Judy Shaw - Heart Valve Journal

Rose Madura Yes! And it's very painful . But it will get better in time.

Jennifer Barnett Absolutely. I always had pain when sitting up from lying down. It takes time but eventually it does subside it can feel quite odd, sometimes it felt like the ... Read more

Anna Jones I decided to go walking in the mall. I walked the entire bottom and second floors. I did it slowly. I was very careful. I got back from the mall and my ... Read more

Marianne Charters I am12 weseks open heart surgery, went back to work last week(Im a pharmacy tech at a hospital and run drugs all day,always at least 5 miles in) but my right ... Read more

Anna Jones I still have discomfort at 9 weeks and no one has told me that it is strange. Everyone just says it takes time to finish healing. I hope you will feel better soon.

Susan Lynn I think physicians make generalizations about healing even though everyone is different. I've also heard doctors say that it takes a year before you feel normal. ... Read more

Alina FH Judy, I remember that I went in for a routine exam with my surgeon after about two months or so ( I cannot remember exactly but it was a long time, weeks, months ... Read more

Judy Shaw Thanks y'all. I wish they wouldn't put everyone in the same category. I certainly am not a standard person ha

Kim Lonergan I had my post op follow up at my surgeons office last week, 6 weeks post op. She said it is normal to have tenderness and pain around incisions, but It is part ... Read more

Marianne Charters Judy..I am at 11 weeks post op.....my surgeon told me at 6 weeks it could take up to a year to be with out discomfort. She has been very honest and straightforward ... Read more

Jennifer John Hmm. Seems a bit soon, but what do I know? I’m at 11 weeks after a right thoracotomy and still have some discomfort during and after cardiac rehab sessions. ... Read more

Kelly Stoll Well said Jennifer! I was told 8 weeks for sternum, and about 12 weeks for muscle and tissue.
Hang in there and do go with your gut. You know you better than anyone.

Valerie Herndon-Vitarella At rehab I wasn't allowed to even do the arm bike or rower until 8 weeks to allow for healing of the sternum. I still had some muscle pain when I started doing ... Read more

Judy Shaw I agree everyone. My husband even said he thinks I just need more healing time.

Susan Robichau agree, I am at 7 weeks. Sternum a little sort muscle pain worse.

Susan Robichau It doesn't impact my cardiac rehab though

Anna Jones Hi Judy, I'm glad you are taking it easy. I shoveled leaves into bags yesterday and that put me into bed the whole day! We have to listen to our bodies.

Kirk Bepler Judy - Did that last week, as I have been told just because you great does not mean you can go back to normal doing whatever you want.. I ended back in bed ... Read more

Judy Shaw Goodness Anne. I bet it did get you. I didn't do anything that strenuous. All I've done is driving, pushing a shopping cart, and helping with dinner. Knocked ... Read more

Anna Jones Judy, don't sell yourself short! You do an amazing amount for someone recently out of surgery.

Mark Wilbur Thanks Judy, Kirk, Anna for sharing your experiences. As a bystander, I'm taking notes and hopefully learning from your missteps. Sorry you've had these setbacks, ... Read more

Kelly Stoll Take it easy Judy. All in good time 😉

Catie B I hope not, too. Be gentle with you! That sounds like a lot of doing.

Mark Wilbur Slow down a step, Judy. As Catie said, be gentle and be careful to not overdo yourself. But, I am glad to know how energetic you feel!

Susan Lynn It's definitely a conundrum. It's great that you feel strong and energetic enough to even attempt that activity list, but you have to be cautious at the ... Read more

Judy Shaw Thanks Catie and Mark. I think it's because I was confined for 4 weeks that now my mind is thinking I should be doing more. But I do have to remind myself it ... Read more

Sommer Russell Judy, you exhausted me just reading that list. Are you suppose to be lifting gallon buckets right now? My goodness!!! I can't imagine what you will be doing ... Read more

Kim Lonergan I think you and I are in the exact same situation! I was just going to post asking for anyone else feeling like they had set backs. Yesterday I had to go with ... Read more

Kim Lonergan I should have asked if you are feeling better today Judy! I hope your recovery gets back on track too! Hang in there!

Mark Wilbur Very sorry to hear your problem, Judy. I hope your doctor, perhaps a dermatologist, will have an answer as well as those here who may have experienced the ... Read more

Rose Madura Judy. I remember the pain of anything touching my incision - even air. I wore very large T-Shirts around the house and if I had to go our or someone was coming ... Read more

Anna Jones Mine is very sensitive to touch also and I am at 6 weeks. I wear very soft fabric and very loose sun dresses or night gowns. Nothing has buttons or zippers. ... Read more

Bonnie Stone-Hope Hi Judy,

I found that oversized, 100% cotton or bamboo tops were very comfortable. This allowed for better healing also. Other than gently allowing warm ... Read more

Judy Shaw Thanks y'all. While we were shopping tonight I bought a few soft, higher neckline shirts and some lidocaine patches. Something has to help.

Anna Jones Good Luck, Judy. I hope these shirts will work.

Sue Waterworth I started massaging my scar in the second week with coconut oil - at the surgeon's suggestion, and while it's tender, it's hardly sore now at two and a half ... Read more

Tim Chapman I was just going to recommend a donut pillow, well that is what I call them. One you would get if you had a hemorrhoids removed.

Mary Woods Hi Judy I am pre-op for mitral valve surgery but I totally sympathise with your pain! I have had the same thing as I recover from hip replacement. All the ... Read more

Rose Madura Yes Judy, I feel your pain. It takes a while, unfortunately. But you will get there. Hopefully the cushion your husband bought will help you.

Kim Lonergan I can definitely relate. My tailbone is actually bruised on the right side and my right shoulder blade constantly hurts when I lay on my back. It truly is miserable. ... Read more

Judy Shaw Thanks everyone. Yes it is truly a miserable feeling.

Kim, mine is my left side. Right beside my tailbone. It actually goes partially numb. I've tried just ... Read more

Rita Savelis I'm so sorry to hear this Judy. Not being able to sleep is very hard. Maybe take some sleep meds (even if you don't normally) to at least allow your body some ... Read more

Marie Myers It is a slow process, but things will gradually improve. Don't be discouraged!

Chris Purvis Glad you finally got some sleep Judy. For some reason I’m only sleeping about 7 hours a night and then I’m up all day. I used to need 8 hours at a minimum ... Read more

Bonnie Stone-Hope Hi Judy,
So happy to hear that you had a good sleep. Sleep is a basic need, and helps your health in so many ways.

I found that was the most challenging part ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi Judy. So glad you found rest! It feels so good, doesn't it? Hope you get many more restful nights.

Kim Lonergan I hope you are feeling better each day! 6 hours of sleep a night is what I am getting right now too. I find the recliner gets uncomfortable too. Just not enough ... Read more

Judy Shaw It's comforting to know that we all seem to have uncomfortable sleep in common. It seems we've all tried so many of the same things in search of precious sleep ... Read more

Anna Jones Hi Judy, here are some of the questions I asked. You will want to change the questions to make them specific to your situation. Additionally, the surgeons ... Read more

Judy Shaw Great questions Anna, thank you. Better to be overly prepared for sure. I plan on letting him know also of my husband's health. He found out his pancreas level yesterday was 804. Not good.

Anna Jones I'm so sorry Judy. It's tough when we have our spouse's health on our minds on top of our own health.

Judy Shaw Thank you Anna.

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