What's going on...

[HeartPart2]

Hey all..
Just wanted to swing this by you. I had AVR exactly 4 weeks ago today, with little things here and there, I'm tip top. I'm the executive chef of a fine dining restaurant and I was back in the kitchen in my third week, just overseeing.
Two weeks after my surgery I was called in for my cardio therapy consultation, took a tour of the facility and checked out all of the equipment, walked around, looked around, chatted with people, the whole nine yards. The second we grouped back up in the room to tell about our scenarios, the lady leading the group looked at me like I had arms growing out of my ears when she found out I had surgery only 2 weeks prior. So now I still haven't heard back from them and shouldn't be going to a regular gym to work out.
I was only in the hospital for 4 1/2 days, another thing that people say sounds a little bit weird. I'm 37 years old, in pretty good shape, but all of this fast paced get up and go is being inspired by my cardio and my surgeon, they seem to think and say I'm on track. I read other things all over the place that people aren't driving for months and I started driving 3 weeks after OHS. What the hell is going on. Am I pushing myself, being pushed, am I a guinea pig?? Has anyone ever talked to anyone moving this quickly? I'm not trying to sound like BMOC, it actually scares me a little bit, I want to know why everyone is being encouraged to relax and take it easy and they wonder when I will be building my own rocket for the next mars mission. HELP !!!! Its all documented on my site if you want to check it out and see the pics...... www.heartpart2.com ... my wife built it, she rules.

 

[Superbob]

Well, if you read enough on here over a long time, you conclude that we are all different, and we have different recovery times.

Having said that, however, I would venture that no way should anyone be driving a motor vehicle three weeks after OHS, even if they feel up to it. That's because the sternum hasn't had sufficient time to heal properly and the result in a car accident would not be pretty.

 

[Bina]

Post op, one of my room mates was a senior man (over 65,probably over 70). He had triple bypass and was up and active right away.
I felt kind of silly laying around totally non-functional. Oh well.....

 

[Tom F.]

We are all different in our recovery and in our reaction to surgery. I was able to get back on my feet relatively fast too, but not quite as fast as you. Others struggle. Your body will tell you if you push too hard. Otherwise be happy that you seem to be getting over the surgery quickly.

 

[Cooker]

I went in on a Monday for the cath....AVR on Tuesday and home on Friday....and back in a week later for some blood. All in all I have had the same experience with people being astounded at the short time in the hospital and how quickly I was back at work (4 weeks)...but Chimps are known for quick recovery......Hey!....maybe we are related

 

[HeartPart2]

Thanks for reading and responding to all of you... I am even more astounded that since I'm an evolutionist that my closest recovery example is a primate!!
Go Darwin!!! Seriously thanks for the info Cooker!!!

 

[Lynlw]

Hi My son is younger and usually feels pretty good relatively fast. Did your doc say you could drive so soon? the reason people are told not to is it takes about 6 weeks for the sternum to heal and if you have an accident it could be big trouble if the airbag goes off. Also if you don't have doctors approval, I've heard of people who's insurance wouldn't cover any accidents because they were drivng before the docs said they could.
I'm gad you are feeling so good.Lyn

 

[Freddie]

I too was only in for 4 days and back to work in 4 weeks. Although my casual job isn't stressful it still took a lot out of me - but it felt good to get out of the house.
But for driving, I agree with Superbob. Doesn't it hurt when you drive? When you go to back-up, or even shoulder check?? What about those road bump?? For me, all of that was painful, but manageable.

P.S.
I'm NOT related to Cooker

 

[HeartPart2]

As far as being released to drive my surgeon just said , yes but take it easy, I dont know if that means dont steal the car or just dont drive fast. Admittedly right shoulder check isn't the best thing in the world but really not that bad, I sometimes feel like that stretching releases some of the tension. Also Lyn, I honestly never thought about the airbag going off, shame on me, that was definitely a selfish move on my part, sometimes I leap before I look. Thanks for the observation darlin.

 

[tprice54]

everyone is an experiment of one

everyone is an experiment of one

That's an old runner's saying. Driving that soon, well ,you've ehard the sternum thing. IF you were in shape prior to surgery, and all goes well, do what you want...your body wil ltell you the next day if you overdid it. I was running at 6 weeks per cardio...

