Kyle's Journal

Grace Mason   My body had a similar reaction but at 4 weeks out. They will get it stable and you will be on your way home soon. Glad to hear your repair went as expected 👍🏼
Sending well wishes to you for a smooth recovery going forward 🙏🏼❤️

Kyle Griffin  Im really praying it does get stable. Since the lung has reinflated, ive been able to max out my insentometer and have felt no pain in my right lung what so ever. Praying its just a bump in the road

Susan Lynn  Kyle - Yeah! Glad your procedure is behind you! Hope your lung issue was an isolated incident, too, and there's only smooth sailing ahead!! Sounds like you're back on the recovery track!

Deena Z  Kyle, if you are maxing-out your spirometer already and feel no pain doing so, you are light years ahead of most warriors. It helps -a lot - to be so young; your healing rate is incredibly faster. - a upside to needing OHS when so young. Keep it up. You are doing really well!!!

Ana Brusso  Oh dear Kyle, this sounds familiar to me. But I got over it and so will you. Will keep you in my prayers. God bless you 

Brady Busch  I think my lungs or lung collapsed.The term is called atelectasis and is common after OHS.About 50-90% of patients experience it.

Kyle Griffin  Got to come home today! The neumo shrunk yesterday and last night so i was able to be discharged. It feels soooo good! Thank you for all the kind words

Marie Myers  No one ever mentioned that to me. I was playing pickleball 2 weeks ago and took a tumble. Just have a skinned knee and a bruised ego…

Sean Adkins  Dr Svensson addresses this talking about NBA player Jeff Green in this video https://youtu.be/mtpFAG_TLf8?feature=shared

Deena Z  Maybe the issue is how you fall for several months after the surgery, but not the long-term?  I was doing push-ups in cardiac rehab three months after the surgery.  And that puts quite a bit of pressure on your chest and the incision..

Kyle Griffin  Thank you everyone. It didnt make much sense to me based on what dr bolling was saying but figured id ask as i have yet to go through it. 

Eric Camil  Had a 6 heart bypass last month. My surgeon said after approx 8 weeks my chest would be back to 80% and that it would take about a year to be at 100%.  I have wire underneath and they used glue on top. Some people have the wire removed if it bothers them.  She said no trouble driving or getting hit with an air bag though it would hurt of course.

Cathleen Weed  I've had a couple of heart surgeries. My tube was still in at least twice and the restraints are loose enough to move your arms around but not loose enough to be able reach up and yank the tube out. It's like a velcro around your wrists with a strap on the bed. They are loose. Not super confining. It will feel more like you're dreaming anyway. You'll be so sedated and they'll sedate you more if you're fighting the tube but still need it. They may decide to take it out ahead of your sedation wearing off. The restraints also help with making sure you don't pull IV lines/chest tubes etc. This really is what people worry about all the time but you'll barely remember it, if at all. It wasn't a huge deal either way. You still have so much anesthesia and pain medication in your system when you're waking up. My surgeon even said I fought to pull everything out - I have absolutely no recollection of that lol but knowing me, yes I did lol. So I wouldn't worry. Hope that helps

Pamela Gregory  I had the tube still in but don't remember if I was tethered to the bed. Definitely you are pretty out of it. I just wanted the tube removed. Im not really sure how long it took because everyone is different but I want to guess 20-30 mins and I was in and out of consiousness.

Kyle Griffin  Thank you both so much. Being 34 and never having a major surgery this is kind of going 0 to 80 in no time flat

Brady Busch  Hi Kyle,I talked with my surgeon about the tube,because it was one of the major concerns,of people,on this site.She assured me it wasn't a big deal and was probably going to be removed,shortly after the operation was completed.That must have happened,because there was no memory of it or any straps. 

