Stephen's Journal

Clare Auten  You might need someone visit several times a day for a week or so. You will probably be sleeping a lot so may not need someone there all the time. You won't be able to drive so you will need help getting food and to appointments .

Emily Rowley 
Sorry I thought you were going in for Pre-Admission Testing (how did they go?) not the actual Heart Surgery.

I know it's difficult not to be nervous-it's normal. To try drift your mind, think of something you would like to do Post-Op that you hadn't previously had the time or chance to do & thing will help aid your recovery. I know I was starving/so hungry I just wanted them to put me to sleep as fast as they could lol. 💤😪😫

I would definitely suggest having someone or people who care about your welfare there to care for you 24/7. I know I would've struggled if my Family wasn't there, me living with them. As I needed alot of help showering, turning over in the middle of the night in bed, help lifting up out of bed, someone to prepare meals+grocery shop+take me to my medical appointments, someone caring to talk to when feeling down and someone there to general make sure I'm okay in the weeks-months following surgery. I felt very exhausted and tired with little concentration then i started to feel down so my Family lifted my spirits and helped get me back on my feet (otherwise I probably would had slept all day everyday..)
You may feel different to me Post-Op and go great on your own with regular house visits. 🏠

It's great you are healthy, you will go through your Operation good 👌 I said a prayer for you tonight 🙏

What Valve (ie. Tissue or Mechanical) are you having?

All the very best,
Emily.

Whitney Nelson  My surgeon told me I would need someone 24/7 for about a week after leaving the hospital. Good luck tomorrow!

Stephen Vieira  Thanks Everyone, I will let you know how things go. Thanks for the feedback, the encouragement and kind words. Steve

Tim Goff  Stephen, there are so many factors regarding recovery such as sternotomy, minimal invasive and procedures. If you are in good shape now it will help in recovery. You will need some help once you get home for about a week or so depending on your condition. You will be in good hands at the hospital and once out pay attention to their post surgery instructions. Eat well, rest, walk as instructed and be positive. Good Luck tomorrow-

Jim Kelly-Evans  I was extremely weak upon discharge and needed someone there most of the time for a while. Good luck to you.

Neil Collins  I bought a waist harness for the dog to attach the leash onto. There is no way you can have the dog pulling on your arms for a while and at seven weeks I'm still using it. Good luck!

  Good luck, Stephen! The hospital may be able to discharge you to a rehab facility for a week or two after surgery. My aunt lived alone and went to a rehab facility for four weeks post AVR via full sternotomy. She appreciated the three hot meals per day and nursing staff I had my AVR via mini sternotomy on 12/1 and needed someone around for the first week especially. I wasn't released to drive until 3 weeks post op and even then, I was nervous to drive because turning was hard. Good luck to you! You will do great!! :)

Wanda Mroz  I was in the hospital 10 days because they were bridging me to Coumadin with a heparin drip. (No longer on either!) I wasn't alone when I returned but only had my Mom here (she lives with me and is 87 yrs old). I was able to get myself fed and washed up without help. I think you might feel better if you had someone there for a couple of days... but thats up to you. Normally they don't discharge you unless you can walk, do a simple flight of stairs, wash up,etc. You will be tired and not doing much. You will be able to move more than you think but with caution and not listing anything heavier than a gallon of milk. Nothing above your head. You shouldn't bend over much either. I had a home nurse come twice a week for four weeks to check on me also. There is always a rehab facility as well, but I didn't need to go that route. They have physical therapy make sure you can do the simple stuff before discharge... at least my hospital did. Best of luck to you Stephen! You will do great. Stay positive. I know how and what you are feeling right now. I was so nervous it was unreal. But I made it and I'm proud of it. You will be too. Prayers to you.

Christine Oliva  If you can have someone around for the first few days 1-4 days and then have someone check in with you a couple of times a day and be available to go get perscriptions, food items etc. Also, make sure you are taking your meds and eating. I was told to eat a lot of protein for healing. Also, help you do wash would be helpful too. Comfy clothes, arm /chest movement limited so easy on/off needed with blankets/many pillows to keep around. Initially I had huge temp up and down for the first week and it went away quickly,
I am an animal lover so my mother-in law took care of them the first two weeks which was a god send. I could not walk them until week 6 but was able to let them out. Just think of yourself. My husband travels so he was gone a lot after day 5 so I had to be selfish and ask him to pick up and leave off things for me before going to work. He usually made me something for breakfast and lunch before he left plus we always had something he would bring home from the day before or crackers, cheese or yogurt in the house. I did do a lot of sleeping so I have to push myself to get up and walk which you really need to do at least two to three times a day to breath better and get rid of the cough. God's blessings to you and your family.

Emily Rowley  For me the toughest part was towards the start because I needed to depend on others (I like to be a very independent person) & restricted in my movements causing me to feel helpless (mental side is tough too). Try Cardiac Rehab, alot on here have benefitted (plus you get to meet other people in the same or similar situation) from regular rehab-I didn't do it & wish I had, it would had helped quite abit.
Try not to over do things like exercise and don't be harsh/hard on yourself, you will go through a major [living changing] event, where you are given a second chance in life, so take your time to learn all the basics. Everyone and every recovery is different-it's very individual which makes it personal for you. Your Hospital should hopefully help out Post-Operative care. 🏥

  I was discharged three days post op (mini sternotomy). You will be able to get around but standing and sitting will be hard. Use your heart pillow. I had to shower with the help of my husband and had to use a chair in the shower. I slept a lot and played on the computer, but walked outside for a few laps in my driveway each day (going a little farther each day). My BP and HR were completely out of whack and I was so hot that I kept the air conditioning super low. I didn't feel like cooking and the first two to three days (or really 2-3 weeks) and ate in my chair (not at table with the rest of the family). My recliner was my saving grace, especially because it had a power mechanism to open and close which made it easier on me. I slept in my recliner each day for the first month. My family went out to dinner about two days after I was discharged and I was worried I would fall or something would happen. Each day was better, but it was tough the first week or so (but could have been much worse). Best wishes!!!

Kody Monigold  I was very very sore in my shoulders and neck and back. Rely on your core to get you moved also because I pulled so many muscles trying to avoid using my hands to get up. I had little appetitie, and had to remember to eat often in order to fuel the healing. Walk, walk ,walk, deep breathe, and cough. It is going to hurt a lot to breathe but it gets better quickly. Smile. Laugh even though you'll probably have to brace your sternum with your pillow. DO NOT BE DISAPPOINTED in a bad day. They will happen, but getting back on your feet is always easier when you don't let it defeat you.

Meredith Bray  Isn't that one of the most surreal things, putting all your affairs in order. I got everything written down, but couldn't bring myself to have it notarized. It's still in the envelope next to my computer, 22 months later. Monday is a great day for surgery - the cardiac ward will be pretty slow (no routine surgeries on the weekends) and the doctors and staff will be we ll rested and ready to go. Good luck, let us know when you're on the other side of the mountain!
-Meredith

Bob M  I pray that your surgery will be text book and that your recovery will be uneventful. Monday will be a new day for you with a fixed heart. God bless and rise up!