After your surgery, what are some of the things that you found out that surprised you

[Superbob]

What a great thread -- one of most creative I've seen in some time.


I was surprised....

that I was laughing and joking with my friends on the phone just a few days after surgery. Of course, that was the percocet talking.

that I had so much trouble recovering lung function, something I've taken for granted.

that I had to invent a way to pee in a bottle in middle of night while lying on my back -- don't know quite how I accomplished that. Seems to defy gravity.

 

[Lily]

While I had heart surgery decades before this, as a young woman in my late teens, some things about this heart surgery were very different.

Surprises:

My mouth felt incredibly dry the first post-op night and I harassed the ICU nurse for more ice chips the entire night :eek2:

I was surprised to have X-ray techs come in very early every morning to see how things were sitting from the surgery;

I had some kind of temporary kidney issue that kept me in the ICU a couple of extra days;

I was so full of surgery fluids and kidney-backup fluids that I was on a restricted fluid intake for several weeks post-op;

I was happy to find out that my excellent surgeon put in some kind of sternum mesh between my heart and sternum to hopefully avoid sternum scarring in anticipation of a future OHS;

I found myself on a temporary three month ACT regimen and was surprised at how nearly impossible it was for me to get into range;

I eventually developed a lot of rib pain, costochondritis, and it still occasionally zings me but I think part of that was related to poor-posture at the computer :rolleyes2:

I finally had a real "thump-thump" heart beat and not the very strong sloshing sound that I'd only always known

But MOST OF ALL, I was amazed at how much better I began to feel overall within just weeks post-op, and how many strange things I'd just put down to "aging" had resolved for me, pains and severe angina episodes and double vision episodes and other strange things I can barely remember now :biggrin2:

 

[Marcia58]

My family was surprised (well, sorta) that I was signing, mouthing, writing--anything to communicate--less than 4 hours after surgery was over!

 

[Bill B]

I was surprised:

- anesthesia obliterates any sense of time asleep. My last recollection was being wheeled out of the pre-op area, and a second later being roused in the ICU with people yelling at me. I thought I was still in pre-op.
- to learn later they gave me a hit of IV Fentanyl immediately post-op and then I stopped breathing, which caused a flurry of activity. I was bagged and given Narcan, a narcotic antagonist that immediately reversed the effects of Fentanyl.
- I awoke immediately after the Narcan, was fully alert but hallucinating and not understanding why people were yelling at me.
- I never had any pain or discomfort and never got any more pain relievers of any kind.
- I can't find where my chest tube was and I don't remember it being removed.
- the Foley catheter was convenient and comfortable and it did not hurt at all when being removed.
- I got seriously anemic from the surgery and required a transfusion on the 1st post-op day.
- I put on 10 lbs immediately post-op from fluid shifts with about a pound of that fluid ending up in my scrotum. That looked really weird. Took a week of Lasix to resolve.
- my post-op EF was 39%, down from 55% pre-op. No good explanation and it worried me for a while. It's back above 55% now but should be higher.
- when told I would have NO restrictions at all once out of the 6 month recovery/rehab period. Weight lifting, marathon running - anything goes!

Bill

 

[Mentu]

It was surprising to me that my first breakfast came with coffee since I had not been able to drink anything with caffeine for weeks before my AVR. Angel, I also did not expect those four little holes, some how I missed the part about tubes and wires being in separate places and they were not even stitched! My great surprise, however, was how well I felt that first time I really woke up; aside from looking like a blow fish, I felt better than in a long time.

Larry

 

[Bina]

I was surprised-------- that I couldn't stand the sight of my gift box of chocolates.
------------------------- that the nurses are really drug pushers in disguise.
------------------------- during a middle of the night SVT episode, I peed myself in bed TWICE.
------------------------- the cardiac post op ward is a very boring place to be a flasher.

 

[buncle]

Surprised that
Didnt even like the thought of any food for 3 days.
My back hurt so bad I asked the nurse the 1st day if there was a mistake and they cut my back open.(it spooked her and she actually looked at my back lol)
coughing hurt so bad.
i could not sleep for days.(so keyed up I guess)
that I actually walked into the hospital knowing what they were going to do to me.

