Comments on: Joanne’s Incentive Spirometer Trick

By: Joanne Cruises With Barely Visible Scar

Joanne Cruises With Barely Visible Scar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:06:46 +0000

[...] Case in point… Joanne. First, she finds the humor in an incentive spiromoter. Then, she takes a celebratory cruise only nine months after open heart, valve surgery. Joanne – Showing Her Incentive Spirometer Trick [...]

By: Cindy Meurer

Cindy Meurer — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:08:34 +0000

Hi, all! I am new to this website but am enjoying it so far. I had a mini aortic valve replacement on April 8. I have been feeling great but think that I might be overdoing it. Is going too fast during recovery a common problem? I certainly don’t want to mess up the healing I’ve had so far. Any advice will be appreciated. Cindy M.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:48:18 +0000

Joanne, bless your heart. Literally. I will give that spirometer trick a try, even though I am about 3 months out now and had minimally invasive surgery. I still give the spirometer a twirl now and then. I am up to 2000-2500 on my best tries, but my first try after surgery I was about 500, like you. I too had mitral valve regurgitation and they also fixed an atrial septal defect but I didn’t have the maze. I assume you had atrial fib? I am on the King of Hearts monitor this week to see how my rhythms are doing. It is strange – I was recovering well and then in the last few weeks have felt tired again and think I was doing too much too soon. So it’s always good to take your time in heart surgery recovery. Hugs to all,
Leslie