Post Op Walking

[ruth]

I'm 3 weeks post op (today!). I've been home a little over 2 weeks.

I'm feeling like my walking program isn't progressing fast enough. That said, I have nothing to compare it to. So, for those of you post op who can remember the early weeks, can you please share what you were able to do?

The first week after discharge all I did was walk in circles, clutching my heart pilow, around the first floor of my house for maybe 10 minutes twice a day.

The second week I tried walking in stores as it was very cold here in D.C. I felt like that was inefficient since it isn't measurable and I was stopping to look (and buy) things.

This week I started walking out the front door of the house and down the street to the same point before turning back. I can only walk about 6 blocks in 20 minutes and it wipes me out. I have to stop a couple of times to catch my breath. My goal is to walk at 10am and again at 4pm, 20 mins each. It does seem like today's walk was easier than the one a few days ago but man is it slow progress. I wasn't exactly fit before the surgery but I'm not overweight and I was a good walker until the SOB made me quit my old walking program 3 months pre-op.

So, how did recovery walking go for you?

Thanks in advance,
Ruth

 

[Phyllis]

Ruth, as I remember it, Dick just walked around the house indoors for the first two weeks. After that he started outdoor walks and walked the boardwalk at our public beach, which is a mile down and back. He slowly worked his way up from 1 mile to 3 miles by the time he went for his 6 week check-up. Of course it was winter and only 10 or 20 degrees out. I walked with him when he was doing a mile, sat in the car and watched out for him when he progressed to two miles. I never was and will never be in the shape he is in! He tried the mall, but also felt it was not as challenging. I think your body will tell you when you have had enough. Don't over do it- it will all come back in time.

 

[Adrienne]

The first few days at home (I came home after 5 days), I only walked a bit in the house. Then for at least a week, my husband went outside with me and walked. The first few days of doing that, I was totally wiped out after just a few blocks (about 10 minutes walking slowly). Then, maybe when I was about 2 weeks post-op, I started walking about 15 minutes at a normal pace (not fast, not slow). I did this twice a day. By week 3 post-op, I was feeling great, but kept up that walking regime until week 5 when I started walking about a half hour twice a day. I didn't start going back to the gym until 4 months post-op because I wanted to see my cardiologist to get the O.K. and to write me a note for the gym so that I could get a refund for the time I could not go.

All in all though, it was after 20 days (almost 3 weeks) that I truly felt as if I had never gone through an operation (not counting how my sternum felt)!

 

[WayneGM]

Ruth, my experience the first few weeks pretty much mirrored yours. I am typically a fast walker and had no SOB pre-op. Once home post-op, it took a while to get my stamina back. The first 2 - 3 weeks were the worse in terms of tiring very quickly, but after that I noticed "sprints" in recovery week over week. Sometimes it felt like really rapid change over the previous one. Other weeks it seemed like my progress had stalled. However, when I got impatient I sometimes over did it and I'd pay the price the next day or two, so I encourage pacing yourself and listening to your body. It'll eventually come around.

 

[jeffp]

Ruth,
Realize everyone is different, both going into this, and coming out. 6 blocks in 20 minutes isn't all that bad. At 3 weeks, I was able to get to the mailbox, had to rest there, and then back. Would nap for 3 hours afterwards. Heck, I couldn't make it upstairs without a nap at 3 weeks.
It's not how quickly you improve, but how far you eventually get after everything is said and done. Just keep pushing just a little more each day without totally exhausting yourself. Sometimes a bit now and a bit later in the day makes it not as overwhelming.
Best of luck with your recovery.

 

[catwoman]

Ruth:

Just remember that if you're walking outside, you do have to make it back to your point of origin.
I once sent my husband for the car because I couldn't make it back to our house. I had trouble walking very far.

If (and I hope to God that I don't ever have to do so) I had to go through the experience again, I'd beg my doctors to order me into rehab. I was told I didn't need it and to just "do a little more each day." That doesn't really work, at least it didn't for me.

My husband is facing MV surgery and I've asked him to check out his insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Select of Texas) for what it pays for rehab.

 

[Ross]

Ruth,
Realize everyone is different, both going into this, and coming out. 6 blocks in 20 minutes isn't all that bad. At 3 weeks, I was able to get to the mailbox, had to rest there, and then back. Would nap for 3 hours afterwards. Heck, I couldn't make it upstairs without a nap at 3 weeks.
It's not how quickly you improve, but how far you eventually get after everything is said and done. Just keep pushing just a little more each day without totally exhausting yourself. Sometimes a bit now and a bit later in the day makes it not as overwhelming.
Best of luck with your recovery.

Boy that brings back memories.

 

[michellep]

I'm having a very bad day today so I'll try to reflect on my rehab as a whole.
Ruth and Adam, although your surgery was only days ahead of me, you are far ahead in walking. Yesterday I ventured outside for the first time. I was able to walk to the end of the street and back before I was winded. I couldn't sleep last night so today was spent mostly napping. I am exhausted, my brain is fuzzy, and I ache (I hope I'm not scarying all of you in the waiting room). Obviously, today was a low day-emotionally and physically. I want to walk, but can't get the energy up. Hopefully, someone else has something more positive to say.

 

[StretchL]

First of all, Michell, I'm sorry to hear you had a bad day. The coming days will be better... keep the faith.

