Woodbutcher returns !

[Woodbutcher]

6 days from surgery for AVR and I'm home... A totally physical and emotional wreck... What a roller coaster of a week I've had which most on here know all too well about. A week in hospital of next to no sleep, blood tests, prodding, poking, hot, cold, uncomfortable in a ward full of people in the same state and a hospital full of sick people!
Having said that. all the staff were fantastic and the surgeon came for a chat the day after to tell me my heart was in great shape and all had gone well....
I had other patients trying to cheer me by saying "just think you'll be able to walk to the shops or walk the dog again with this surgery". That may have been the case for them but I could have climbed Everest a week ago ! Now I'm out of breath having pulled my socks on ! What happened ... I understand this state will pass, but i really cant get my head around it at all.
I'm struggling with everything, but it's only been 6 days, I have to keep telling myself, although it feels like weeks already.
I have to thank this forum, you've all been a tremendous help and especially Stilldreaming Jen for both supporting me and keeping the forum posted with my progress.
I sound so grumpy.... There's no excuses for that and I'm sure you'll all understand.. Under the pain is a massive belief that I'm on the road to recovery and the hard bit is done.... Wish the clicking in my head would give it a rest though... will it dissapear after a while ?

 

[kfay]

Welcome home. Your body has been through a tremendous trauma...it will just take time to get your strength and stamina back, but it will come. Isn't it nice to be back in your own bed without anyone waking you up in the middle of the night? I had a private room so I can't imagine adding all the noise of all the others to the general misery of being in the hospital. Take it easy, a day at a time.

I can't help with the ticking noise, I have a tissue valve, but I think from what I have read others say that it becomes less noticeable to you over time.

Nice to have you back.

Kim

 

[Phyllis]

Glad you are home and each day WILL get better. Walk, rest and take it a day at a time.

 

[Dale]

Welcome back -- and best wishes for a smooth recovery!

 

[ottagal]

Welcome home, Woodbutcher! It was good to see you post. Take it easy and get some rest. Sending positive thoughts your way for an uneventful recovery.

 

[hall]

Welcome home. The best place to be. I hope every day is just a little bit better.

 

[Ross]

Dude, you sound like you actually had heart surgery! People think I'm kidding when I tell them this surgery will knock the wind out of their sails. I bet you don't disagree.

It's hard for a the first few days, then things start to slowly come back together as your body resets. You'll be singing a new tune in about 6 weeks or so.

If it makes you feel slightly better, I battled for 60 days to get home!

 

[Eva]

6 days from surgery for AVR and I'm home... A totally physical and emotional wreck...

A week in hospital of next to no sleep, blood tests, prodding, poking, hot, cold, .......
the surgeon came for a chat the day after to tell me my heart was in great shape and all had gone well....
.....Now I'm out of breath having pulled my socks on ! What happened ... I understand this state will pass, ......
I sound so grumpy.... There's no excuses for that and I'm sure you'll all understand..
.... Wish the clicking in my head would give it a rest though... will it dissapear after a while ?

Welcome home and welcome back,

You just passed the worst week and from now on you shall start improving and feeing better and more accepting of what happened to you. The trauma your heart and body went through, the lack of sleep, the shock, all are manifested now. When I returned home and started moving around, I felt short of breath...fears raced into my head that something was wrong and they were not telling me!! these fears are normal as well as shortness of breath unless they are severe. You are brave to put your sock on...give yourself a pat on the shoulder...I was not able nor dared to bend at all.

As you said above...it is a matter of time, and meanwhile, do vent whenever you want and as much as you want. We are here to listen and to reassure you that all will be fine. Keep remembering the surgeon's words that all went well those are the best words we care to hear after such a surgery...the rest will come gradually.

As for the clicking, it will get better...your heart is still healing and everything is still magnified.

Will keep you in my prayers.

 

[stilldreamin]

Welcome home my cyborg brother... I'm glad to see you're posting on your own... means you're on the mend!
Don't be too hard on yourself... I know you're probably impatient to be all fixed, but go slow and enjoy all the attention and doting you'll be getting... you'll be back to yourself in no time.
The bow can wait... just pluck for now.

 

[skeptic49]

Welcome back.Thanks for posting about your experiences..gives me an idea of what to expect

Congratulation on making it though. Everyone here says things will improve. Take care, get some rest, and keep posting.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[SignlRun]

Be patient, it will get better

Be patient, it will get better

I am about six months post op from AVR and anuerysm repair. I know exactly how you feel. I thought the pounding/pulsing/clicking in my head would never go away... it does. For the first few weeks I dreaded going to bed at night (it was worse for me when I would lie down)... but now all is well.

Just 1-2 months prior to surgery I was going on 60 mile bike rides with 2,000 ft mountain climbs and feeling great. Right afterwards I felt winded going up the steps. Now I am back to running 4-5 miles every 2 to 3 days. My mechanical valve does tick but I am quite the novelty to my 14 year old daughter.. every time a new friend comes over she asks "Do you want to hear my dad's heart tick?"

I hope this helps. I understand how you feel. Be patient it does get better..

 

[deano89]

think i will be in similar position to you theres nothing i cant do at the moment pound weights swim and run so i will be a shocker at first. my wife gets out of breath quicker than me!at least i now know what to expect best wishes for a smooth recovery from here on in good luck

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome home and to this side of the mountain. Best wishes for a smooth and speedy recovery. Pace yourself and listen to your body.

 

[netmiff]

A week in hospital of next to no sleep, blood tests, prodding, poking, hot, cold, uncomfortable in a ward full of people in the same state and a hospital full of sick people!

Getting little to no good sleep does not help at all.

Now I'm out of breath having pulled my socks on !

