P
Peter Easton
Hi folks,
I am going on 5 weeks post-operation (next Tuesday is that anniversary) and things seem to be going pretty well. Haven't had much severe soreness and the fatigue has begun to fade. Walking is my prime source of exercise (and of getting out, since I still don't drive*). From a scant 100 yards of "shuffling" I'm up to about 2.5-3 miles of walking at a semi-leisurely pace (very leisurely uphill!) Often I can really feel my heart beating. Seems to sort of gently shake my whole rib cage, which tends to divert attention from whatever I am doing, but I guess that is par for the course.
I plan to phase back into work part-time week after next. Since part of my work can be done electronically, I've actually been performing some tasks over the last few weeks, spaced out by naps and light reading.
One effect I have noticed and haven't seen much discussed here on the threads (though it must be back there somewhere in our archives) is post-operative depression. I have had depression at a couple of times in the past, including one major episode about 15 years ago, so I am perhaps more susceptible than some to reoccurence. But I do get the impression that onset of some depression after major surgery like this isn't at all uncommon.
How have folks experienced it and dealt with it? Mine is worst in the morning, when it can be extremely hard to get going. I try a method that worked for me in earlier bouts. When I feel as though I just no longer have any faith (one of the symptoms), I ask myself "What would faith do?" (i.e., what would I do if I did feel my faith) and then I just make myself begin to do that -- and the depression seems to lift. Exercise definitely helps, and I am taking 100 mg/day of Zoloft, which was my medication when dealing with depression in earlier days.
(Chocolate also works for me on minor bouts, even it it doesn't quite fit with a cardiac diet. A friend brought over some wonderful chocolate mousse yesterday, so I must be in full-scale remission!)
Depression still suffers a bit of the old-time hush-hush treatment where people were embarassed to talk about it and own up to it, but happily we've come out of that mindset to a good extent in the last twenty years, I find. I think people realize better that it is a genuine medical condition, often linked to others. With me, onsets have always been linked to (though usually occur some time AFTER) periods of stress; so it stands to reason that major surgery could be a trigger.
So good cheer to any out there who may also be struggling with episodes of depression! Would love to hear about your experience and remedies, or any other related post-operative notes.
Peter
* My cardio actually says it's fine to drive after 4 weeks, but my wife say no (!). Probably a wise lady, though she ends up doing commute and kid carrying tasks about 24/7.
I am going on 5 weeks post-operation (next Tuesday is that anniversary) and things seem to be going pretty well. Haven't had much severe soreness and the fatigue has begun to fade. Walking is my prime source of exercise (and of getting out, since I still don't drive*). From a scant 100 yards of "shuffling" I'm up to about 2.5-3 miles of walking at a semi-leisurely pace (very leisurely uphill!) Often I can really feel my heart beating. Seems to sort of gently shake my whole rib cage, which tends to divert attention from whatever I am doing, but I guess that is par for the course.
I plan to phase back into work part-time week after next. Since part of my work can be done electronically, I've actually been performing some tasks over the last few weeks, spaced out by naps and light reading.
One effect I have noticed and haven't seen much discussed here on the threads (though it must be back there somewhere in our archives) is post-operative depression. I have had depression at a couple of times in the past, including one major episode about 15 years ago, so I am perhaps more susceptible than some to reoccurence. But I do get the impression that onset of some depression after major surgery like this isn't at all uncommon.
How have folks experienced it and dealt with it? Mine is worst in the morning, when it can be extremely hard to get going. I try a method that worked for me in earlier bouts. When I feel as though I just no longer have any faith (one of the symptoms), I ask myself "What would faith do?" (i.e., what would I do if I did feel my faith) and then I just make myself begin to do that -- and the depression seems to lift. Exercise definitely helps, and I am taking 100 mg/day of Zoloft, which was my medication when dealing with depression in earlier days.
(Chocolate also works for me on minor bouts, even it it doesn't quite fit with a cardiac diet. A friend brought over some wonderful chocolate mousse yesterday, so I must be in full-scale remission!)
Depression still suffers a bit of the old-time hush-hush treatment where people were embarassed to talk about it and own up to it, but happily we've come out of that mindset to a good extent in the last twenty years, I find. I think people realize better that it is a genuine medical condition, often linked to others. With me, onsets have always been linked to (though usually occur some time AFTER) periods of stress; so it stands to reason that major surgery could be a trigger.
So good cheer to any out there who may also be struggling with episodes of depression! Would love to hear about your experience and remedies, or any other related post-operative notes.
Peter
* My cardio actually says it's fine to drive after 4 weeks, but my wife say no (!). Probably a wise lady, though she ends up doing commute and kid carrying tasks about 24/7.