Open Heart Surgery?
Question:
I understand the procedure and roughly what they tell me I can expect through the experiance.
My question is: Does anyone have any suggestions to make the aftermath go smoother? Starting mostly while still in the hospital bed but also including the at home recovery.
I'm told to expect 3-7 days in the hospital and 3 weeks at home to recover.
I convinced the surgeon to do minimum-evacive operation so I'll only have half my ribs pulled away from the sternum so I'm told I can expect a little faster recovery.
I plan to tell the wife to bring me a Turtle Latte on my 3rd or 4th day. And maybe bring a laptop so I have something to do while not complaining about the pain or fatigue.
Any other suggestions?
Answers:
First of all, getting the less invasive will be better. I wish I could have done that!! I had my mitral valve replaced in 2003 and could not have the minimum invasive. I was 37 at the time. I was the hospital for 9 days and 12 weeks recovery.
Use your spirometer they will give you often. Walk as much as you can, this is very important. They usually have you up walking the day after surgery. They may ask you to do some things which hurt such as coughing, however this is very important also to keep your lungs clear. They will give you a heart pillow to hold on to when you cough, sneeze, etc., so it does not hurt as bad. That pillow will become yoru buddy. Just do everything your doctor and nurses want you to do regardless if it hurts or not or whether you feel like it or not. You will get through it, it may not seem like you will, but you will. I don't know if you have a recliner or a bed that lifts up at the head, but that would be a good idea also, as you will not be able to lay flat down, it hurts and pulls your chest to lay flat down and it is impossible to get up without somebody helping you if you do get too far down into the bed. It was about 2 months before I could lay flat down and then it still was sore. But then again, you are having the less invasive so this will help you out some also. If you like to read, get plenty of books, or handheld video games if you like that sort of thing. Crossword puzzles, books where you find the words and circle. Watch movies. Anything to help pass the time that you can do and like.
I really did not experience what I call "pain", you are just so sore that it is undescribable which causes an ache I guess you would call it. If I could use a curse word it would be you are so **** SORE it is unreal!. I only used pain medications in the hospital for about 4 days and did not use them at all when I got home. Again, it is the most undescribable soreness you will probably ever experience.
Best wishes to you.
1. When they tell you to use the incentive spirometer every hour or two while awake, use it!
2. When they tell you that you need to start ambulating short distances in the hall, fight through the pain and do it.
3. When you are in pain let your nurse know, there is no reason to suffer needlessly.
4. If you get sent home with an anti-biotic prescription take them all as directed and don't stop halfway through.
5. When they tell you to cough and deep breathe, DO IT! even though it hurts.
6. Listen to your doctors and nurses and heed their advice!!!!
Rent movies! That's what I did to pass the time after a similar surgery. And that was also when I picked up Harry Potter, so you might take the time to read some new books. Get some general puzzle books from the bookstore or drugstore for cheap. Get a real puzzle and put it together. And having the Internet will definitely help.
I know, it sounds boring, but there isn't a way to glamorize a time when it hurts to even sneeze (and it will hurt to sneeze), much less do anything else. Do everything your doctor tells you and do not push yourself. You body can only heal itself when you let it.
Im sorry that you have to have this done BUT happy they diagnosed it . My suggestion is rather than convincing the Dr to do minimun invasive, refrain from convincing him anything because it may not work as well if he is used to doing it the other way. Let him do it the way he feels comfortable doing it. I say let the Dr be the Dr and you be the patient and it will hurt but then you will be all better. I can sense you are impatient and wont be kept down long! Best wishes and whats a turtle latte?
I had open heart surgery...3 actually. Best advice I can give you: find the play room.
I'm not kidding.
For a couple reasons:
1. Pediatric ward = pediatric drs.
2. Drs. don't take people out of the playroom
3. It's hard to feel sorry yourself when there are sick little ones around you
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