Ruth, I didn't walk much at all prior to starting cardia rehab at 3 wks post. Once there, they had me on a treadmill going quite slowly, but as fast as I could manage, and gradually increased the speed and incline over the weeks.

I'm not 7 weeks post and doing about 2 miles in 40 minutes at a 3% incline.

I know that all this is just a bunch of numbers, but I will tell you that the last 4 weeks have been nothing but a slow and steady improvement- improvement in my walking, my sternal soreness, my energy level, everything.

I was actually using a cane when I first walked into rehab at 3 wks, and was feeling a little down because I was improving so slowly. The next few weeks surprised me, and now I'm thrilled with my progress.

Remember that the cold weather will effect your metabolism, raise your heart rate as you inhale the cold air, and make you more tired.

My humble advice is to take it slowly, try to walk indoors when it's cold (Wal-Mart?), and listen to your body.

I wish you the very best. Looking forward to meeting you at the Orchid Festival on Columbus Day!

 

[geebee]

Ruth,

I think you should make an effort to find somewhere to walk indoors. Walking out in the cold can be very tiring so early on. You spend a lot of the energy breathing and staying warm that you could be using walking and building your stamina.

Michelle,

You will have roller coaster rides and have merely hit the bottom of the drop. You will definitely ride back up and will feel better. Keep on smiling.

 

[ruth]

Thanks all for the input, I guess it shows we all progress at our own pace.

Today I only did one 20 minute walk, same route. I went alone this time which was nice. Having a 'normal' person walk with me is tiring, they want to walk faster no matter how couteous they try to be and also they want to talk which limits breathing too.

Adam - Good point about water weight, that's high on my list of questions for the Dr. on Thursday (my first checkup). My weight isn't dropping any more, isn't going up, is just steady at what it was pre-op.

Catwoman - I do carry a cell phone with me, I've considered the possibility of having to call for a ride! Gosh I used to walk for miles at a time sometimes straying quite far from my point of origin.....

Stretch - 2 miles was my standard walk at least a few times a week, that's what I really want to get back to. I know, it'll take time. Last night we went to the local Sam's Club and walked all over the place, it's cavernous. I think I overdid it. My youngest son looked at me knowingly when I got home a couple hours later and said I'd be sorry tomorrow (today). He was right, I had overdone it. Today I could only manage one walk. Sigh. Little by little I suppose. Columbus day, it's a date, looking forward to meeting you and lovely Nonnie!

Michellep - Sorry it's a bad day, easy does it. I have my share of ups & downs too. I'm pretty impatient, especially with myself. Years of being an overachiever coming home to roost I think. Take good care of yourself, it's going to be better.

All of the stories are fascinating, we really are all very different. Jeff & Ross, sorry you had a tough road at first. Wayne, I'm hoping these first few weeks are the corner that I need to turn before the improvement becomes more visible to me.

Again, thanks!
Ruth

 

[davidfortune]

Ruth,

It may be worth it to join a gym. The treadmill is a great measuring stick and it keeps you indoors. Very easy to evaluate performance this week as compared to last on a treadmill (especially if you write it down and don't rely on memory - be specific)

Week 2 = 2.0 miles in 60 minutes on 0 incline Heartrate= 120 max
Week 3 = 3.0 miles in 60 minutes on .5 incline Heartrate = 120 max
etc...

Also many treadmills have HR monitor built in so that makes it easy to monitor HR. My gym also has TVs with earphone port on the treadmill to keep me occupied.

It'll get better.


Michelle,

I agree - watch the weight. It may be just a down day in which case tomorrow will be better. If tomorrow isn't better (in terms of how you feel physically) then definitely watch the weight. Could be retaining fluid or other issues which would need treatment. Realize as well that many OHS patients experience some depression after surgery so just be aware. I had both PMS and PMS (that's Pre-Surgery Moodiness and Post-Surgery Moodiness) and had to reason myself out of my moods at times.

Good luck,
David

 

[michellep]

Thank you to everyone. I really appreciate your words. Today is a better day. I got a good night's rest last night and am getting ready to walk in a minute.
Ruth, you stay ever the cheerleader.

Weight is constant. Already was put on a diretic. After two blood transfusions I gained 20 pounds in the hospital. Doctors wanted to get rid of that for a more accurate tracking of weight. Now I am back to presurgical weight. Who said they lost 10 pounds during surgery? I believe that was false advertising!

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear today is a better day.

I actually lost 15 lbs, until my third week when I literally gained it all back (fluid). Once drained, right back down again. I'm finally back to pre-op weight after Christmas (all that over eating).

 

[ruth]

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Yeah - I don't buy that lose weight with surgery thing. After 2 units of blood on day 2 post surgery they weighed me and I was up 30 lbs! I was so shocked.

Now the 30 is gone and I'm right back at pre-surgery weight and have been since I got home.

I have no appetite, eat nearly nothing, of course I do nearly nothing too.

I came home from the hospital after having baby #2 (he weighed 10 lbs at birth) and had gained weight! I called the Dr. and told him it wasn't fair. Of course it was just water weight.

My followup is tomorrow, fluid buildup is a question I'm going to ask.

David - I belong to the local pool and they have a mini weight/treadmill room. Probably a good idea to try that, thanks. I know the pool is off limits for awhile still.

Thanks all -
Ruth