Fatigue post op 6 weeks

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Kandice

Hi All,

Just a question on recovery. I have been doing pretty well but I still become very fatigued by afternoon. I start off the day feeling good but after being active a few hours I notice I get so tired. sometimes I just don't feel well and I just retreat to my bedroom to rest. Everyone says this is normal, I just want to hear from others who have had OHS when the fatuge gets better. Did any of you feel like you hit a wall sometimes and just feel drained?

I feel fortunate that I do not have to return to work for 3 months. Thanks for any help , I'm starting to feel frustrated .
Kandice
 
Hi Kandice,
What you are feeling IS absolutely normal. Its your body telling you enough is enough, and you need to take that break. Relax, take it easy.

When does one start to feel normal again??? Everyone is different. I'm 7 months post-op and I'm just starting to feel normal again. But I still have to take a break if I've done too much - sometimes I take an hour or more.

Please don't get frustrated. Getting frustrated won't help in your recovery. (Been there done that)You need time to heal and time to build up your strength.

Relax - your normal
 
Afternoon fatigue after activity is very common at 6 weeks. Your body is just reminding you that you have been through some of the most trauma a body can go through and still be alive to tell about it. Just because it is controlled trauma does not make it any easier on your system.

As long as you can see regular, increased improvement (with some backwards steps that are normal also), you are well within the norm.

It can take up to one year before you are fully recovered but you should feel pretty good at about 3 or 4 months.
 
Are you taken any new medication? Right after the operation I was taken 100 mg of atenolol and couldn't keep my eyes open....telephone wuld ring agains my ear and I wouldn't even know.....then the doctor reduced to 50 and felt better and now I'm on 25....still makes me tired but not even close
 
Fatigue, yup, I've had my share of that! At 6 weeks I would expect afternoon fatigue to be fairly normal (even if you aren't doing the a-fib thing at that point like I was). If I pushed to hard to do 'normal' things and be 'normal' it seems I would be exhausted by halfway through the day. Every day it gets better, though, but I wish I had set my sights on feeling 'normal' again in 6 months, not 6 weeks.....

It'll happen, maybe just not as fast as you have your mind set for.

Peace,
Ruth
 
Kandice, I would just like to echo the previous responses.....6 weeks is still early. Take your time, pace yourself, and by resting in the afternoons you will actually make it easier to move forward. Some days or weeks seem to stand still, then you will progress again. Patience, my dear.:)
 
fatigue 6 weeks out

fatigue 6 weeks out

Kandice,

If it helps, I'm on the same timeline, and I have the same problem. If I try to have too active a day, I know the next day will need to be a very quiet one. On mornings when I have cardiac therapy, even making it to the afternoon is a challenge!

Hopefully, in a few months, we'll both be looking back at this fatigue as just a memory :) .

--Brad
 
Fatigue and Red Blood Cells

Fatigue and Red Blood Cells

I'm 9 days post op. I just wanted to pass along, my cardio said that red blood cells are destroyed from the turbulance across your valve. I'm to call him if I experience excessive fatigue. They'll probably do a complete blood panel to make sure I don't become anemic. The lower turbulance is one of the reasons I chose the OnX valve. Maybe ask your doctor to run a blood panel to make sure you are not anemic. Good luck.
 
thanks for the encouragement

thanks for the encouragement

thanks to all that replied. It is so good to know that this is a normal response to OHS. I did become anemic past surgery and I am on a iron supplement to build me back up.

I have trouble being patient and its seems like a longtime even though its been 6 weeks.

I think its hard for family and others to recognize you are still recovering because I look "normal", and if you have cast or something visual it reminds people.

Had a great Thanksgiving and my girls and husband did the cooking and cleaning. I tried to just help a little and rest, that way I was a lot more fun to be around, LOL.:)
 
Kandice said:
thanks to all that replied. It is so good to know that this is a normal response to OHS.

Had a great Thanksgiving and my girls and husband did the cooking and cleaning. I tried to just help a little and rest, that way I was a lot more fun to be around, LOL.:)
Click to expand...


GOOD for YOU Kandice. Thats the Spirit.
Keep this same attitude and you'll see it will make a difference.

Just remember, you'll still have good days and some bad days, but it will all work out in the end.

Cheers
 
Kandice I'm almost 5 weeks out of OHS and when I'm tired I take a nap. R & R is the best thing for you. Don't try to rush things. Let your body heal.


Bob.
 
Ditto all that's been said. I was most especially going to recommend naps, as I see RC above me, has.

Naps are wonderful. I found that the moment I realized that I was having a feeling of exhaustion, I would just go lie down for 30 minutes. Quite often, by listening to my body that way, and acquiescing to the need to rest, it totally refreshed me for the rest of the day. As long as you are feeling some kind of improvement, I would not worry at all. Your energy will return. You may find though, that your stamina has changed some. That may last awhile.

I am now 19 months post op. I just had 3 rather large holiday/birthday dinners to put on, 3 nights in a row. My body, tonight, on the 3rd night, gave out. I felt that same overwhelming kind of exhaustion. I tried the power nap and it didn't much help. But I'm all finished now and I know I"ll rest well tonight and be normal tomorrow. So if you're asking when it will end....well.... I'm 53 and maybe it's aging, but I don't think so. I think my body now has a limit. I have to listen to it or pay the price. It isn't a very big price to pay, but I do have somewhat diminished stamina. What I have learned is to accept it, pace myself accordingly, and carve out a little time at the end of whatever it is, to rest up again.

