Les Hazelton
Member
Recovery: What is "overdoing it"? How soon is too soon? I am 2 weeks post-op.
I am looking to challenge myself but wondering what happens when one over-reaches. Will my body warn me before I set myself up for a serious setback?
On April 25 I had surgery for my ascending aortic aneurism and bi-cuspid valve replacement (collectively, the Bentall Procedure). My age is 56 and I went in symptom-free which I realize is an advantage. I have thus far experienced no serious bumps in the road. That is to say, nothing that I consider too serious in light of how well prepared I felt after lurking here for the past several weeks. My thanks to all you contributors, great and small. I think the known bumps were more easily endured because of this forum. At least for me. I know there are some who experience more complications and my heart goes way out to you.
I am feeling so well, nearly forgetting my limitations even, at times. So I am wondering with all of the wise advice to take it easy, what is too much? Listen to the body? Dr. said today my lungs are clear, heart sounds good. I am able to walk for several blocks. Do stairs, etc. Of course I have odd moments of back or shoulder pain that surge for about 90 seconds and rival the night two discomfort for a minute or two, and the legs burn after a ridiculously short walk, and a short bout of A-Fib that won me a 30-day supply of Amiodarone, which it would have been nice to avoid altogether.
For those in the waiting room who are reading the Post Surgery section as I did, maybe sizing yourself up, in hopes you will have what it takes to come through, I can say as many others have, that I was fortunate and found it all very do-able. IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT a thrill seeker. I do not consider myself strong.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Les
Duluth, MN
I am looking to challenge myself but wondering what happens when one over-reaches. Will my body warn me before I set myself up for a serious setback?
On April 25 I had surgery for my ascending aortic aneurism and bi-cuspid valve replacement (collectively, the Bentall Procedure). My age is 56 and I went in symptom-free which I realize is an advantage. I have thus far experienced no serious bumps in the road. That is to say, nothing that I consider too serious in light of how well prepared I felt after lurking here for the past several weeks. My thanks to all you contributors, great and small. I think the known bumps were more easily endured because of this forum. At least for me. I know there are some who experience more complications and my heart goes way out to you.
I am feeling so well, nearly forgetting my limitations even, at times. So I am wondering with all of the wise advice to take it easy, what is too much? Listen to the body? Dr. said today my lungs are clear, heart sounds good. I am able to walk for several blocks. Do stairs, etc. Of course I have odd moments of back or shoulder pain that surge for about 90 seconds and rival the night two discomfort for a minute or two, and the legs burn after a ridiculously short walk, and a short bout of A-Fib that won me a 30-day supply of Amiodarone, which it would have been nice to avoid altogether.
For those in the waiting room who are reading the Post Surgery section as I did, maybe sizing yourself up, in hopes you will have what it takes to come through, I can say as many others have, that I was fortunate and found it all very do-able. IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT a thrill seeker. I do not consider myself strong.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Les
Duluth, MN