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I'm no stranger to exercise but haven't (for various reasons) been able to get back to a regular routine seven weeks out from surgery. This weekend I went to Las Vegas and was SHOCKED to discover that walking was kind of a problem! I mean, wow. My thighs hurt, my calves hurt...I even splurged...

My heart rate's always been a little high, but yeah...nearly five weeks post-op, it's in the 90's. The cardio didn't mention it, but my primary care guy ventured a guess that it's the extra iron I'm still taking from becoming anemic after surgery. Having read this thread (and others today), I'm...

I'm kinda glad to see this thread. :) I thought I was the only person to experience shortness of breath after surgery. :) In my case, I DO have a bit of an explanation. I had the less invasive procedure and my right lung was deliberately deflated for surgery...well, it hasn't 100% re-inflated...

Same thing happened to me--but they told me at 5p.m. the day before! SCREECH...my planning came to a grinding halt. :) Actually, even with just a couple days' delay, I found myself even more prepared when it finally happened so I was grateful. I know the waiting time is hard, but just think of...

Hey, Rhonda...welcome and best of luck with your surgery. I see that someone asked you which surgery you're having--the sternotomy or the the less-invasive. For the record, I had the less-invasive. Although I had a little lung problem which kept me in the hospital longer than expected, I have to...

This Thursday it will have been five weeks since my surgery, and I can't believe how the time has flown! One thing I've learned in life, time never stops...even when the bad stuff is going on...so just remember that every second that passes leads you closer to your surgery as being a thing of...

All I can recommend is LET PEOPLE HELP YOU! I'm sure that, being the mom, you're used to taking care of everyone else, but this is definitely the time to reverse that. :) I've always had a hard time asking people for favors and/or accepting their help, so when I had my surgery, it was a whole...

Hi, Lyn...the heart lung bypass thingy went through an incision in my groin on the left side, but it's the right leg I get the "electrical" twinge on, so go figure. :) It's not painful or anything, just a little weird. I have my first appt with my cardiologist tomorrow, so I'll ask her about it...

Hi, Mac...Don't worry! I didn't have a sternotomy so my sternum's intact. :) I did the portal access routine. I definitely wouldn't be driving yet, otherwise! ~Randy

...and I drove and worked today! Wheeee! Saw my surgeon yesterday, and he was very pleased with his work LOL. He cleaned up my incision a bit (over my right breast) and removed a couple stitches from beneath my breast where the chest tubes were and a couple more in my left chest where they had...

I'm almost three weeks post-op and I can vouch for the appetite coming back. :) ~Randy

Can't answer cuz I'm still so new to all this (only two weeks out from surgery), but I can certainly empathize with the nerves. Here's wishing you an excellent report at your check-up! ~Randy

So glad to hear things are going well. Laughter truly IS the best medicine! ~Randy

I love this forum! Every time I have a question, boom! There's the answer...or at least a discussion. I've had optical migraines all my life, and my theory has always been that they were hormonally related. Yes, I know men get them, too--and men have their own hormones, right? :) But check out...

What an upbeat report! I'm so happy for you! And, yes, savor all the love being showered on you--I'm sure you deserve it. :) ~Randy

For days all I wanted was cold and liquid. :) Hey, what was really cute--in the ICU they gave me a big red heart-shaped pillow with a diagram of a heart on it and a pen attached. It was my coughing pillow, but also something for autographs. i had the whole ICU team sign it. Randy

Brian, you made me smile with the admission that "ice chips being my new bff" is so relatable to all of us. And, yes, I'll be happy to continue posting details here. When people ask me how I chose my surgeon, I say: "On the Internet." And, you know what??!?? It's really true! Like everyone...

Luana, how interesting we both had collapsed lungs! Was yours the one on the left, too? (Meaning, NOT the one they deflated during surgery). And to answer your valve type question, I went with a tissue and the doc selected bovine, so MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. :) The hospital cardiac coordinator told...

Hey, all...it's great to be back here, able to report that I'm now POST-OPERATIVE. Ha. The third time was the charm, although it came down to the wire once again!!! On the morning I reported for surgery, I was still kinda wheezing from a chest cold and there was some talk of canceling again, but...

Terri, I wasn't suffering any symptoms, either. Well, I had my surgery 11 days ago, and my surgeon is still shaking his head, wondering how I was able to walk around with such a screwed up valve!! (Narrowed to a tiny hole and totally calcified and rigid.) As for surgery options, I went with the...