I was expecting to feel bette by now

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citrustaco

Hello everyone,

I had robotic mitral valve repair on march 14 less then 2 weeks ago. I had to get the valve repair after a bout with bacterial endocarditis.

I am 40 years old. I started getting sick last august with light fever and it took about 4 months to get diagnosed. I had an abscess deep on the root of one of my wisdom tooth, never felt any kind of pain from it. Infectious disease doctor is sure that this was the source of the bacteria because the blood culture showed it was a kind of bacteria that only grows in the mouth.

So anyways almost 2 weeks after surgery I have almost no pain except on my right lung where they had to collapse it to get to the heart. It is is a sharp pain if I take a very deep breath.

My problem is that I am always tired. I walk 3 times a day am able to grocery shop do almost anything that is not too physical. After doing something like paying the bills today for example and then going for a walk when I got back home I was just tired and felt like laying down. I feel that I should start getting better faster. What I mean is that I am not feeling a whole lot better fast. I was hoping that at my age I should be feeling better by now.

Maybe it is the damage from endocarditis that is making my body take longer to recuperate. The surgeon did say I lost a lot of blood during surgery and right after.

Also almost everytime I stand up I feel dizzy and almost loose my vision for about 2 to 4 seconds. That might be my beta blocker medication.

I am young and was in good shape before getting sick. Do you guys think my recovery is normal or should I be worried. I am seeing my cardiologist Tuesday and I saw my suregeon's physician assistant yesterday. She felt I was doing good. My wife and I are wondering. How did you guys feel after 2 weeks?:)

 
First off, welcome to the forum.

News flash, you had open heart surgery! :D

I hate to be the bearer of the news, but your about right on schedule for where you should be 2 weeks out. It takes 6 months to a year to feel good again. ;) Your going to feel crummy for around 6 weeks or so. Honestly, your body has just gone through major assult and trauma, it take lots of time to start feeling better. This isn't just a 3 day cold thing. I don't mean that in a snobby way. Just trying to have some fun with ya!
 
I echo what Ross said....it takes time and six months to a year to feel "normal" is about right....The good news is that after you have healed up and recovered completely you most likely will feel better than ever....I do....I know it is hard but be patient...it will happen.
 
I think there is a misconception among many of us that because these surgeries have become so perfected that means we should also bounce back to normal quickly. The reality is, even if you had surgery for an appendectomy - you would still be feeling tired 2 weeks out. General anesthesia itself takes a while to work it's effects out of your system.

Keep on walking and doing those things you feel good doing. But don't push it thinking that doing more is going to help you recover more quickly. Rest when your body tells you to rest. If you don't listen to your body it will send you a message in a not-so-kind way.
 
More echoes

More echoes

Yeah, my surgery was pretty big, but after 5 weeks I still get tired after very little activity, and I'm 34 (though I wasn't in great shape prior to surgery). My dad had OHS a little over a year ago, and it took him a good 3 months to get over being tired all of the time.

The good news for me is I start cardiac rehab on Monday. The bad news is I start cardiac rehab on Monday. ;)

Anyway, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Be gentle with yourself. :)
 
I took care of my husband through several thoracic surgeries including a few valve surgeries.

It will be a good 6-8 weeks before you are feeling sort of more normal, and can take longer to get right up to speed. It happens slowly and with little baby steps.

It is a LARGE surgery and affects so many organs in the body, because they all depend on your heart.

Give your dear heart more time to recover, and recover it will.

Do your part by walking, resting, eating healthy and breathing deeply for now, then you will slowly get more active.
 
Two weeks after my last VR surgery for endocarditis I was still in hospital, with IV antibiotics going in regularly. A wander to the hospital shop for a newspaper and then flop on the bed. So on that comparison you are doing very well. :)

Recovery is not plain sailing, for many there are months of ups and downs. As others have advised, play the longer game.
 
The dizzyness standing up i would say is definately your beta blocker...i had the same and was moved from antenol to bicor...this move finished the dizzyness.

As for your general recovery, i'd say i felt ok but not really 'normal' for about a month, then i just kept getting better for the next two months before i returned to work.....then i felt crap again. & i had what i would call a fault free surgery and recovery process, no complications to speak of here.