 

[NealR]

Hunger. Didn't eat for a few days, then it hit me. Couldn't stop.
Walking. When I first got up, it was forever for me to take a few steps
Pain. Not in my chest, but my arms, I think this lasted over a month
Sound of the heart. The first time I listened to this, my nurse put his stethiscope to my chest. We both were blown away. Sounded almost super-human!
Recovery. After 5 days in the hospital, was able to easily make it up my stairs in my home. Spent the rest of the day watching and playing with my children because the babysitter couldn't keep up. I know at some point I will have to do this again. I sure hope and pray the outcome is the same,,,,or better!

 

[heartman77]

I was surprised that I dont remember much after being wheeled into the preop theater and meeting the anesthesiologist and being started on an IV until I woke up and a nice nurse asked............"Would you feel better if i took that breathing tube out?"....and she immediately did.
I was also surprised about being given insulin.......I was really surprised to find that my heart was not beating on its own after surgery and that they had to cut so deep and extensively that the tissue that conducts the electrical signal was destroyed and i would need a pacemaker. I was given that 2 days later.
I was also surprised that the 2nd night in the hospital i was given Chicken Cor don Bleu for dinner.
I am very surprised that I am so tired at night that i am in bed and asleep at 730 or 8pm ....maybe its because i am up at 530 am and i take a 2 1/2 mile walk each morning.
But I am happy to still be here.....here meaning alive and able to see my family who i love dearly and Here....meaning among all you wonderful brave and caring people.....luv you all........Michael

 

[Penny]

I was suprised that my first shower in the hospital could feel that great (best shower I have ever had)
That they took away pain meds so quickly in the hospital plus the fact that I didn't need them.
That my energy levels were nil.. this surgery sure knocked me on my butt
I was never alone in ICU, there were 2 nurses assigned to me and always saw someone every time I woke up. (very comforting)
I went in being addicted to coffee, came out the hospital not wanting any

 

[Robb Wilder]

I am the opposite of Penny. I am suprised how much showers kick my butt and wear me out. Even last night a week and half post op.

 

[Penny]

I am the opposite of Penny. I am suprised how much showers kick my butt and wear me out. Even last night a week and half post op.

they do wear me out but it was great to have that hot water run down my back and over my head!

 

[Bill B]

I was suprised that my first shower in the hospital could feel that great (best shower I have ever had)

Oh, yes, I forgot about that - best shower ever. I just sat there on the shower bench and let the water envelope me for 20 minutes. It was baptysmal - a new beginning.

 

[Julieaka]

I agree with the above

I would add -

I was totally surprised that the tube was not near as bad as I thought nor was ICU as bad as I thought - great caring people who had a lot to do

My 3 chest tubes were nothing - but they sure felt weird inside! - the worst part was getting them out - pulling and pulling nad pulling

I had no idea one side would/could hurt so much more than the other

I had no idea the recovery would be so long and slow

 

[scotttnz]

I was suprised

I was suprised

- I didn't remember a thing between going to sleep the night before my second op and waking up 2 days later back in the cardiac ward.
- To hear about the dramas that went on while I was in ICU. I had to be taken back and opened up again to fix a big bleed. Quite glad I don't remember it.
-At how annoyed I got at people telling me how much better I was looking 3 and 4 days post op when I felt so bad there were times I wished I didn't make it.
-At how absolutely professional all the care I got was, in our often criticised public health system.
-At how well my employer looked after me. They gave me as much leave as I needed on full pay. Blew me away!

 

[james]

I was surprised at how hard that first BM was.
And the next 5 or 6.

During my first surgery I was surprised to wake up during the operation.

 

[BarbJean]

1. I was surprised to learn I had a PFO which they also repaired.

We were surprised that Colin had this too. With all of the echos he has had throughout his life I figured we knew all there was to know about his heart.

 

[Chele]

I am surprised how after surgery my eyes and nose seems to work better, colors seem more vivid and smells are stronger (nice ones and nasty ones)

 

[swim mom]

I didn't have the heightened sense of smell with this surgery but I did with another big surgery 12 years ago. The stronger bad smells can be frustrating, especially when others can't smell it or it doesn't bother them.

 

[Martin]

I was surprised (the next morning) to find the surgeon kneeling by the side of my bed, holding onto both of my hands, praying...when he sensed I was awake...he looked at me and said "I am so sorry!" By that time, I had already intuitively figured out that I had had a slight stroke...I was able to squeeze his hand with my right hand (which was my weak side) and he was encouraged....