Anita's Journal

Kelly Stoll  One step at a time and one day at a time. Don't worry. It's a bit it a blur I think for all of us. Hang in there and happy healing.

Louanna Miller  Good to hear how you are doing as I’m approaching surgery next month. Take it a day at a time and be gentle with yourself.

Phyllis Petersen  I'm glad to hear you're moving forward. Have you started cardiac rehab yet? I found that helped me improve at a much faster rate. I hope you get to the mountains soon (and away from the sweltering humid air). I just returned from visiting NJ/NY where their heatwave was not so bad for me, especially since I was able to get to the beach a lot. All the best!

Carolyn Newell  Hi Anita, I'm 6 weeks post OHS. The first week was spent in a recliner and yes I needed help getting up and with walking to and from the bathroom. I mostly wore comfortable clothes, anything that's easy to put on. I used the shower chair and was told by the nurses not to cover the incision just wash with soap and water. You can't lift your arms over your head so have someone help you with shampoo bottles and getting in and out of the shower. The nurses will go over all of this before you leave the hospital. Most of the time I spent resting my eyes and just relaxing in my recliner. I also listened to calming music and guided mediation. And best part, I never wore a bra after surgery for about a month! All the best to you, you will do fine. :)

Sandy Laine  As reading through journals will show - everyone is different. It may depend on bust size - my post-surgical instructions said to wear a sports bra at all times except when in the shower for 12 full weeks. I was able to stand in shower, and was careful getting out of bed (don't remember first 3 nights at home when I slept in recliner). Loose-fitting, easy on-off tops. Tried to get out and walk as much as I could.
Good Luck!

Marie Myers  I was good at getting in and out of the recliner by myself. I did need to sit on a shower seat for the first week or so cuz I was so exhausted. Had no problem using the bathroom by myself. Did use stool softeners for a week or so, because the early days of using narcotic pain Meds can slow the gut down. I did not wear a bra at all, since I am vice-president of the itty-bitty-titty club. (-: My incision had a water repellent collodion applied to it, so I was told I could get water on my incision right from the start. Just no scrubbing...Like Carolyn, I listened to calming music and meditation. I found that really helpful. There are lots of choices on UTube.
Wishing you a smooth surgery and speedy recovery!

Rose Madura  I used a shower chair when I came home and my doting husband helped with everything. I wore button blouses and no bra but if someone was coming to visit, I'd wear the surgical bra the hospital gave me. Or was more like a cotton camisole with Velcro. Stairs were ok - just slow. I got up to pee a lot during the night. Sleep was not good for a while. Tried wedge and then pillows and even then would no e to the recliner in the middle of thed night. I was able to use bathroom myself. Most difficult was ressching for things. Incision doesn't like it. Some people like privacy but for me, I wanted lost of visitors.

Helen Daw  The most difficult thing for me was sleeping. I had to get used to sleeping on my back which was hard. Funny how we take a lot of things for granted like opening a bottle of water. I had to ask for help in doing so. I am 5 months post op and the recovery went so smooth so nothing was really that difficult. You can do this. Just ask for help when you need it.

Susan Lynn  Most difficult thing was bending at the waist - my heart didn't like that forward position. Slept one or two nights in a recliner, but got more restful sleep in bed elevated with a few pillows. Stood for showers, but I had a chair just in case. Didn't need assistance using the bathroom even in the hospital. Skipped the bras, wore lined tank tops and layers for a few weeks. Spent my days watching my favorite movies - and walking multiple times per day to an inspiring playlist of music!
You'll be fine!

Judy Shaw  I have a question. How do you put the foot up on the recliner if it has a lever on the side? Also how to get it back down?

Diane Maher  It was made official a couple of weeks ago that I will be undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery sometime this fall. The questions I was asked during my Echo in January provided enough suspicion that this might be the case so I started reading everyone's journals and posts on a daily basis. I agree with Sandy that everyone's recovery is very individual. Some loved a recliner and used it for varying lengths of time. Some felt it wasn't needed after all or didn't find it as comfortable as they had hoped. Same with individual preferences with regard to shower seats, bras, etc. For me I am going to be prepared for what I think I will need to assist with my recovery and keep receipts for what turns out that I don't need.
A suggestion by a member that I have made note of is to have numerous face/wash cloths so that a clean one can be used on the incision each time you shower.
Many have suggested pre-op breathing exercises which is supported by a Canadian study, "Pre-op breathing training helps decrease risk of complications".
Keeping a Daily Recovery Health Log, I found to be another helpful suggestion. Dr. Castro, in his excellent and very informative presentation, "What Can Heart valve surgery patients Expect" on Adam's Blog, talks about what an invaluable tool this is: "there's plenty of research out there that shows that when patients actually record this progress, they heal faster and they recover faster".
You might want to check the shopping list that Anna Jones posted on her journal for other suggestions/comments.
Sending with many best wishes.

Marie Myers  Judy- it is an electric recliner. No assistance needed. I rented mine for 4 weeks, for a total of about $150. It was well worth it... Made me independent at a very dependent time...

Judy Shaw  Thanks. I was thinking that an electric recliner is what everyone meant. Hubby says he doesn't mind helping me if we can't get one and just use our regular recliner.

