3 months post this past Friday, Feb 15th.

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AshPitt21710

Active member
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
28
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Well I figured I'd a little update and I had a few questions.

Things seem to be going pretty well. I was taken off Metoprolol and baby aspirin about 3 weeks ago and haven't had any issues not being on it, which I'm really happy about, I hate taking pills. I am still on Iron pills because my hemoglobin seems to want to stay stuck around 10 :/ Trying everything to get it back up but since I've had low iron issues before, this is probably the reason it seems to stay at 10. Hopefully next month when I get it checked again it will be up and I can get off the pills. I moved to a new house with my fiance. :) The move was really hard on me, I slept a lot and really couldn't be much help once we started moving because I was too tired from packing and moving some little stuff to the new house but my family helped out and we are settled in!! I have been back to work for about a month now and slowly going back to full time, my boss is adding more hours every week to slowly get me used to working full time again. My surgeon and cardiologist said that I didn't need to do cardiac rehab unless I really wanted to since I really didn't have any issues. They did however recommend I work out a few times a week so I am now going to a gym and I have a trainer to help since I've never really worked out before and wasn't too active. Things there seem to be going good. I'm not really doing a lot just yet, maybe a half hour, depending on how I feel. But every week I am doing more and more. My scar is healing really well.

I do have a couple questions though. Did anyone struggle with their energy level this far after surgery? I know my iron still isn't back to normal and that could be part of it but when my iron was low before, I still had energy to do things and didn't want to take naps 2 or 3 times a day depending on what I did.

I am also still having issues with feeling around my scar. On each side of my breasts near my scar its numb. My surgeon said that will go away as I heal more. I was wondering if anyone had that issue and how long it took for you to be able to feel in that area again?
 
As I recall, you seem to be doing about right. Not one single one of us, healed or recovered in the same manner or pace. The fact that you are able to get to the gym plus work is a bonus. Naps, I took many, I went back to what I thought would be full time after 8 weeks and my boss still would let me go home after about 4 or 5 hours and I work a desk job. Once home I took a nap or just rested and read a book. This went on for about another couple of months.
I believe the numbness will go away, I had only a litlle around the lower end of my scar, but it passed. Give yourself time. You are doing fine.:)
 
I am six weeks post op and agree that everyone seems to heal at a different pace or same manner. I get very anixous about how slow the healing seems to progress at times. Yet each week I feel stronger. My biggest issue right now is dizzieness, I seem to have a dizzy spell once a day or so. I have talked to my cardiologist and he has me on a halter moniter for a month, for the dizzieness and possible afib due to some sleep apnea I am having. I have read many others complaining about dizzieness and hope that it goes away eventually. Good luck to you, sounds like you are doing all the right things.
 
As said before, we all heal differently. Healing process, in my opinion, depends on your health condition before your surgery. Keep taking your iron pills...they help a lot especially if one is a bit anemic. Walking/exercising regularly, eating the right foods, and resting enough are necessary play a big role in helping us feel better after the surgery.

good luck and keep us posted.
 
Each of my surgeries, my stamina was low for months and I tired easily. I recovered smoothly and without incident both times but my body worked its own rhythm to when I started feeling strong again.

I also had numbness to the left side of my incision and still do coming up to five years later. It doesn't bother me and is truly insignificant to me, in the whole scheme of two OHS, but nevertheless I have some lack of feeling in a rather small area.

Sounds like you are doing very, very well.

If you do no exercise but walk, it is the biggest favor you can do yourself during healing. For me, it made a huge difference. Walk, walk, walk...... very helpful for whole body wellness.
 
Thank you everyone!! The input is so appreciated!!

I have another question for you guys. I have to have a tooth pulled and my oral surgeon prescribed me Amoxicillin to take one hour before my tooth getting pulled. He has the Amoxicillin at 500mg and me taking 4...one hour before...and none after. Is this normal? That just seems like an awful lot to me to take all at once.
 
Ash that's exactly what I take before dental appointments - verified by my cardiologist and infectious disease specialist. It IS a lot but that's kinda the point, kill all the baddies you do NOT want endocarditis!
 
Ash that's exactly what I take before dental appointments - verified by my cardiologist and infectious disease specialist. It IS a lot but that's kinda the point, kill all the baddies you do NOT want endocarditis!

Oh I know I don't want it!! It just seemed like a whole lot to me. And I thought I would start a few days before and go a few days after but knowing that its something that a lot do, makes me feel more at ease.
 
My cardiolgist just prescribed the exact same thing for an upcoming dental appt. As far as recovery, its different for everyone. I started back to work part time six weeks post op and that kicked my butt. It wasn't until I was at the three month mark that I was able to pull a full workload and I too have a desk job. Others have posted here that they're better than new at four weeks (I'm so jealous), but, the way I see it, as long as it all comes together, its all good. I didn't have my 'aha' moment until a full year after surgery, though I was feeling pretty darn good most of the time before, one day I just reralized how great I felt. Best of luck getting to that point, the hard part should be behind you.
 
Danielb just curious but why were your sternal wires removed. I've had 2 ohs and have never heard of this. Thanks always looking for new information.
 
Thank you everyone!! The input is so appreciated!!

I have another question for you guys. I have to have a tooth pulled and my oral surgeon prescribed me Amoxicillin to take one hour before my tooth getting pulled. He has the Amoxicillin at 500mg and me taking 4...one hour before...and none after. Is this normal? That just seems like an awful lot to me to take all at once.

Ash, This would be the normal pre-med for cardiac patients, however, I would check with your cardio/surgeon about this if I were you. I was told by my Dr's at the Mayo clinic NOT to have any dental work done for 6 months post surgery (hence the need for pre surgery dental clearance) and I know that others on here have been told the same by their Drs. Unfortunately, I found myself in a situation at 3 months post op where a crown came off and I had to have some work done on that tooth. Obviously, waiting 3 more months in that case isn't an option, as I'm sure yours isn't either. So, my cardio put me on 2 weeks of antibiotics if my memory serves me correct. All was fine in the end, but I would definitely run it past them, just in case. Good luck!
 
My surgeon, cardiologist, primary care and dentists all recommended I take the stated 4 capsules 500 mg each amoxicillan one hour beforer every dental appointment no matter what I am having done.

I was instructed to not have any dental appointments until at least 6 months post op. My surgeon had me get a letter from my dentist before my second surgery that I had no mouth infection and no need for immediate work.

Good luck...... all best wishes!
 
Thanks guys! I actually had to have all my teeth removed the week before my AVR because my teeth had gotten so bad and I had so many infections in my mouth because growing up, dentists were always afraid to see me or do anything because of my valve problems. And the oral surgeon had left one of my wisdom teeth in...I don't know why but he did. And in order to get my dentures, ALL my teeth need to be out so I have to go have this wisdom tooth extracted. I will call my cardiologist's office and ask him because when I saw him last, I was under the impression that ALL my teeth had in fact been extracted. I really hope because it's just one tooth, he won't have me wait 3 more months because I'm dying without having teeth! I miss eating so much food! Thanks again!
 

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