5 months post op, the skiing is great!!!

[gageyk]

Today marks 5 months since I was sliced and diced. My recovery has continued to be textbook. Abundant snow has finally fallen in the nearby Sierra and I've been able to pursue my favorite activity, swooshing down the slopes. I actually started alpine skiing about a month ago and it was GREAT. I skied 3 days in a row back then, only 3 -4 hours per outing, and other than muscle soreness, I felt strong. For the past month the alpine skiing was kinda boring so I did a few days of XC skiing, pulling off an accidental 9 mile day, I was definitely tired after that day but the old ticker worked fabulously. This past weekend saw our snow pack double in size so I was out for another 3 consecutive days. Again, no problems. I'm looking forward to utilizing my 2 season passes for the remainder of the season.

While I'm having no problems there is still internal discomfort around the sternum and where the tubes were in my chest, nothing unbearable but noticeable.

To those in the waiting room, there is normal life at the end of the tunnel so don't despair. If someone told me prior to surgery that I'd be pretty much back to normal 5 months after OHS I would have never believed it but I've lived it and know it's possible

 

[WayneGM]

Thanks for the update and congratulations on your textbook recovery. I'm sure your success story will inspire and encourage those in the waiting room.

As far as the continued discomfort around the sternum and other incisions, I'm almost 2 years post op and I still notice it. It's not unbearable as you said, but it's still noticeable. It's certainly less noticable than when I was at 5 months post-op but I think I've reached the point where it's as good as it's going to get. However, it's nothing that inhibits normal life in any way. It's a small price to pay for a repaired heart.

Best wishes for a continued textbook recovery.

 

[Cooker]

Good for you!!! I am not a skier but I know how it feels to get back to doing the things you love to do!!!! It's all "down hill" from here

 

[spartangator]

great to hear

great to hear

Wow, your story is encouraging to hear. I'm about 3 months post-op (have surgeon and cardiologist follow-ups next week, actually), and while progress is steady, I have to admit to some frustration with my energy level. Stories like yours really help me have confidence going forward. Thanks for sharing, and I hope the snow keeps up for you.

 

[cp172]

Guys,

All us folks in the waiting room need to hear these success stories.I just want to wake up from my operation. The stress of waiting and hoping for an acceptable outcome is terrrible.

gageyk..Keep the posts coming. Was your surgery minimal invasive? Congratulations on your recovery!

God Bless,

CP

 

[bbb]

Great to hear you are skiing and enjoying yourself. I am 6 weeks post op and the snow and powder is killing me, I want to ski so badly. I was hoping to get out on the slopes on the easy runs at about 8 weeks, but after posting here, I will just wait until it is time to get back out there. I figure 3 months post op is end of February and the skiing here should still be pretty good. Will just wait and watch on the skiing front!

Thanks for all the words of encouragement to us post surgery people who feel well, but still have to do the big R&R.

 

[gageyk]

gageyk..Keep the posts coming. Was your surgery minimal invasive? Congratulations on your recovery!

God Bless,

CP

Believe me, this website was a HUGE inspiration for me and my recovery, some amazing stories here. My surgery was a full sterneotomy. If you do a search under my previous posts I gave a pretty detailed description of my surgery and recovery.



bbb,

Physically I felt good enough to ski at 8 weeks but the risk of a fall is too great. I know I would have tried at 8 weeks and it would not have been smart. Another love of mine is mountain biking and at my surgeons recommendation I stayed off an MTB for 12 weeks. I did sneak in a road bike or two though


What really helped my recovery was walking, a lot of walking. I walked 2-3 miles per day 2 weeks post op and was up to 6 miles per day at 3-4 weeks. Not all at once but 2-3x per day. Hang in there and before you know it you'll forget you had OHS

And cooker, nice pun