Kelly Stoll  Most difficult task was reaching.
Slept in low bed (pull-out). Too short to fit comfortably in a recliner.
Shower bench with hand attachment (for the dog!) for first few weeks, with some assistance getting in and out. New towel and wash cloth every time. Now guide rails if needed, but no issues.
Yes, able to use bathroom fine.
Loose clothing, buttons covered on back, leggings, nothing scratchy or tight to pull on/off, lots of men's t-shirts with no graphics . The bigger the better. Pajamas too. No bra, but I wear a heart hugger which was fitted to wear without one.

Other tips- set your clothes out that you at a height that is easily accessible. This allowed me some freedom for changing, etc. The same for personal care items, like a toothbrush or comb. Also make sure you have easy pump hand-soap. It seems silly but I didn't have a lot of arm strength at first and the one in our kitchen hurt to use. Bath & bodyworks hand soaps worked best for me.

Best wishes and hang in there.

Anita Edmonds  Thank you for all the information, what a great group this is! Yes, Judy I bought an electric recliner, it will even tipp me out. Like your club Marie..(:

Debbie Chatzky  Electric recliner
Shower chair
12 wash clothes
12 hand towels
Bigger Slippers or shoes
Thermometers
Blood pressure machine
Oxygen Heart rate finger clip
Loose open front clothing
Am/pm 7 day Pill
Box

Susan Killian  I spent the first few days in an electric recliner, was a godsend because it made me completely independent getting up and down. A shower chair was nice for about the first 3 or 4 weeks, was nice to sit with water running down my back. A wedge was good for 3 or 4 weeks for in bed when I was not able to sleep laying down. A reacher was good for reaching dropped items. I wore pull over shirts that were stretchy and on the big side for me, (it helped that I lost so much weight). I used a stretchy pull over bra for about the first 5 or 6 weeks. The front release ones were too hard to pull to fasten. I am now 8 weeks and 3 days post op from open heart with full sternotomy for mitral valve repair with ring and new chords. Feeling good and going to rehab. Arms and shoulders still a little weak but rehab is helping with that. legs are strong. Slip on shoes are great too that way you dont have to tie them. Lots of towels and wash clothes for washing incision at first.

Catie B  I used a regular recliner, left the foot up since I couldn't tug the lever, and gently climbed aboard each time. Had to sleep in recliner many weeks; the bed was impossible for me for a long time.

But I had no problem standing and showering on my own. My third day out of the hospital I walked a couple of miles. Was told let the shower hit your back and keep spray directed away from chest.

Wore V necks or button down shirts. Didn't want anything to touch incision. They left mine open to the air.

I kept a lot of things handy at counter height. Ate lots of convenience foods, used paper plates.

If they prescribe Lasix, expect to pee like a maniac.

I was alone recovering and there was one impossible task: removing and putting on the TED hose I had to wear for two weeks. Sorry this is crazy, but I left them on, showered in them then blew them and my legs dry when I got out. All that to say, if they prescribe them, you'll need help because you can't tug them on and off yourself.

Doctors vary on timing for cardiac rehab. Mine prescribed it at three weeks but there was some lead time with a nurse interview and getting on the schedule. It was one of the most supportive and morale boosting aspects of recovery--the staff were wonderful. The one thing I wasn't mentally prepared for with the program was they forbade any outdoor walking on my own, except to take my dog out, for a few weeks.

Judy Shaw  Anita, this is good information for us on the pre-surgery side of our journeys. Thank you everyone.

Hmm....trying to picture my husband putting TED hose on me 😂

Marianne Charters  I am 10 days post mitral valve repair. I have been wearing loose leggings and a step in camisole (light shelf bra). I found button front tops nagged at my incision so mostly loose tops
Definitely a scale. I was in Aggie shape before surely so it was kinda fun to watch the water weight disappear
I also have been using a recliner as I am a side sleeper and it was too tempting to rollover in bed.... ouch
Meds have been portioned out in advance as opening those bottles were a surprisingly ouchy thing
Most important. Breathing exercise!!!!!usd the incentive spirometer they should send home with you. And walk!!!!! I was walking 10 miles daily before this. Woohoo up to 2 miles😜

Kelly Stoll  TED hose. There's a smile and a half. Don't try to roll them off when wet. Thought I was being smart. Nearly wiped me out by the time they came off.

Phyllis Petersen  Hi from down south in Tucson! I was fortunate that the hospital gave me 2 surgical bras (2 different sizes), which piece together with velcro. I told them that they need to do that sooner. I take it that they are doing a sternotomy on you. I had a side incision, so had different issues. I was able to sleep in bed with an extra pillow. Side sleeping was out at first, which is how I prefer to sleep. I picked up a couple of very loose shirts in case that was a problem (charity shops are great for items you don't need for long). There is a lot of water weight initially, but it does come off. You'll have to plan where you'll walk at first, since we'll be in the thick of the heat when you have your surgery. I had a shower chair already (knee replacement earlier in the year), which I like the reassurance of. I actually took my first shower in the hospital without a shower chair. Each person is different! I wish you the best for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.

Susan Killian  I didn't necessarily need a shower chair it was just really nice. The water running over my back helped with shoulder pain and was fantastic. My hospital gave the same surgical bras but they were not as comfortable as the pull over I brought with me.