You sound like you have had a rough ride with some health issues prior to surgery so i'd take it easy and expect a steady slow slope of recovery...i certainly wouldn't be pushing the envelope re exercise for at least a full calendar month.

Apart from seeing your cardio about the beta blocker i'd say you are on track.
 
First of all....welcome to the VR Forum. Glad you found us and decided to post.

How did I feel after two weeks? Like I was hit by a truck! As the others have said, you've just had OHS.....which is quite a trauma to your body and emotionally. Expect to take time to heal. Listen to your body....it's telling you when it needs rest as the healing process takes a lot of energy.

Don't be discouraged if some days you feel great and others not so great. That's quite normal. Recovery will be a series of ups and downs. While some bounce back quicker than others, I'd say on average from what I've read here is that you can expect "full" recovery to take about a year. Best wishes and good luck with a smooth recovery.
 
I agree with what everyone has said. Added to that, you said you lost a lot of blood. I'll bet that in two more weeks there will be a big difference.
 
I was 30 at the time of my MVR. What you explain, appears to be a normal part of recovery. It took all of my being (for weeks) just to take a shower and care for myself. Did not have much left after that. Just wiped me out. My child was 2 at the time. Full of all sorts of energy:eek: Could have been a nightmare if my Mother did not move in. :)

Recalling one moment of weakness, despite the strength I "thought" my body contained. Walked outside my front door. Intending to get the mail at the end of the drive. Made it about 3 feet and was blown over by a light wind! Did not take much. Was very weak.

Take it easy. It will take time. As Ross mentioned, months. My marker was 11 months. Woke up one AM and felt amazing! It will get better. Hang in.

PS. I missed your loss of blood. Yep, could hinder recovery. I was in the same boat.
 
Two Weeks

Two Weeks

I think you're right on schedule at two weeks I still felt like I had been run over by a truck. Not being dizzy though. Probably should check that out.
Take care
Earline
 
At 1 week post-AVR surgery I was back in the hospital being treated for pericardial effusion (AVR surgery was Feb 5, 2008). It then took me another 2 weeks before I started to feel like I was on the recovery road. Now I'm at 7 1/2 weeks post-surgery and running 2 to 2.5 miles a day, albeit slowly, on a treadmill. Doc gave me the OK to resume running 2 weeks ago. I pick up the pace just a tad every day. My goal is to run a sub 30 minute 5K 10 weeks from now. The finishing time is a minor and insignificant goal and the main thing I'm happy with is just to be logging miles. 4 weeks ago I would not have thought I'd be running 2-plus miles a day (at any speed!!).

Main point I'll make is to echo what others have already said... recovery will happen and when it does, you'll begin to notice small but definite improvements on a daily basis. Hang in there and keep us posted on how you're doing!
 
I echo what everyone has said so far. The only thing I think you should check on is the dizziness. If you are still anemic from loss of blood, you will not feel well. It could take you a bit longer to build up your blood supply. Are you taking iron supplements, eating liver, etc. If the dizziness is from your beta blocker, then ask the doc about changing. What is your BP and heart rate?
 
Hang tight there citrustaco. Be patient. It will get better, but getting frustrated won't help. Take one day at a time, and you will see that you are now doing things that you couldn't do 10 days ago.

Take Care
 
Thank you so much

Thank you so much

I should have posted here a long time ago. Thank you so so so much. somehow reading all those post made me physically feel better. All of you are wonderful human beings.

Thank you:)
 
Im 42, pretty darn healthy, and had an AVR. After two weeks I was flopped on my butt pretty much all the time and I STILL was taking two or three naps a day. I think that truck that hit most everybody else swung my way too because it seems getting up to get the channel changer and fighting with the blanket to get wrapped back up in the recliner was enough for me to need another nap !
 
You know what would be good therapy for you? Get a journal or just some paper. Write a little each day about what you have done that day and how you feel. Your little daily accomplishments will grow and grow and you will be able to actually look back and see where you have come from. That works very well.
 
citrustaco said:
I should have posted here a long time ago. Thank you so so so much. somehow reading all those post made me physically feel better. All of you are wonderful human beings.

Thank you:)
Click to expand...
Well no need to stop now is there?
 
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