 

[MikeHeim]

You already have some good answers w/ regards to driving, but I can address some other things. I was only in the hospital for three days, and I think there are at least several others who were in the 3-4 day range.
As far as everything else goes, your body will let you know when you've done too much. I went back to work at 10 weeks (I was 28 at the time) and barely made it past lunch the first day. My job was a combination of desk work and walking through a production floor, but the mere act of standing and answering everyone's questions about how I was doing wiped me out. I think everyone's recovery is different. If your recovery seems to be going quickly - ENJOY IT!!!!

 

[HeartPart2]

I LOVE THIS HOUSE!!!!! THIS IS THE SECOND BEST FAMILY A GUY or GAL COULD HAVE!!!!!!!!! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!

 

[Lisa in Katy]

I was about your age when I had surgery (36) and I was up and moving pretty quickly as well. I was in the hospital for 6 days, but up walking as soon as they got me out of ICU (2 days after surgery). My church had meals set up for me for 3-4 weeks, but I stopped them after about a week. I felt guilty that I was sitting at home feeling great while some of them were working all day and then hurrying to bring my meal. However, I didn't drive for 5 weeks. My doctor didn't say anything about the airbag because that would also be true riding in the passenger seat or even backseats in newer vehicles. He said that turning the steering wheel could cause your sternum parts to shift and heal wrong or more slowly. I guess that depends on if your sternum was split. The same holds true for lifting, which you might do as a chef or at the gym. You might want to research Arnold Schwarzenegger's blowout.

My doctor said, "Do what you feel like doing, but don't overdo it."

 

[jds]

Hello -

I was in the hospital a little longer (8 days) because I kept seeping pulmonary effusion. I was 59 at the time. I had my mitral valve replaced.

But then I recovered pretty fast. Started back to work on week 3 (2 days) then added a day each week.

Did not drive for a month because my surgeon told me not to do that or to ride a bike for a month - risk to the sternum. Learned all about the suburbun Boston bus lines - they don't run much outside of rush hours.

Started exercising pretty fast - lots of walking at first. Running a little in month 2 then started weights in month 3. My doc told me to hold off on pushups, bench-presses, etc. for a couple of months as well.

I got the same advice Lisa did from my doc's. "If it feels OK and your heart doesn't start pounding, go for it."

I say push as hard as you feel like you can.

John

 

[WayneGM]

Well done!

Well done!

I can't add anything to what's been said. Everyone is different and some recover sooner than others. Excellent news that your a fast one. That said, please don't get complacent. Some have been known to have set backs after "remarkable" early recovery experiences. You still have to listen to your body's early warning signals and slow down if it hints you should do so.

I hope your great recovery continues. Best wishes.

 

[Philip B]

Fast Recovery???

Fast Recovery???

The previous posts have probably made the point that we all seem to have different experiences with the recovery and rehab thing.

Yes, the idea that all OHS patients should take it easy and progress through recovery over a lengthy period of time is out there. Like you, my recovery from AVR surgery was pretty fast and I wouldn't be mistaken to make the comment that lots of people thought I was pushing through recovery and rehab way too fast. I appreciated the well-meant comments from those who were concerned about me, but I still moved at the pace which was best for me.

My cardio doctor had me in a formal cardiac rehab during my second week post-op. Initially, the nurse who ran the program was very uncomfortable with my presence in the program because the hospital normally required participants to be eight weeks post-op. Eventually, the nurse settled down and things went just fine with the program.

Many of my employees still comment about how unbelievably fast my recovery was. Several don't understand why I didn't take advantage of my situation and take more time off. I guess the point here is that lots of people have lots of different perspectives for a lot of different reasons.

Bottom line...don't let the judgements and perspectives of other people interfere with what is a reasonable recovery rate for you. Listen closely to what your body tells you it can do, your doctors, and simply avoid overdoing things. Despite common misconceptions, recovery is hugely individual.

-Philip

 

[HeartPart2]

Hey Phillip...
That was exactly the stuff I needed man. The way you said you felt going in to rehab hit it on the head. You are so right, if I am comfortable then I guess its really not my concern on how comfortable everyone else is with where I am at in my progress. Thanks so much for the insight brother!!

 

[Debbie]

phillip

phillip

Dear Phillip, the best thing is to listen to your own body. I feel like I have tryed to do as much as I can through this 11 week recovery, but at the same time really tyring to treat my body well, lots of sleep, good food, and walking as much as my body will let me. Your body is in recovery and you need to remember you just had a MAJOR surgery so listen to it. Sometimes I get frustated and say why can't I do this yet, or I should be doing this by now and I have to remind myself my body is still recovering and it takes time, some less some more. Good luck, hey I liked your post you sent me on my 5k Debbie