Yep, it was a few weeks before I cold bend that far, too - just be glad you don't have to struggle with a bra, too!

What happened ... I understand this state will pass, but i really cant get my head around it at all.

Well, we say around here that a truck (or lorry, in your case!) hit you, but really it's a combination of the anaesthetic, the heart pump machine, the lack of sleep, the broken sternum, the unnatural position you were in for hours on the table and so on . . . .

I'm struggling with everything, but it's only been 6 days, I have to keep telling myself, although it feels like weeks already.

Take it slow, eat, sleep, walk and breathe, I had an unusually fast and bump-free recovery, and it was a few weeks, maybe months, before it all sorted itself out fully.

I sound so grumpy.... There's no excuses for that

No excuses needed, it's not surprising after what you went through and I'm sure you'll all understand.. yes, we do !

Wish the clicking in my head would give it a rest though... will it dissapear after a while ?

yep, it does - I woke up in ICU and someone had put one of those Big Ben ticking clocks on a tray just out of my sight, it was driving me crazy. The day I got moved to the step-down unit, it was noisy and busy, I was exhausted that night, and when I put my head on my pillow to sleep, that damn clock had followed me! It was then I realized that it was not a clock, but ME that I was hearing! Now (15 months later) I only hear it at night, in certain positions, and when standing in front of a mirror or a window, and it has to be quiet, too. No-one else can hear, except my DH. [/QUOTE]



Good that you are home and have enough energy etc. to be grumpy ! As has been said, don't push it, your body will bite you back if you do. Time, and not a lot of it, will cure you of all these little aches, pains and inconveniences, and you will be posting your one-year anniversay before you know it.

 

[Freddie]

Yep, Jeanette about summed it all up.
Relax and be good to yourself. You will see that what you can do next week you couldn't do this week.
Oh yea..........leave the socks off for now

 

[Bina]

Yes, Netmiff is right.......forget about putting on that BRA....!!
Actually you will notice every week that there is some kind of improvement in your abilities, try not to get depressed or sad when one week goes slow. The next week will be better! Pace yourself, and rest often.

 

[Roger Frank]

Cyborg Mountain ain't so bad...welcome home!

 

[zipper2]

A week in hospital of next to no sleep, blood tests, prodding, poking, hot, cold, uncomfortable in a ward full of people in the same state and a hospital full of sick people!

Getting little to no good sleep does not help at all.

Now I'm out of breath having pulled my socks on !

Yep, it was a few weeks before I cold bend that far, too - just be glad you don't have to struggle with a bra, too!

What happened ... I understand this state will pass, but i really cant get my head around it at all.

Well, we say around here that a truck (or lorry, in your case!) hit you, but really it's a combination of the anaesthetic, the heart pump machine, the lack of sleep, the broken sternum, the unnatural position you were in for hours on the table and so on . . . .

I'm struggling with everything, but it's only been 6 days, I have to keep telling myself, although it feels like weeks already.

Take it slow, eat, sleep, walk and breathe, I had an unusually fast and bump-free recovery, and it was a few weeks, maybe months, before it all sorted itself out fully.

I sound so grumpy.... There's no excuses for that

No excuses needed, it's not surprising after what you went through and I'm sure you'll all understand.. yes, we do !

Wish the clicking in my head would give it a rest though... will it dissapear after a while ?

yep, it does - I woke up in ICU and someone had put one of those Big Ben ticking clocks on a tray just out of my sight, it was driving me crazy. The day I got moved to the step-down unit, it was noisy and busy, I was exhausted that night, and when I put my head on my pillow to sleep, that damn clock had followed me! It was then I realized that it was not a clock, but ME that I was hearing! Now (15 months later) I only hear it at night, in certain positions, and when standing in front of a mirror or a window, and it has to be quiet, too. No-one else can hear, except my DH. [/QUOTE]



Good that you are home and have enough energy etc. to be grumpy ! As has been said, don't push it, your body will bite you back if you do. Time, and not a lot of it, will cure you of all these little aches, pains and inconveniences, and you will be posting your one-year anniversay before you know it.

Welcome home,glad to see you posting and presently i'm

in the bubble stage,Dr's orders,no stores,no bugs,no sick people

around me,kick em out he said not to jepradize my surgery in any way

right now and then i can feel like you after my surgery.....YIPEE

Take care of yourself remember to REST,don't overdo and i like grumpy

cus i'm not even where your at and already i'm grumpy

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[CThrock]

Glad to see your home!!! Everything your going through is normal. Just relax and you'll be feeling better each day. So glad you did so well and now your on the road to a smooth recovery. Take Care and God Bless.

 

[Ed_War]

The more active you were before the operation the harder it is to deal with the initial after effects of the surgery. I went form not even knowing that I had a problem, to OHS in 5 days. From biking, scuba diving, running, working out and working to needing my wife to help me get dressed so I could leave the hospital. Hell those socks were tough to put on....I'm impressed that you did it yourself.

I came home 4 days after the surgery thinking that in a few weeks I could make myself get back to where I was before the surgery .......yea .......right. What did those doctors and nurses know...... rest..... go slow...... listen to my body... you know...all those things we were told. My first full day home I decided to push my afternoon walk.....mile out....mile back home. Long story short.....it's embarrassing going up to a house and asking a stranger to call your wife to come pick you up because you can't go any further, especially when that person wants to call the rescue because you look like you died and forgot to lay down. But I almost made the mile out.

I learned after that...take it slow....listen to your body. Enjoy the slower pace (at least for awhile)....how often do we get to stay in bed or enjoy a day of reading a book. Don't worry...the improvements will come, you will eventually be back to where you were before the surgery. Let your body rule how much you push it....not your mind.

Best of luck