Totally agree with everyone on patience and more patience then a bit more! I am five months out and I still have to have an occasional nap and there are days ...Read more
Totally agree with everyone on patience and more patience then a bit more! I am five months out and I still have to have an occasional nap and there are days where I have no interest in doing anything but sitting. I was super active before surgery so it is very frustrating. But there is no way to push the process. Try to rest, get in some exercise like walking every day, and give yourself time. Your body has to build back up after blood loss, the impacts of the inflammation that goes along with the surgery, healing several very deep wounds from the inside out, not to mention the various post op meds. It will get better. There is also the psychological trauma of having gone through what amounts to a massive car wreck! Thoughts and prayers for your continuing recovery!
I echo all of this advice. It wasn\'t until about seven months post op (AVR) I felt I had most of my energy back. It\'s hard to be patient, but a dose of ...Read more
I echo all of this advice. It wasn\'t until about seven months post op (AVR) I felt I had most of my energy back. It\'s hard to be patient, but a dose of gratitude always helped me.
Linda
Hi Dale,
More than ever in your life,now is the time to really listen to what your body is telling you.If you do too much,you\'ll really pay for it later on.Take ...Read more
Hi Dale,
More than ever in your life,now is the time to really listen to what your body is telling you.If you do too much,you\'ll really pay for it later on.Take small steps forward so you won\'t have to take any steps backward and try not to rush the healing.It\'s going to happen by itself.That was the hardest thing for me to learn. Wishing you complete success in your recovery Dale.
Al Zebal AVR,Maze 1/17/13
Dale--
When I was really doubting my progress( and that happens to all) I started keeping lists of daily events and statistics. Use yesterday as the challenge ...Read more
Dale--
When I was really doubting my progress( and that happens to all) I started keeping lists of daily events and statistics. Use yesterday as the challenge for today. Look for LITTLE improvements, and if there is no improvement, call the Doc.
John Teeftt 5/4/12 AVR CClinic.
Dale Saunders Hi John, thanks so much, I agree with you, Dale needs to keep list of how his days go, I am going to ... Read more
Dale Saunders Hi John, thanks so much, I agree with you, Dale needs to keep list of how his days go, I am going to help him do this. Today was a much better day. Perhaps because he took his Tylenol every 6 hours. He had been trying to get off of it and I suspect it was too soon. Barb
Hi Dale and Barb,
The recovery process is different for each person, but it is important to stay in contact with your doctor. I am having a very smooth recovery ...Read more
Hi Dale and Barb,
The recovery process is different for each person, but it is important to stay in contact with your doctor. I am having a very smooth recovery and at 3 weeks I remember getting tired yet feeling much better than the week before. My father had open heart surgery when I was 11 weeks post op and he is now 1 week post op. His recovery is a different than mine. He is coughing more, has less energy, his mood is lower than mine was, and he seems to have more pain than I did.
Regardless, if you are in doubt please call the doctor just to verify. Dale had a major surgery and the doctor should be happy to respond to all of his questions.
Eric Rovin
AVR 12/11/12
Dale Saunders Thanks Eric. Totally agree with your thoughts. Today was better. Keeping track of each day now to com ... Read more
Dale Saunders Thanks Eric. Totally agree with your thoughts. Today was better. Keeping track of each day now to compare notes.
Barb
Hi, Dale,
Jimmy is so right. We\'re all different, and not everybody is ready to run a half marathon a few weeks after open heart surgery! Please don\'t be ...Read more
Hi, Dale,
Jimmy is so right. We\'re all different, and not everybody is ready to run a half marathon a few weeks after open heart surgery! Please don\'t be discouraged. It may take you a little longer to get your sea-legs back but you WILL.
Best,
Selma Kaplan
Dale Saunders Thank you for the response. It's hard waiting to heal!
Hi Dale,
Listen to your body. Some people are able to more and some people need to build into it. Trying doing 10 mins and see how that goes. The one I ...Read more
Hi Dale,
Listen to your body. Some people are able to more and some people need to build into it. Trying doing 10 mins and see how that goes. The one I would say is push where you can but listen to your body. Take naps. That also helped me. You should also have a Dr\'s appt coming in in week 4. Talk that through with your Doc.
Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you. I had my surgery 2/20/12.
Jimmy Johnson
Dale Saunders Thanks Jimmy, I guess patience isn't one of my virtues. Haha