Grace Mason   Hi Kyle,
I had surgery 4 weeks ago and I very vaguely remember the nurse telling me they were removing it, and I vaguely remember a sensation in the back of my throat, but as everyone says that day is very blurred by sedation, so you probably won't remember it as a bad experience but just a memory. Everyone is different of course, but I have no recollection of having it in or feeling a need to get it out. Wishing you well

Grace Mason   I got to ICU around 2pm and was sitting in a chair later that evening. Walking the next morning. In step down unit after 23 hours in ICU. I was in awe of how well I felt compared to what I imagined 

Grace Mason   I was walking 8-10000 steps a day, spread out over the day by week three. Then in week four I had a low grade fever all day one day and this continued each evening for several days. I followed up with my GP and then my cardiologist with a few tests and when my cardiologist called with my x-ray report and we discussed symptoms he recommended going to ER for a more thorough look. I ended up being admitted with possible pneumonia and had more tests and a thorocentesis to remove some fluid buildup between the left lung and chest cavity and amazingly I could take deeper breaths I didn't quite realize I was not able to do before. The pulmonologist believes I have Dresslers syndrome, which can be caused by cardiac surgery in some people. Basically your bodies response to the trauma bringing more fluid to the area. I'm feeling much better today. I caught myself dancing along to the radio as I walked around my room 😄. I saw my echo results on MyChart tonight and they look A ok. They have been giving me IV antibiotics for possible pneumonia but I feel very hopeful about getting sprung from the hospital tomorrow 😃
A little bump on my journey ❤️‍🩹

Rose Madura  I had the breathing tube in because I didn't wake up for about 26 hours or so after the surgery was completed. I was gently tied down like Cathleen said. I started gagging as a natural reaction. My CICU nurse Bill was right there. He and my husband calmed me in down.  The pulmonary guy came in shortly thereafter and took it out.  They said they tried earlier but I wasn't breathing on my own so wanted to keep it in.  It was a little distressing but not as bad as I had imagined.

Allen Carkner  With my Ross procedure I remember only small fragments of day 1 post surgery I was conscious while extubated but they got it out fairly quickly as they could tell I wanted to talk I think. Certainly weird but not too scary.

Marie Myers  My tube was in when i woke up, and i was chewing on it!  I had no gagging sensation at all, and i fell back asleep. When i woke up again, it was gone. I was nervous about this part of the experience, but the actual event was not as bad as my worrying mind had me believe. 

Delise Becker  I had my sternotomy Sept. 26, and I remember absolutely nothing about the intubation tube. Don't know when or how it came out. Just know that I did not have a sore throat or a scratchy voice afterwards. I honestly don't remember much about my first hours in ICU, but I do remember that I saw a PT while in ICU, and she had me up and walking in the hallway.  And, they moved me to the PCU (progressive care unit) a day sooner than I had anticipated. Every person's experience is different, based on their personal histories and pre-surgery condition, but your care team will help you in your recovery. They are experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate. Best of luck to you!

Jeff Williams  I'll give you my experience. I woke up extremely fast after surgery and fought pretty hard. In the moment I hated it, but eventually was able to calm down.  By later that day I had already forgotten it. Just know that it's temporary. Plus it sounds like different hospitals have different procedures for intubation. Either way it's not as bad as I thought it would be. 

Adam Pick  Great question. I woke up with the tube in. But, that was all the way back in 2005.  I understand that is happening less now but it still happens.  Fyi, nobody told me that I might awake with the tube in so that was a bit dislocating.  I'm glad to see are getting educated about what to expect after surgery.  Is this the video you mentioned? If not, you might want to check it out.  Hope this helps! Adam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJWqdFdSDU

Rita Savelis  Everyone is concerned about the tube. You're in the norm. It's there as a precaution and will be taken out as soon as possible usually before you realise it. You are very groggy and out of it when you wake up and unaware. You're on a lot of meds. Your anesthesiologist should be able to answer all your questions pre-surgery and let you know exactly what waking up is like. 

Kyle Griffin  Adam, actually it isnt. But im going to check this one out as well. Im a firm believer in your body cant go where your mind hasnt so if i can have an idea of what to expect i hopefully wont fight and itll help that much more. Thank you all so much. Adam this is one of the absolute best resources fir patients like us. 

Ann T  My recollection of the tube is also chewing on it like Marie Lol. It was just kind of there. It was not as bad as I imagined it would be. Hope that helps!

Brian Leonard  The best words to call on during the recovery are "this too shall pass" and guess what? it does!!!! 4 years post recovery here and life has gone on ...........

