Annette S.'s Guestbook

Amnette, My surgery was 3 weeks ago yesterday. I know exactly what you mean about being tired. I donot sleep well at night, then need to sleep more in the day. By 5pm I am exhausted. I walk a lot but need to.walk more. I am hoping to start cardiac rehab in the next few weeks. I told my husband today, that there is no way I could be back in the classroom as a full time teacher. Take each day as it comes. Baby steps, drop me a email, would love to keep in touch. I am 58. Hugs from your heart sister! Mary (Mia)

I hope you will feel better soon. Open heart surgery is a pretty big deal, just a couple of decades ago people died of valve disease, and OHS was considered too risky to try. Today it is still a complex surgery, but more routine. Our bodies need time to gain back the strength, and sometimes the medicines prescribed in the hospital and upon discharge, keep our BP and heart rate low (in my case, it is Metropolol). I am now at day 38 post surgery, and feel ok, but not as energetic as prior to surgery. For me, the best measure is how do I feel now compared to last week (much better!). I think you will gain back your strength, and are probably doing so even unaware. Keep healing, and best wishes to you.

Hi Annette your body has been thru major traumatic assault, think how miraculous the workings of the heart and circulatory system are, your energy will return, one must take recovery slowly, notice the daily changes in physical activity good luck and God Bless in your recovery I am starting 5 weeks post op

Hi annette - one thing i have noticed about this blog is we are all different on how we recover from our surgery. i thought i was so fit and left hospital after only 5 days following new aortic valve and aneurysm repair however like you i felt in despair at times as it felt like i will never get my old energetic self back. i too have had weepy days in sheer frustration at how inadquate my body feels. but and huge but, i do feel baby steps and every day i achieve some small thing which makes me feel i am on the road to recovery. something just like making myself a cup of tea ! or washing my hair. today i have walked up the hill and round the block for the second day running. it may be small but i know its an improvements. i went to the supermarket yesterday and although it tired me out, it felt so good to go somewhere different and see normal people instead of being stuck in the house. so please please take heart, your body has undergone a traumatic surgery and it needs time and encouragement to heal. i think we are all guilty of wanting some kind of miracle once we get through our surgery but it took a long time for our health to go downhill and its not going to be an instant result. love to you and lots of encouragement.

At three weeks I was still napping twice a day (three times a day if you count the 4 hours I actually slept in the overnight hours). I had a tough time getting back to a normal sleep schedule. Make sure you give your neck muscles plenty of rest. Your body can get quite tuckered out just sitting watching tv, eating a meal, or taking a shower. Stand up straight, keep walking, keep breathing, keep resting!

Annette, it will get easier. Each week you will notice a difference. Listen to your body. I had aortic valve replacement 6 months ago and I feel pretty great. Just take it one day at a time. Best wishes.