Nerida’s Recovery Tip For Unwanted Sneezes
There is nooooooooooo doubt about it…
That first sneeze after open heart surgery can be quite uncomfortable. To help you manage the need to sneeze, Nerida just sent me an interesting recovery tip.
She writes, “Hi Adam, I am three and a half weeks post op from an aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve. I feel fantastic. Your heart valve book and website have been a fantastic help for myself and my family over the last three months. Thank you so much! By the way, the best thing to do when you feel a sneeze coming on is to support your chest and keep your mouth open. Yes, it’s very un-hygienic but believe me it helps. Keep up the good work. And, keep on tickin! Nerida”
I hope Nerida’s little recovery tip helps all of you looking to avoid a painful sneeze during your early recovery.
Keep on tickin!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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August 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Nerida, I agree with your suggestions on how to avoid painful sneezes. I sneeze multiple times at one session and do it several times a day so was so worried about what I was going to do. Like you said, I grabbed my heart pillow really hard, didn’t worry about keeping my mouth closed and tried to hold my “ab area” as tight as possible (inhaled and just tried to keep that area compressed). Doggone it, it worked and I made it thru those first few weeks without any problems with sneezing.
Midge
August 24th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hi Adam
I’m scheduled for a mitral valve repair Sept 23rd. The doctor is 90% certain he can repair the valve but he had me choose a replacement valve just in case. I asked him wjhat he recommended and he very quickly chose the mechanical valve based upon my age of 60, my totally clear arteries and otherwise good health. From what I’ve read, I would have chosen a tissue valve because the possibility of clotting worries me.
I have read all I can find on the differences and would like to know how people deal with the routine testing of the blood etc. and the worry about clotting. Also, is there anything about having a mechanical valve that doesn’t work with possible cancer treatments? I’m not looking for trouble but I’d hate to have made a choice that cancels me out of possible future treatments if the need should arise. I’m praying my doctor doesn’t need to fall back on a replacement but I want to be certain I’m comfortable with the choice that has been made.
Loved the Livesavers joke. A sense of humour and laughter help me get to where I’m going with this health issue and it helps my friends and family deal with me. I see the worry in all of their faces so it’s nice to lighten the load with a smile and a laugh.
Keep up the good work Adam. Your site is an invaluable tool to so many.
Cheryl/Ontario/Canada
August 24th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Cheryl, your decision on valve type will have to be YOUR decision so do alot of research before deciding. All of the valve makers have web sites which have alot of info, slightly slanted in their favor but useful nonetheless.
I got a mechanical aortic valve this past February (St. Judes) and am happy with it. Like you, I was in otherwise good health and no clogged arteries in my heart so went with the mechanical. I’m 67 but there are some long-livers in my family so chose mechanical because it’s unlikely I’ll need a replacement.
The Coumadin is not a problem…worst thing is remembering to take it at first (if you aren’t used to taking meds on a daily basis it takes a little more thought). Woke up one night about 2 AM thinking, “oh crap, I forgot to take my medicine”. Got up and took it and then just put off taking the current day’s dose by a few hours. Worked fine.
I belong to an HMO and so have to go to their lab about twice a month now for a blood draw, but it just takes minutes and they are open from 6 AM to 9 PM so not bad. But I think many people in Canada are able to get home testers where you prick your finger once a week and use a machine at home much like a blood sugar monitor. Then you call your results in to the lab and they will compute your dosage. My HMO does not use these machines and will not cover them but hope to eventually get one. At first it is difficult to get your coagulation numbers in range but that is only for a few weeks. And you can eat most anything your want if you eat it regularly. There is this myth that you have to eat very little green, leafy veggies but that is baloney. You just have to eat them on a regular basis….not broccoli every day for a week and then no veggies the next week.
I’m getting too wordy here but it’s not a bad way to go. Also, mechanical valves are supposed to make a “clicking sound” but I have yet to hear one. I do hear a thumping in my chest sometimes when getting ready to take a shower and all the tile seems to magnify the sound. But when I leave the bathroom, the sound disappears.
Adam’s book is a great help and so is the internet. In addition to Adam’s book, there is another one called Your Heart, an Owners Guide. Adam’s book is very personal and easy to read and understand and is really great for family members to read thru.
Best of luck. And many people on Coumadin have future surgeries just fine. Don’t know about radiation treatments or if a person needed chemo.
Keep everyone up to date how you’re doing.
Midge
August 24th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Cheryl, I understand your confusion in chosing your valve. I am 63 and did choose the tissue valve. I had the opinion of 3 different surgeons and surprisingly they all agreed. I am happy with my decision and as Midge said, it is your decision. The doctors and I discussed all the pros and cons, and each doctor left it up to me. My surgery was on June 1st. Having had other surgeries, I was surprised to discover that this recovery period was much easier. I have just begun my cardio-rehab, and am looking forward to the next 12 wks. of rehab. I had a biscupsid aortic valve replaced along with an aortic aneurysm repair. Good luck and keep us up to date.
August 24th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Hi Adam– I found your book prior to my arotic valve replacement on May 27,2009 when I googled Barbara Bush to find out about her experience. My Dr. Prem Shekar is at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. I was operated on on May 27th and have had a wonderful recovery. I am 68 with a very healthy heart except for the aortic valve failure9have had a heart murmur since birth) All fixed now (cow valve). Your book was sooooo helpful and informative. Thank you for all of your good work! I continue to read the blog!!
Nancy
August 25th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hi Adam & All, Just regarding the issue of sneezing when I was in the initial post op stages I actually found that I could breath away a sneeze ie totally avoid actually sneezing - if you take a deep breath just when you’re about to sneeze you can actually I guess swallow it - worked for me and I actually still try to do it where I can - even 15 months post op as I am now, I have to say it still hurts when I fully sneeze. Anyway, worth a try.