Svetlomir Ivanov  Breathing tube was my fear, but it turned out that you are so sadated, that barely realize it, and it is is removed quickly, it would not be a problem for you

Jeff Williams  It's not that bad. The pacing wires were a strange sensation. The tubes weren't fun, but it was quick. Better pulling them out than having them in. 

Kyle Griffin  This community has helped me wrap my head around my current situation and become more and more positive as my surgery draws nearer. Amazes me alot of folks are being discharged after 4 days after open heart surgery.

Jeff Williams  Just move as much as you can in the hospital. The faster you get up and start walking, the better you'll be. 

Kyle Griffin  Dr Bolling told me,as a matter of factly, that he will have me up and walking same day as my surgery. Already started limiting my sodium intake and walking everyday. 

Robert DeVita  I agree with everyone on the pacing wires…and the tubes. Getting your head around it is much tougher than the actual event! 

Susan Lynn  My nurse had me hold my breath while she removed my chest tubes and I didn't have any pain. Non-event.

Rose Madura  Everything is very doable, although some things are uncomfortable.  Agree with walking as much as possible after the surgery.  Godspeed.

Pamela Gregory  Hey Kyle, My biggest fear was pain too. They managed it really well as long as you stay ahead of the pain you will be fine. One time I was sleeping and they didn't get me up for meds but the pain got me up! After that, My husband kept track on a blackboard and got them in on a regular basis. I had no problem weaning off meds either.

Marie Myers  I was worried about lots of things, like the chest tubes, ect. I found that the actual events were not as “bad/scary/painful” as my worrying mind would have me believe. The exhaustion and aching upper back and shoulders were the most annoying for me. I know you will get through it all and do well!

Robert DeVita  totally agree with Marie.., the muscle cramps in shoulders and neck were the most uncomfortable part of ICU and the exhaustive response to the surgery was tied for first place on the discomfort list ! This is actually rather funny in retrospect but I get hiccups once a year and they last two days 24 hours a day.., wouldn't you know it that the first night post open hear surgery, I got hiccups ! Fortunately the ICU folks scrambled and found a pill that stopped them once the pharmacy delivered the med.., but you can imagine how the ol sternum felt with each hiccup! If you are predisposed to hiccups you may want to mention it so they have something on hand ! 
But overall.., I found simply embracing sleep made thing much more comfortable!

Rita Savelis  I really don't remember any pain. Lots of discomfort and exhaustion, but no pain. Everyone's experience is different but often what we worry the most about turns out to not be a thing. And there are other effects that no one told us about. Hospitals are good at pain management so be vocal. When you wake up from surgery you are often very groggy and don't remember much. Take care.

Deena Z  I was told that I would feel pain, but did not.  I think it might be due to being older at 63 years old and a female.  That is, I was told that more muscle you have, the higher the pain.  Not sure of others were told the same?  The best thing to know is if there is pain, it is SECONDs.  

Robert DeVita  I was told the same as Deena. I was pretty muscular when I went into SAVR and the knots were the worst part of the following days. Tylenol helped !

Rita Savelis  I never heard about  muscles causing pain but my anasthesiologist told me before surgery that the sternum does not hurt when cut (unlike ribs). This was true for me. Your anesthesiologist is a good person to talk to about pain pre-surgery. 

Robert DeVita  I wouldn't say any of it was "painful" but the muscle cramps definitely caused the most discomfort for me personally.

Rose Madura  Yes, I had shoulder pain and the nurses told me it was from the way they have you taped to the table so you are unable to move for several hours.

Deena Z  Hey, my above comment was referring only to the tubes being removed, because Kyle specifically inquired about that. I did have shoulder pain the entire time in the hospital and even when home, as well as the difficulty of always having to lay 24/7 on your back. --- this is with a sternum cut. It was not horrible pain, but discomfort; got in the way of a solid night sleep usually. Hope this explains it better.

Robert Miller  It was a pretty strange feeling when they pulled out the tubes and wires. For both my surgeries, I had no pain at all when they pulled them out. Before they pull it out, they explain everything (mostly hold your breath) and it sounds pretty scary but both times it was pretty easy. It only lasted for like 2 seconds. The good thing is, you will feel SO MUCH BETTER once those tubes and wires are out.