Chris's Posts

Status update! Today is the 4-week mark after my robotic mitral valve repair. I am recovering very well, and am resuming a mostly-normal life. Here is a quick overview of my progress. Week 1 - my "critical care week". I dealt with medications. pain management. walking in the house, body temperature fluctuations, and heart rhythm anomalies. Collecting pulse / BP / weight / other stats for my doctor. Lots of protein drinks post surgery. Thank goodness for my wife and family helping at this point. Week 2 - "finding normal". My medications were reduced. Continued walking inside and started walking outside (3-400 ft). Continued protein suppliments. Doing simple exercises - arm / shoulder / neck /torso rotations, walking up/down stairs, even some sit / stand / squats, very slowly. Week 3 - "side effect reduction". I started using my sports watch to track my pulse while walking. I found that a certain pulse (or higher) caused me to have irregular heartbeat. So I began to push that boundary, a little at a time. Longer walks or faster pace. Things are starting to improve. I went to a computer store to browse one day and really over did it by staying too long. My stamina needs improvement. Week 4 - "building strength". This week has been all about pushing myself (gently). One day I walked 4+ miles across multiple walks. Another day I went to the hardware store for beetle traps and put those in my yard. Yet another day I cleaned my outside air condition with some spray cleaner and a brush. Perhaps the best news for me personally...I was able to do a short ride on my bike yesterday! It was only first gear, and I used my watch to keep my pulse below 120bpm. But still...an amazing victory for me. I know everyone's timeline is different, but I think the message is the same...keep pushing foward in a way that makes sense for you.