Edward's Journal

Paul Lebel  Right there with you at 1month.  Took my bike off the stand for a 15min easy street ride.  Seemed ok. My issue is still vertigo.

Jennifer Fuller  Cardiac Rehab is really helpful. I push myself on those rehab days when I’m being monitored and take easier walks on my home treadmill on off days.

Sharon Behl  Good to hear that things are stabilizing, Edward! Weather in Colorado has been in the 50-60's and I've been walking outside. Today about 2 miles, but slowly not to jostle the incision. Starting to feel a bit more normal being out and about on the trail. Happy New Year everyone!

Susan Lynn  Yes, Edward! There's no place like it!! Since the weather isn't going to cooperate, you'll need to do your periodic walks around the dining room table or up and down a hallway at home. Your heart won't know the difference! I also found myself recovering in December (in PA) and found that walking around in the house was quite boring, but still very effective! Wishing you continued success with your recovery!!

Edward Crissey  Luckily I have a treadmill.   Just have to work with the surgeon/cardiologist to figure out when to start using it.   

Deena Elani  It surely is expected to tire easily for weeks.  And then...Yes, there is something about being home that makes the aches and fatigue seem so much less so.  

Susan Lynn  Safe travels! Rain tomorrow - snow on Monday! You'll feel much better in familiar surroundings!

Grace Mason   My first night at the hotel after step down was also a wonderful relief. No 4am blood draws or IV alarms!! Getting some sleep really helped my stamina and my overall well being.Congratulations on getting home, getting some sleep, and best wishes moving forward. You will be feeling some improvement week to week. Just keep on walking.

Edward Crissey  Thanks all.   Seeing a little improvement each day.    Hoping everyone the best during and after their surgery 

Edward Crissey  Last day was a bit rough.   Lots of nausea.     That potassium pill is a killer.    But on anti-nausea meds which help and feeling a lot better.   Did 5 loops today around the ward with the walker.     

Edward Crissey  Going to an Italian restaurant called Arturo’s.    I’m eyeing one of the Fra Diablo dishes.    

Rose Madura  Enjoy your special dinner with your wife. Tomorrow starts a new chapter in your heart journey. Godspeed.

Ana Brusso  Hope you had a nice Italian dinner with your wife. Will pray for your surgery to go well and your recovery is smooth. God bless you 

Susan Lynn  Edward- I was 57 when I had mitral valve repair. I didn't need any help walking, showering, dressing, etc. from day one. I was out of the hospital in 3 days and, aside from being tired, was fine.
Focus on every step going exactly as planned! If anything comes up, deal with it when it happens. It's very possible to have an uneventful procedure and recovery like I and many others did. There's no reason you can't have it, too.
Btw - Are you from Milford, PA?

Karen Hommel  You won’t need a nurse, just one person to help with meals, etc. you will need to walk a lot.  The secret to going home is to walk. 

Rita Savelis  Every surgery is singular and different, everyone's body and recovery is personal. You can't know how long you'll be in hospital or compare yourself to anyone else. Sometimes things come up, other times not. It's not a race or competition to get out of hospital as fast as you can. However, if your wife is around you probably won't need a nurse. You may be tired and in discomfort but you'll be mobile. As long as you don't do anything too strenuous post surgery you should be fine. Take care.

Kathy Ozio  I feel for you, the waiting is the worst!  Do not judge yourself against anyone else.  You will recover as you are meant to recover.  It was very hard for me after my surgery because I expected to be better in two weeks.  I was in the hospital for 9-10 days.  I was 51 and in great health.  I kept beating myself up because it seemed everyone else got better so quickly and I was not. Take it one day and do not be hard on yourself.  You will have good days and some not good days for the first few weeks.  Listen to your body and you will be feeling better and realize you didn't need to worry about all this!  

Susan Lynn  Edward - You're practically my neighbor! Let's grab some Old Forge pizza when you're feeling up to it!

Dominick Amatulli  Hi Edward I was 57 when I had open heart.  When I got home I could take care of all personal hygiene as well as go for short walks in the back yard. I would nap each day. Biggest issue for me is I was always a stomach sleeper and can’t sleep on my back so side sleeping was difficult but possible with right pillows.  I didn’t have a recliner at the time and wished I had had one.  Wish you the best.

Jennifer Fuller  I’ll echo what many others have said. I am 53 and my surgery was 3 weeks ago. I was in the hospital for 4 nights. When I came home I was able to take care of all of my personal needs…showering, bathroom, dressing, etc. My family cooked meals and waited on me a lot, but really, I could have heated soup, put dinner in the microwave, etc. If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have starved. If you are currently in reasonably good health, you probably won’t need any special assistance at home after surgery. That said, everyone is different! If you did need a bit of help at home, the hospital will help you make arrangements when the time comes.

Marie Myers  I was 63 at my surgery, and didn’t need any one other than my trusty spouse. He got food (mostly takeout) and took care of our little dog. I needed a shower chair for the first week, and I rented an electric recliner for a month. I loved the recliner because I had a hard time getting comfortable flat in bed. I doubt if you will need a nurse, but everyone is different. Just don’t expect the worst, because it will probably not happen.

Grace Mason   I am also weeks out of surgery and was really worried I wouldn't be able to use the bathroom unassisted, but it turned out not to be an issue at all. I was able to do all basic things on my own that didn't require lifting more than 10lbs. As Rita says though, everyone is different so I would prepare yourself mentally to expect anything and hope you will be up and walking the next day 😊❤️

Deena Elani  Not too worry about this too much. You will be tired, but more functional than you think. The younger you are, the easier it is.  You are pretty young. 

Things to be aware:

-You dont want to sneeze, if so, use pillow to support chest.

-Essentially, Avoid any action that puts pressure on your chest, such as getting in and out of high-level  beds, higher-level chairs, high car seats such as trucks.   Can be also true for getting yourself off the floor, if you have to use your arms to do so.

-Avoid picking up objects that weight more than 10 pds.

You’re body/chest tells you quickly whether you should do an action or not!!
.

Clifford Teoh  I drove Cliff home four days after his surgery.  He was able to go to the bathroom by himself while in the hospital and was able to shower and dress by himself the day after he came home.  He was also able to heat his own food.

Richard Munson  You will find showering at home to be exhausting. Recommend shower seat and telephone spray attachment if possible. 

Donnie Hughes  Hi Edward... after my surg I went home on the fourth day. I was able to get into the car with no problems; slow and steady movements are key. You want to stay in control of your movements as best you can. The same concept applies for climbing stairs.
A urinal at your bedside is a big help in the middle of the night. It cuts down on the number of times you have to get in/out of bed and trek to the bathroom.
As far as getting dressed, for me, loose fitting clothes worked best. Lounge wear and big t-shirts, or button up shirts obviously. If you have to put a shirt on over your head, do it one arm at time never lifting both over your head at the same time.
As long as you can make yourself move at about 2/3 normal speed in all of your actions, you should be able to cope pretty well.
Good luck!

Brady Busch  Most of those questions are covered,at the hospital,by either a physical therapist or nurse.Some of the things not to do,were raising my arms above the head and using elbows to get out of bed.Basically,the arms shouldn't be exerted.There will be practicing.I even had a dress rehearsal ,to put on clothes,including shoes.

Grace Mason   I was able to do all things on my own in hospital. Once I left hospital I didn't have trouble getting in and out of car but used my hug pillow for support. I made sure I brought button up or full zip(with material covering back side of zip)tops and loose pants and slip on shoes with backs and support like Skechers. I recommend practicing things like getting up off the toilet, and getting up from bed and chair using sternal precautions before surgery. You can find videos online on how to do it properly. Once I had practiced those things I started doing 10-15 squats each day, going down to about chair height. That helped me a lot in prep. If you have stairs at home they will practice with you in hospital before you leave. You just do things slower like Donnie said.
Sharon a bra is recommended, and often provided, for women, so the weight of the breast tissue doesn't pull at the incision. I would check and see if you will be provided something. Mine is a front close Velcro. Since I have been home, I found a great full zip upf protective jacket on Amazon for $20 that is lightweight and feels good on, as well as protecting my incision from the sun while walking.

Robert Miller  It depends on the person. In both cases, before my discharge nurses made me walk up stairs and see how I did. They ask you if there is someone that can pick you up. They ask you if you have someone at home to help you. They tell you how to get into cloths, etc. etc. If they don't do that, ask them about some consultation. They usually also provide a phone number you can call for help after the release. Ask about it (and check if it's covered). As for myself, it was easy getting into the car, etc. I mostly wore lose t-shirts that were easy to get in and out off. Bottom-down shirt are even easier. You want to wear lose cloths not just to get in and out easily but also that they don't rub too much on your incision which makes it feel itchy. My first shower at home was a great!! In my case the bigger issue was how to sleep. I liked to sleep with my body propped up and pillows around. So I slept on the electric reclining couch (you won't be able to manually operate it) for the first 10 days or so. And remember you can't lift much after surgery.