What is normal?

[Gisele]

Hi

Hi

Hi Christina

I am glad to hear that you are doing well. I am three weeks post-op and I understand the napping thing. I feel like I want to take a nap, but I just cannot fall asleep. It's frustrating.

A-fib: I had it in the hospital, but I kept on going back in and out of it. It did end up going away. I am not sure if I ever got it again as I am totally lost on interpreting any arrhythmias without the ticking sound of my old valve. This thumping is my chest is weird.

Coumadin: I was on it for 21 years. Well, most of that time was uneventful, but my problems were unusual. I am sure that you will do just fine.

Tiredness: I do tire very easily and I think it is normal. I had a little setback with fluid around both lungs and my heart so breathing was a problem for me and I ended up getting readmitted to the hospital less than 24 hours after my discharge. When I look back over the last three weeks I notice a big difference in how I feel.

My visiting nurse comes about every other day, and my physical therapist come out a few days per week (for my numbness in my left foot from my stroke back in August).

I would say we are doing fine. I still have pain although mostly in the morning when I get up. One thing that I did notice when applying Vitamin E to my scar (now I have two-one next to the other) that one of the internal stitches popped out! I would say about 1/2 inch of clear suture is hanging about 2 inches from the top of my scar. The visiting nurse will look at it tomorrow. She said it happens some times. I certainly won't be pulling on it though!

I just can't wait to get back to normal. Guess I will have to be patient.

 

[bvdr]

Gisele,

I had the same thing with a suture. About an inch of catgut was sticking out of my chest one morning. I did give it a little tug and found it very attached. I had it clipped a couple of days later at my doctor's office. He said it would have eventually disappeared but it may have taken a few weeks. I'm glad to hear of your improvement.....and congratulations on no coumadin !

 

[RickKiem]

Hey, I have some sutures sticking out also. They are in three different places, one at the very top, one about two inches from the top , and one at the very bottom of my scar. All three are only about an 1/8 to 1/4 on an inch long clear and very stiff. I am not sure what they are made of but they really bug me in that they stick up just enough to catch in my shirt and when they do they itch like crazy. Are these always made from something that will eventually dissolve? I hope so! Hope that your are felling well today.

Rick

 

[bvdr]

Rick,

Isn't it just the weirdest thing! I don't know if they all disappear eventually or not. My "gut" feeling is yes.

 

[Gisele]

Rick & Betty

Rick & Betty

My vna nurse said sometimes they fall out. I would assume that the portion that remains inside must dissolve and therefore the part that is sticking out just falls off. Sometimes though they need to be snipped.

Anyone applying Vitamin E to their scar? Before I was discharged the nurse told me that it would help my scar. I figure I would give it a try.

 

[Georgia]

I never heard of the sutures sticking out - and here all of you have them. How lucky can you get???

Gisele, I've used Vit E oil ever since the scabs left. Love it - really keeps the incision moist, and when I forget it the scar pulls and tugs and itches. And honestly, my scar looks pretty good. So try it.

 

[Kathy]

I had three sutures that were visable. They were really annoying. Two fell off after I wiggled them back and forth a bit. I snipped the third one.

 

[McCln]

Christina

Christina

Dave made a mistake on the multivitamin, be sure it doe not have vitamin K. One a Day is one that is without vitamin k. Must watch on the dark gree veggies, and lettice. Otherwise, the tiredness will go away in time. I had to wait for two weeks before the doctor would give me the release to go back to work. It took time and I would be sore after being in the computer. You have to stretch every so ofter, you will lean over the computer keyboard and will get stiff quicky. It will get better over time. And if you can get into rehab, go for it. I was not finacially able to do it due to the copay everytime I would have used it. Just take it easy and don't push yourself too hard. Recovery is slow for everyone. Let others help. Take care and good luck.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[fyrfytr]

Thanks Caroline for pointing that out. I didn't notice that I did that and have updated it. Thanks again.
Take Care

Dave
___________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical