Hey all! Any suggestions of sternal precaution friendly hobbies to pass the time during recovery. Looking for ideas for someone who was always busy with yard ...Read more
Hey all! Any suggestions of sternal precaution friendly hobbies to pass the time during recovery. Looking for ideas for someone who was always busy with yard work/renos etc. Puzzles/crafts are not going to cut it ;)
Robert Miller After surgery, for a period of time one can't really lift more than 5lb. So in regards to yard work, ... Read more
Robert Miller After surgery, for a period of time one can't really lift more than 5lb. So in regards to yard work, there isn't a whole lot I can think of. Maybe trim flowers, work on a small bonsai tree. I mostly went for longer walks at least a couple times per day. Gradually the weight can be increased. The surgeon will assess that. And he might also have some other ideas what can be done when. Full recovery takes 3 months, though for golfing my surgeon said to wait 6 months (I don't golf). Don't overdue it. I did and then had some crackling sound. Got an x-ray and luckily, everything seemed fine.
Hey all! Caring for my dad (69) who had an aortic valve replacement 6 days ago. He's been home for 24h: the fatigue and shortness of breath are intense at times, ...Read more
Hey all! Caring for my dad (69) who had an aortic valve replacement 6 days ago. He's been home for 24h: the fatigue and shortness of breath are intense at times, but he seems to be managing ok overall. I would love to hear from those of you who have been there...
Robert Miller It's going to take a while. Have him do the breathing exercises. Take him for walks and gradually mak ... Read more
Robert Miller It's going to take a while. Have him do the breathing exercises. Take him for walks and gradually make the walks longer. Make sure he checks with his cardiologist. Support him laying on his back using pillows. Warm cherry pillows to take away stiffness from the shoulder, etc. Also see here https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php
Get important facts about heart valve disease, symptoms, risks and treatment.
Valerie Allen 6 days out of surgery is not very long at all. The fatigue is great at that point and can come on sud ... Read more
Valerie Allen 6 days out of surgery is not very long at all. The fatigue is great at that point and can come on suddenly. Is he doing his breathing exercises? If it gets worse or seems worse than when he was in the hospital, contact the cardiologist. My shortness of breath upon walking improved over time.
Susan Lynn Shortness of breath and fatigue are both very common early into recovery. Robert and Valerie gave s ... Read more
Susan Lynn Shortness of breath and fatigue are both very common early into recovery. Robert and Valerie gave some great advice. I would also look into cardiac rehab. He won't be ready to go for a little while, but the waiting list can be long. I saw a big difference in my recovery after attending.
You'll see incrimental improvement in your Dad in the coming days. Some days will be better than others. Just be sure he doesn't overdue it on the good days. Recovery is a process that can't be rushed. He's fortunate to have you as his cheerleader and caregiver.
Andrew Dial The first few weeks can be tough… it is a slow recovery. Keep hanging in there. Take it day by day. ... Read more
Andrew Dial The first few weeks can be tough… it is a slow recovery. Keep hanging in there. Take it day by day. I didn’t feel 100% for months and months.
Genevieve Parent Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. It's hard to know what normal is at this point of ... Read more
Genevieve Parent Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. It's hard to know what normal is at this point of the journey, or when we should be worried or not. Today was his first full day at home, and a bit of a reality check for all of us. He'a doing the breathing exercises, and started the walking program (2 x 5 minutes). Cardiac rehab intake appt is planned for early June. Thanks again for the words of encouragement and guidance.
Rose Madura Slow and steady wins the race. He should be the 🐢 and not the 🐇. Godspeed.
Robert Miller "Normal" varies from person to person. I was pacing down the hospital hallways but I am a lot younger ... Read more
Robert Miller "Normal" varies from person to person. I was pacing down the hospital hallways but I am a lot younger than your dad. Do look for swelling in the legs, sudden gain weight, check blood pressure every day, heart rate, etc. My surgeon's office was following up with me on a daily basis for I think around 10 days or so after returning home. If your dad's surgeon's office doesn't do that, contact them if anything is unusual.
Rita Savelis It's so very very early. I was in hospital for 3 weeks, and the whole first week was a blur where I d ... Read more
Rita Savelis It's so very very early. I was in hospital for 3 weeks, and the whole first week was a blur where I did not feel better each day, just the same. No strength. After heart surgery one feels EXHAUSTED and in discomfort. The entire body has been traumatised and needs time to recover. One has to take it easy and allow the body to recover. I'm sure your father is walking a bit and possibly doing breathing exercises, but he also needs rest. He's lucky to have you around. It's not easy being a caretaker.
Meredith Bray Have him practice standing up as straight and tall as he can without hunching his shoulders. That wil ... Read more
Meredith Bray Have him practice standing up as straight and tall as he can without hunching his shoulders. That will help with back pain. My first 2 weeks home all I did was eat, sleep, shower, and go for walks - each day a little bit farther. Glad you're there to take care of him!
Pamela Gregory It is a slow and steady climb. Each week you will notice a difference. Just stay encouraging. Walkin... Read more
Pamela Gregory It is a slow and steady climb. Each week you will notice a difference. Just stay encouraging. Walking several times per day is the best medicine as permitted
Dr. Gerdisch is a world-renowned heart valve surgeon that has performed over 4,000 heart valve repair and replacement operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
I am from: Gatineau, Canada
