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Kandice

Hi Everyone,
Thanks to JGibson for letting everyone know I made it through surgery.He came and visited on my 3rd day, I was worried I might scare him,HA! I was out on the 5th day. Everything went pretty well, and the hospital staff was great although I did get the pleasure to meet a "Nurse Ratchett" as my sister liked to call her. My valve was repaired!! so I lucked out. So far I am progressing well, saw Dr Patracek Friday October 19th before I left for Portland on the 20th.
I did get to meet JGibson in the hospital on his 4th day he actually looked pretty good. It was fun to meet him and his wife after his surgery especially after he came to see me in the hospital.
I am now on my 12th day post surgery and I feel pretty good. Traveling across country was very tiring and uncomfortable at times but I made it. Today I'm worn out a little.
My family has been great!!! Today I have cried about 3 times and I think I just feel so grateful and a little overwhelmed with everything. I just feel emotional. So , now I am trying to figure out how to take care of myself without overdoing. It was easy when I wasn't at home but now that I am, I just think I should do stuff.
Just wondering when sleeping gets a little better, I wake about every 2 to 3 hours from some discomfort and need to walk around alittle bit.

When do people start cardiac rehab or how many have done it and what did you think?

I am so grateful to be alive and glad to have this site to share feelings and ideas.
Kandice:)
 
Welcome back, Kandice. Glad you got your repair and everything is going fine.

It is not unusual to have some difficulty sleeping afterwards. Just try not to worry about it, and get your naps, and hopefully your normal sleep patterns will kick back in gradually.

I started cardiac rehab about four months after surgery. (I was on a waiting list for a while.) Check with your insurance to see what it will cover. I was fortunate that mine fully covered 36 sessions -- 3 times a week for 12 weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it very useful. Got me back in an exercise routine. Also it was reassuring to be monitored by the nurses while working back into exercise.

All best wishes to you for a continued smooth recovery!
 
Great News Kandice !

MANY of us had problems sleeping for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time following surgery. This can last for weeks to even months. NAPS are GREAT !

My advice, WALK when you feel up to it, REST when your body says "Enough", and try to do a little more each day. Most of us have a mixture of some Good Days and some Not as Good Days. As long as your progress is positive when viewed on a Weekly Basis, you are headed in the right direction.

IF your insurance will cover Cardiac Rehab, I Highly Recommend it. The usual recommendation is sometime after 6 weeks but that can (and often is) delayed by scheduling or other issues. Your Doctor (any) can prescribe Rehab.

I'm curious about who is going to do your post-op followup care and whether he/she will interface with Dr. Petracek. (I'm just wondering about the transition when going 'out of town' for surgery).

'AL Capshaw'
 
Kandice,

WELCOME BACK!

CONGRATULATIONS on surviving surgery ... thoughts/prayers coming your way for a continued SUCCESSFUL recovery :).



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"It's time to take a leap of faith" ... Steven Curtis Chapman ... 'Dive'
 
Welcome Home!!!

You sound really good! It is normal to be experiencing all that you are describing.

I started cardiac rehab at Meridian Park (it is closer to where I live, than Good Sam) two months post surgery. I know you can start it sooner, but frankly, I was lazy and waited until our schedule was more suitable to it. HIGHLY beneficial. Not so much for the progress it made, but more for the psychological comfort in pushing yourself back to normal and being all hooked up and having professionals watching your every move. I learned a lot from the cardiac PT's also. They were delightful!

I never had any trouble sleeping. I think problems are pretty normal though. I remember grabbing every pillow in the house to scrunch around me and make a very comfy, supportive bed. I rested in bed. I slept in a recliner.

I'm leaving town for a week, soon, but if you want/need any local info, company or whatever, feel free to PM me. :)

Good job making great choices for yourself!! You did good!!!! :D :D

Marguerite
 
Welcome home. Glad to hear you are doing well. I had trouble sleeping, too. I found it hard to get back into a sleep routine, so I just napped when I could. I also found it an emotional roller coast ride for awhile.

Take care and pace yourself. Wishing you a smooth, speedy, recovery.
 
welcome home. Sounds like you are about on schedule. Including the tears. You've been through a very emotional time. Glad to know you got a repair. Keep on getting better and soon it will be behind you. Blessins.........
 
Kandice,
I'm so glad that you're back home, and you're right. When you get home you see a million things that you would like to take care of. But don't!
I think the lack of sleep was the hardest thing I dealt with post-op. You will start to sleep better pretty soon, and I think that will help your emotions settle a little bit. I know the replacement surgery jump-started me into an unexpected menstrual period, and that didn't help anything . . . much less my emotional state!
I didn't have cardiac rehab, so I can't help you there. When do you see your cardiologist? He should give you a timeframe.
Please post any more questions or thoughts you have. We've all been where you're at now, so maybe we can provide a few answers.
 
Congratulations and rehab

Congratulations and rehab

Today is officially my 4th week after aortic valve repair and have been cleared for Rehab tomorrow. It is tough being at home, I agree, you feel like you should be doing something, and get frustrated knowing you can't or shouldn't - my wife will attest to me me a bear at times. I am not a TV watcher normally, but the Discovery channel has been of great help in keeping me off my feet, and resting. Plus I actually learned stuff too!
I as others have had, and still do have erratict sleep patterns. For the first 3 1/2" weeks I could not lay on a normal flat bed, I was either in a recliner or on the couch.

Good luck, take it slow and easy. As my Dr said "there is no need to win the race on the first lap, have patience (which I don't). Good luck on the road to recovery.

I have found this site and forums to be very educational as well as supportive. Thanks to you all for the emotional/educational/humorous responses/articles. This has had a very positive impact on my morale and outlook - thanks again and God Bless
 
Congratulations on your repair from another mitral valve repair person!! I used to get emotional thinking about how lucky I was, and I would cry too. They were good tears, though, not sad tears!:)
 
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