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sparklette77

Hello,

I'm home now, I got discharged yesterday from the hospital. My MV repair was on December 5, 2008. I will post a short version of my surgery and then later add to it when i have more energy b/c I have a few questions for those that did this already.

I was feeling relaxed and happy when I was wheeled into the OR but apparently when they opened me up i was in A-Fib so they successfully repaired my valve (ring and new chord support) and then did a cryo-maze procedure for the a-fib.

I spent about 5 days in the ICU where I ended up needing a blood transfusion (luckily my brother had donated some blood for me so they used that) and some other issues that I didn't really understand. Anyway when I got to a regular room it was really difficult at first and then got better. In the ICU I kept telling my mom that I didn't think I was going to get through it and a few times I think I told her I just wanted to die b/c the pain was so horrible and the nurses were never able to help me properly with the pain management stuff. I'll write more about this later b/c now that I am not delirious and feel like a human again I am really angry about some of the nurses' treatment. At one point my mom said I really couldn't go back to pre-surgery so I was just going to have to suck it up and get better.

The scariest part was one night I thought the bed was shaking until I realized it was me shaking b/c my heart was going so fast. The nurse appeared asap (very unusual for them to arrive so quick) and said my heart went into a-fib for about ten seconds then back to normal sinus rhthym. The doctor said the next day that it doesn't mean anything and that I shouldn't worry.

Anyway I'm home with my sister and brother inlaw now. They helped make me some charts for my meds and foods and all the other stuff, weight temp, etc. and I got to shower for the first time today which was not as awful as I expected and made me feel a million times better.

Can anyone weigh in about my walking? Is it better to walk on the treadmill or just go outside for twenty minutes or so? also how often did people go walking? the doctor said everyone is different but i'm the kind of person if you give me an average guideline or something to start with then I can do that and adjust accordingly for myself from there.

Seems like there is so much to do. My brother keeps making fun of me that I came with a 10 page instruction booklet with no return policy! = )
 
Hi Sparklette! That's good that you are able to stay with your sister and brother-in-law. It's too bad about the pain while you were in the hospital. Anyhow, about the walking, basically, wherever you walk, it should be easy. I didn't walk outside until day 10 post-op and the first few days, I walked about 5 minutes hanging on to my husband. Shortly after, I was walking about ¾ of a mile twice a day, then after 5 weeks, about 1½ miles twice a day. I'm sure you can use the treadmill if you are careful and hold on, but do it slowly at first. Keep us posted.
 
Dick started by walking around the house and then slowly started outside working up to 3 miles from one mile in about 6 weeks. He did it in the cold, but some prefer to walk inside a mall to start. I'm sure others have taken it slower- Dick has always believed in pushing himself. The meds will do funny things to you in the hospital and most don't remember a lot of it afterwards. Glad you are home and glad your brother realizes he has to keep you. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
 
Glad to see you posting and happy for you,your home

Wishing you the best of your recovery.:)


zipper2 (DEB)
 
Welcome to this side...it's much better over here. I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience with your pain management and nursing staff. That can really make a big difference.

I think the first week that I was home, I walked out to the mailbox and maybe around my cul de sac a couple of times a day...not really that far. I don't think I would have liked a treadmill at that point. I gradually added going around the block 2-3 times a day and by 3 weeks post op, I was doing cardiac rehab and was able to walk much farther . Don't worry about time or distances yet, just walk as much as you comfortably can, a couple times a day. It does get easier, I promise.

Kim
 
Welcome Home,

I think I started walking 5 minutes three times a day when I got home. The next day I went 6 minutes three times a day and so on. It sounds like we had similar repairs. I would like to hear more about your surgery when you feel up to it. Again welcome home!:)
 
Welcome home, don't rush into walking outside on very cold days.
I went out also hangin onto my hubby with a scarf over my face and secure flat soled boots, for a few minutes at a time.
Treadmills scared me.....fear of tripping or falling off.
 
hiya........sorry to hear about your pain management that sucks, yea go easy at first i think i overdid it and finished up back in hospital,remember your body has been through major trauma, go steady ,am sure you will be fine,sure nice to go home aint it,
 
Sorry about thepain meds in the hospital, but WELCOME HOME! The visiting nurses told me not to use the treadmill for a while. For you, to cold to walk outside. I used to walk in the store everyday. Every day I increased how far I went. Best of luck to you.
 
Congratulations on your successful surgery. Take is easy for the next few weeks.

Chris
 
Its nice to know you are home again. Having that much pain is not the usual at all. I had muscle spasms in my rib cage that were quite severe and migrain headache but other than that I experienced more of the extreme weakness than pain. I hope you pain issues are more under control now and your recovery progresses rapidly. As far as walking, walk about 3 times a day for several minutes or until you are getting tired but not fatigued. Increase as you get further into your recovery. Listen to your body but do keep moving. There will be good days and not so good days but your overall progress is what matters. Welcome to this side of the mountain.
 
Welcome home, and hope all the bumpy parts of recovery are behind you now. I walked indoors for several days (but really didn't have any choice because it was icy outdoors). If you do go outdoors early in your recovery, I would have someone watching and also take a cellphone along just in case you need help. Easy does it at first. Don't push yourself to fatigue and then have to do the walk back home.
 
Welcome home and congratulations,

It is good to be with your sister and brother in law until you are feeling better. Among the many page instructions I brought home with me were instructions on walking. For me, I started to walk 5 minutes three time a day inside the house, and increased them to ten minutes...I walked outside and only on the side walk by the house for one week. When I started increasing the distance and time, my sister or hubby accompanied me.

Good luck:)
 
Congratulations on your repair, Sparklette!
As you heal, you'll experience many different feelings - some pain, some dealing with the heart beat, some emotional. It's good you have family to stay with and to work with during the healing process. Open up and talk your feelings. This forum is a great place to vent and to ask questions about what is normal and what others have experienced. I didn't find this place until I was about 3 weeks post and it would have saved me several trips to the ER because I didn't have the reassurance that my abnormal feelings were actually normal as I was healing.
As for walking, they said I could do all I wanted and that I did. I was at 4 miles per day at 4 weeks and I never looked back. I'm not a runner but a good brisk walk can do wonders. Let your body tell you what's good for you. It seldom lies.
Good luck,
Gerry
 
Hi Sparklette ~ Sorry to hear about your pain and nurse problems. Hopefully, you're on the road to recovery now and all the bad times are over. Best wishes for a smooth recovery!!

Dawn-Marie
 
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