Hasn't our weekend weather been just splendid!!! That new blanket of snow on our mountain peaks.......gorgeous!!! :D

Marguerite
 
Bina said:
Kandice, I would just like to echo the previous responses.....6 weeks is still early. Take your time, pace yourself, and by resting in the afternoons you will actually make it easier to move forward. Some days or weeks seem to stand still, then you will progress again. Patience, my dear.:)
Click to expand...

And she needs some kind of deliberate daily exercise - not just housework. <G>


As someone else said - it could be the medication. I was on cardizem for 25 years and had no side effects - they put me on a beta blocker (metoprolol, topol xl) for around the operation because it slows the heart more than cardizem (generic named diltiazem)

Beta Blockers absolutely knock me out - making me ache all over and feel sleepy and fatiged.

If you can get your doctor to switch you to cardizem - I'd expect a big improvement.

I bought mine on the side and switched and feel much better. I still get tired but I'm not fatigued all the time now.

John Hansen
 
Louise said:
I'm 9 days post op. I just wanted to pass along, my cardio said that red blood cells are destroyed from the turbulance across your valve. I'm to call him if I experience excessive fatigue. They'll probably do a complete blood panel to make sure I don't become anemic. The lower turbulance is one of the reasons I chose the OnX valve. Maybe ask your doctor to run a blood panel to make sure you are not anemic. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I didn't know that and anemia could be part of the problem.

Thanks
John Hansen
 
Recovery time

Recovery time

Marguerite53 said:
Ditto all that's been said. I was most especially going to recommend naps, as I see RC above me, has.

Naps are wonderful. I found that the moment I realized that I was having a feeling of exhaustion, I would just go lie down for 30 minutes. Quite often, by listening to my body that way, and acquiescing to the need to rest, it totally refreshed me for the rest of the day. As long as you are feeling some kind of improvement, I would not worry at all. Your energy will return. You may find though, that your stamina has changed some. That may last awhile.

I am now 19 months post op. I just had 3 rather large holiday/birthday dinners to put on, 3 nights in a row. My body, tonight, on the 3rd night, gave out. I felt that same overwhelming kind of exhaustion. I tried the power nap and it didn't much help. But I'm all finished now and I know I"ll rest well tonight and be normal tomorrow. So if you're asking when it will end....well.... I'm 53 and maybe it's aging, but I don't think so. I think my body now has a limit. I have to listen to it or pay the price. It isn't a very big price to pay, but I do have somewhat diminished stamina. What I have learned is to accept it, pace myself accordingly, and carve out a little time at the end of whatever it is, to rest up again.

Hasn't our weekend weather been just splendid!!! That new blanket of snow on our mountain peaks.......gorgeous!!! :D

Marguerite
Click to expand...

A good example of that is: I'm 1.5 weeks out of the hospital from aortic valve replacement. I did 1/4 mile walking on my treadmill the first day, 1/2 the next 4 days and finally was very pleased to do 1 mile without stopping but at only 1.4 mph.

I felt absolutely FANTASTIC all the rest of that day but haven't felt very good since.

So yesterday I did nothing at all.

Hopefully it will take away some of the aches and pains.

The VA did give me some hydrocodone and it works very well, (I was taking 1 a day) but I'm reluctant to take much of it - as it is a narcotic. They say anything under 30 days won't give you an addiction but I don't know about that.

These smily face icons need some just plain straight faces for when we dont' feel bad but don't feel great either. <G>

John Hansen
 
You all sound like you are doing great for being still fresh post-op. It takes many weeks or months before you are are really healed. I noticed that my head didn't feel like it was going to pop off when I leaned forward (a particular bothersome symptom I had before surgery) while I was still in the hospital but other things such as energy took much more time. Be patient with yourselves. Do your exercise but listen to your bodies and rest when you are tired. Surgery takes a lot out of you and healing takes time. Others have already mentioned the effect medications can have on you as well and it is so true. If you are on new medication than give yourself a chance to adapt to it and if that doesn't happen then look into the possibility of having the dose reduced or perhaps changed to another in the same class.
 
MajorHart said:
I didn't know that and anemia could be part of the problem.

Thanks
John Hansen
Click to expand...
Oh yes!! I became anemic about three weeks out and could hardly walk across the room….back in the hospital over night for three pints of blood (I do not believe this is normal). The point is even mild anemia can cause fatigue.

It takes time. Even after six months I had times when I just ran out of steam. As others have said, it really takes about a year. Patience.
 
Kandice,
I had my surgery in February and still felt fatigued until my medication was reduced a couple of months ago. Even before my surgery I had a problem telling what's considered normal where fatigue is concerned. I work full time and have 2 children in lots of activities. Isn't it normal to feel tired and worn out?? :)
 
Yo Kandice -- Its only 6 weeks!!!!

Yo Kandice -- Its only 6 weeks!!!!

hi!!! i remember after my first surgery being told i culd go back to work after 6 weeks. so i did. i spent the afternoon napping in my office. it'll come back, just give it some time. and enjoy !!!! you wont be able to nap after your recovered!
 
I am eight weeks post-op from BAVR. I began to feel "good" about four weeks after surgery and returned to work (probably too soon). Still have days where I get tired easily. It takes time to heal from the trauma of OHS. Fatique is your body is just trying to tell you to slow down a little....

Take your meds, eat, walk and exercise...You will feel better and stronger in no time....

Blnmakerr
BAVR Sept. 24, 2007
Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Lars Svensson
Carpentier-Edwards Bovine Pericardial Aortic Tissue Valve
 
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