some planting, find a chair and plant yourself in it.
Sorry to be so sarcastic but really..........

Eat, breathe, walk, sleep and repeat again and again and again.

 

[JohnCalderwood]

That is a good one JKM7. Normally that would have made me laugh but I have learned to control it to a chuckle. I appreciate the concern, I admit I messed up. I was not doing any major lifting. The watering plastic can held about a litre of water (sorry friggen Canadians use litres) That can had to be under the 5-10 pound allowable lifting restriction. I was just going to do a bit of watering in my greenhouse. Nothing else. I would just like to know what happened, possibly chemically. I learned my lesson. It scared the crap out of me. Enough already. Lol.

 

[Kathy McCain]

John,

That is definitely , a NO NO NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nancy]

Could be anything John, a mild arrhythmia, they are common after this surgery for a while, low blood pressure, slow heart beat, also common after this surgery, medication side effects, low oxygen levels, just being weak and tired and on and on. Whatever it was, your body was talking back to you. This is why you have to be careful until your body can sustain things adequately.

 

[Cris N]

John, I agree with what everyone said. Take it easy.

About the 'smelling stuff' - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smelling_salts
Here's a nicer version with recipe... just keep in mind that you can't use it on yourself if you've already fainted http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Smelling-Salts

 

[Freddie]

Hey John, what kind of medication are you on? I had the same thing happen but I was almost 6 months post-op - not 8 days, when the 2 meds I was on were stopped.
If you get this feeling again you best phone your doctor ASAP. And take it easy.

 

[JohnCalderwood]

I'm on: atenolol
ranitidine
venlafaxine (effexor)(anxiety)
coumadine
disatinib (for CML)
methoprazine(for sleep)
A.S.A
tylenol

I think I am going to try to come off the effexor in a few months. You see when I tried to water the plants I was either in a drug ridden fog, or I was trying to clean my head from its drug ridden fog. Either way guilty with an explanation. Were either of the two drugs you were on, on my list?

 

[Freddie]

Besides the warfarin/coumadine no. Although you might be taking sister drugs that I was on.

Ramipril and Metoprolol, were the two drugs that I was on. One had to be slowly decreased, the other I stopped cold turkey. But after 6 months of taking these two drugs I experienced dizziness/fainting spells when I was sitting on the floor. Not a fun feeling when your home alone.

 

[karen14]

John, I am officially giving you sh-t......WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING? YOU HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY. RELAX.
Don't make me go over there and smack you.

LOL Bina! John? I'd listen to these guys! Must rest, must heal... FIRST THINGS FIRST. =P
Best wishes for you, ~Karen

 

[Nancy]

You should be checking your blood pressure while on Effexor, it can cause very high BP. Joe was on it briefly until I took his blood pressure and it was 200/110. You cannot go off that drug fast, you have to taper down. But I called his doctor that day, and he immediately gave me the taper down instructions. Then he gave Joe another medication that didn't cause the BP problems.

 

[Dennis S]

Stopping the Effexor should probably not be a casual decision. I have seen it work miracles for a couple of friends. Coming off it might cause other problems. Please be sure you are ready for that.

 

[JohnCalderwood]

I totally agree I would not come off my effexor without close doctors supervision for a variety of reasons. I will pick my time wisely. Too much going on right now. Thank you all for the advice. Now I have to go do some gardening. Wait wait. ..... just joking. I learned my lesson. HMMM where is my knitting.