Ginger's Posts

It has been a year today since my AVR. Although there was a serious complication, as soon as I was reopened and the problem fixed, I have had an easy recovery! I don't do well with pain (redhead) but I was able to give up the "hard stuff" after a couple of days and switch to Tylenol, and got well very fast. I had NO IDEA how badly I was feeling until I had the surgery and within a couple of weeks I felt terrific! I went out to lunch and supper on my one week anniversary! I have a couple of recommendations for those facing this survey: Find a surgeon you are comfortable with. Have your family read Adam's book before you meet with the doctor, but after you do. The cardiac surgery nurses can be your best friends. One that sticks in my mind helped me by giving me a "wipe off bath" when I was feeling sluggish on day 3 and it was just what I needed. I was kind of sluggish and not too interested in getting up, but that bath brought me back to my usual self within minutes. My outlook changed! Get some white pima cotton teeshirts. Push for the discharge plan that works for you. Enlist your family to back you up, and don't be afraid to speak up. (I was discharged to a nursing home for 16 days. It helped me get therapy starting day 6 after surgery, and I think it sped my recovery. Then I went to my daughter's house for 2 1/2 weeks until I got permission to drive, and could come back to my rural home.) Be aware you may have some aches and pains you had not anticipated. Mine were in my upper back, neck, and shoulders, and persisted for several weeks. I did not ask about this, and kept blaming myself for laying wrong. I think now it was the surgical position, coupled with being off my arthritis meds for a while. Get plugged into a cardiac rehab program ASAP! I bugged the nurses at the closest one (40 miles from my house) because I could not wait to get started. You may have to do some of the followup to get the permission in hand, but it is SOOO worth it! I worked at it 2-3x/week for 6 months and got far, far past anything I could have done even 10 years ago! The nurses and other patients are such good resources! To those of you with the surgery coming up: Try to be happy, optimistic, and calm. Look for things to celebrate as you are making this journey. And be thankful that you have this opportunity to get fixed and to a better quality of life, at whatever pace works for you. May God bless each of you here who encouraged me, and those of you who are about to become encouragers for others!