Lynn's Journal

Richard Munson  I am qualified being 79 and had ohs a year ago this month. The added burden he has with your mom i cannot comment on. No doubt his surgery will go fine. Nice you are helping because in the beginning his recovery will be front and center. No idea how healthy he is in but i was a very physically active oldster. Heart surgery which has become very successful can take a toll on your body. It takes an effort to return to normal. Rehab whether at home or at a site is mandatory. I am still on the treadmill daily at home and expect to be probably forever. I never had a power chair to sleep in but not a bad idea. Getting out of bed was painful the first week or so and sleeping on your back is not everyones cup of tea. You will get a list of dos and don’ts when he leaves the hospital. Pay attention to it. We installed a telephone shower which was a huge advantage. You can concentrate the spray where you need it most. Just washing can be physically draining experience for a couple of weeks. You will no doubt get other at home helpful hints from others here but that is my contribution.

Richard Munson  Another comment not knowing what kind of surgery he is having because there are a few different ways of entering the body. The less invasive the faster your body heals however your heart itself is another story. No matter how they get to your heart, once they do the actual surgery it is pretty much the same. Probably why they call it open heart surgery.

Rose Madura  Richard gives great advice. One thing that really helped me was a travel pillow both at the hospital and home when in the recliner. I have a fidgety neck. I'm not sure how long you will be staying with him but I'd plan for at least a week or two. I had serious complications the first two weeks. And before you leave, it may be wise to make sure things are low in the kitchen and bath even if the counters have to be cluttered for a while. It will hurt to reach for things - even to open the refrigerator or open a bottle can be a painful experience. But being that he's in decent health already, he should have a good recovery. A lift chair may also help..Godspeed.

Richard Munson  I recall my dad caring for my mom with dementia before she finally went to a nursing home. He was around 80. It was very demanding both physically and emotionally and he did not have open heart surgery. I think your job will be doubly important because you not only have your father to contend with but your mother as well. He will have enough on his plate recovering his strength. I wish you all the best. You are doing what a good child should do to help your folks in their time of need.

Rose Madura  It might help to prepare some meals to freeze and easily heat up. And is there a "daycare" for Alzheimers patients. Or someone to care for your mother when your dad is in the hospital. It might really upset her with all this change. I'm helping to care for my 91 year old Aunt with mild cognitive impairment and change can set her off....

Richard Munson  It won’t be easy with the added burden of mom, plus her dad will be wanting to help and he needs to be concentrating on bouncing back. Bouncing back in your late 70’s is different than being in your 50’s no matter how in shape you are. It can be frustrating to be sure. I just received a 40 pound bag of dog food via ups and getting it in the house was a battle. Yes, i could have called my son but pride got in the way. Lynn sounds like a good daughter and will do just fine but it won’t be easy.

Susan Lynn  Lynn - You and your father certainly have a lot on your plate. In addition to all the great advice you've been given so far, you may want to look into MitraClip for your father's repair. It's a transcatheter placement - the recovery is dramatically shorter than any surgery. It was previously used only for high risk patients, but is widely used now as a mitral valve repair solution. I think it's done on either an outpatient basis or an overnight stay. If he decides to move forward, I would also recommend a shower chair. Changes in BP can cause weakness and a chair provides some extra protection from a fall if that happens. Best of luck to you!

Tom Everson  Hi I was 78 when I had my aortic valve replaced. I needed a walker for about 2 weeks and a shower chair came in handy. Attitude makes a difference in recovery. Nice of you to carry this burden Keep us informed we may be able to help with future questions

Richard Munson  Nice to know there are other 70-80 ers out there and doing well. And i agree, attitude is huge. The walker i forgot about which the hospital let us take home. When i saw the final bill and checked each item i came to the walker and thought i bought a car. I suggest amazon.com