Lisa's Posts

I had 3 pleural effusions drained in hospital and then was readmitted for a 4th. Join the club! And hope things are easier from now on. I do remember how great I felt immediately after each draining when suddenly I felt so much less tired as I got my lung space back. Take care.

Hey Lisa good to hear that you are doing well. I am 2 months out of surgery and still trying to get my INR situated. I am in the proper range but sometimes I am really high and other times I am right on the money. It is a pain to have to go to lab weekly and give blood. As for your recovery keep it is easy and do what your body says to do. Like you I was very active before surgery and it helped a lot after surgery. In the hospital I was walking laps around the hallways and when I got out I was walking lots when I got home. I walked a mile after 3 weeks easy and just kept building on from there. I am 8 weeks on Monday and walking for the past month 5-7 miles and some days even more. The other day I walked 9 miles with no issues. Keep up the good recovery and you will be walk far in no time. Glad I did this surgery in the summer so I can walk outside a lot. Not sure what I would have done in the winter with trying to get my steps in!

Sounds great! Sleeping & INR both took my about 3 months to iron out, and I still don't sleep very long at night (maybe 6 hours?) But I do remember how nice it was to finally be able to sleep at night like everyone else for more than a few hours at a time. Keep walking! Keep breathing! -Meredith

The whole experience is a little scary. It wakes us up to the fact that we are mortal, and prone to all kinds of things. But, it is also empowering that we can get through something so huge, and get back to our normal lives. The fact that these surgeries are done everyday is a miracle to me !! Sounds like you are progressing nicely.

Hi Lisa. I managed on Tylenol as well even in the hospital right after surgery. I think sleeping is an issue for most of us & what works for one may not work at all for another. No doubt you'll get your rhythm figured out. Sounds like you are doing well on the recovery path.

Sounds like you are doing well. Sleep will get better. I napped a lot and slept when I could. My taste buds were all messed up. I didn't want sweets. (It was not permanent). Smells made me nauseous. Mints made me sick. Keep doing what you are doing. I don't think it's said enough, but don't try to compare yourself to others. We are all different and heal/react/exercise differently. I learned that early on. Take good care of yourself.

It takes time to get INR stabilised. For the first 6 months I thought about INR all the time. I wish medical professionals had told me that it is normal for it to take time to stabilise and that it will go up and down. That's what it does. But at some point you figure out your regular dosage and your body gets used to this med. I test once a month now and forget about it in between. But that took awhile. I haven't changed anything in my diet or lifestyle. I didn't want anything sweet after surgery and still really don't want sweet stuff. Taste buds are affected as is so much else in your body. OHS is traumatic to your body. But it will recover. Take care.