Six week check

[Dgreenbee]

Today I saw my cardiologist, six weeks post op. I was surprised that she did not take my blood pressure, examin me or ask how I was feeling. She ordered an EKG, scheduled an echocardiogram for the three month follow up and asked me what meds I was on.
She also prescribed Crestor, which I am very reluctant to take.
She also wants me to hold off returning to strenuous activities til after the echo in June. This seems excessive; at six weeks I think I should be able to do much more than just walking. Eight weeks ought to be enough rest, I think.

 

[Eva]

I personally think your cardiologist is very wise and careful to hold things off until the 3-month echo, as This is THE ECHOE that will reveal the true results of the surgery's successful details . My first echoes during the first six weeks of the surgery could not detect my leak, as the heart was still recovering! Be patient and "better be safe than sorry"!

Quote from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/recovery_ohs.aspx

For the first six to eight weeks:

Gradually increase your activity. You may do light household chores, but do not stand in one place longer than 15 minutes.

Do not lift objects greater than 20 pounds (your doctor may give you a different number if appropriate).

Also, do not push or pull heavy objects.

It is OK to perform activities above shoulder level, such as reaching for an object or brushing your hair. But, do not hold your arms above shoulder level for a longer period of time.

You may climb steps unless they have been restricted by your doctor. You may need to rest part of the way if you become tired. Do not climb up and down stairs several times during the day, especially when you first arrive home. It is better to plan activities to go downstairs in the morning and back upstairs when it is time for bed.

Pace yourself - spread your activities throughout the day. If you become tired, rest and schedule unfinished activities for another time.

Walk daily. Your doctor or cardiac rehabilitation specialist will give you guidelines for walking when you return home.

Get a good night’s sleep. If you feel tired, go to bed early. Be careful not to nap too much during the day or you may have difficulty sleeping at night.

Check with your doctor to confirm activity guidelines.
Unquote

 

[neil]

agree with eva its early days yet,take it easy theres no rush ok

 

[Dgreenbee]

Well, the thing is that I do know the importance of rest and healing; however, there needs to be an end to it and there needs to be progress. I cannot believe one goes from "do not lift anything" to "lift whatever you want" all at once. From what I have read, at six weeks the sternum is 80% to 90% healed. So I think the activity level should rise gradually too. Now, my surgeon said no heavy lifting for six weeks. My family doctor said eight weeks. My useless cardiologist is now saying twelve or even more. Who to believe? Also, it is not so simple, this business of resting. Every chore I do not do gets done by someone else. Often those things fall to. My wife, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery so these things are no picnic for her.

 

[Jkm7]

I personally think your cardiologist is very wise and careful to hold things off until the 3-month echo, as This is THE ECHOE that will reveal the true results of the surgery's successful details . My first echoes during the first six weeks of the surgery could not detect my leak, as the heart was still recovering! Be patient and "better be safe than sorry"!

Quote from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/recovery_ohs.aspx

For the first six to eight weeks:

Gradually increase your activity. You may do light household chores, but do not stand in one place longer than 15 minutes.

Do not lift objects greater than 20 pounds (your doctor may give you a different number if appropriate).

Also, do not push or pull heavy objects.

It is OK to perform activities above shoulder level, such as reaching for an object or brushing your hair. But, do not hold your arms above shoulder level for a longer period of time.

You may climb steps unless they have been restricted by your doctor. You may need to rest part of the way if you become tired. Do not climb up and down stairs several times during the day, especially when you first arrive home. It is better to plan activities to go downstairs in the morning and back upstairs when it is time for bed.

Pace yourself - spread your activities throughout the day. If you become tired, rest and schedule unfinished activities for another time.

Walk daily. Your doctor or cardiac rehabilitation specialist will give you guidelines for walking when you return home.

Get a good night’s sleep. If you feel tired, go to bed early. Be careful not to nap too much during the day or you may have difficulty sleeping at night.

Check with your doctor to confirm activity guidelines.
Unquote

I had two OHS at Mass General and was not given half of those limitations either surgery.
I was not permitted to leave the hospital until I walked a full flight of stairs and the nurse asked if I wanted to do another. I had no limit on stairs and walked them a number of times a day from day one home.

I was permitted light household chores from first home as tolerated. No lifting, pushing or pulling anything heavy. I did laundry first days home but had DH carry the basket.

I know it can vary widely how much surgeons permit their patients so we can't list what is permitted for all as it varies widely.

 

[Debbrn]

I had my 4th OHS 2 years ago at the age of 44.. I had surgery on thursday and was discharged the next tuesday. I had to stay a day longer because i required oxygen when I was asleep. Three days after I was discharged I walked 12,000 steps by the end of the day. I saw the cardio 2 weeks after discharge. She did a complete cardiac physical exam. She definitely asked how I was doing. I don't think I had an echo, but I do not remember. I flew home by myself the next day. I just checked all my baggage and used a wheelchair to get through the airport. I live in a one level small house. I did my own laundry and light housekeeping 3 weeks after surgery. No pushing or pulling. I was very limited how much I was allowed to lift for 6 weeks. I was not allowed to drive for 8 weeks. I saw my local cardio a couple months after surgery. I started cardiac rehab 6 weeks after surgery. By 8 weeks I was lifting light weights (5-10 pounds). I started back to work after 12 weeks on an orthopedic and rehab unit. Very physically demanding.

Debbie

 

[Eva]

...........

Quote from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/recovery_ohs.aspx

For the first six to eight weeks:
.................
Check with your doctor to confirm activity guidelines.
Unquote

.............
I was not permitted to leave the hospital until I walked a full flight of stairs and the nurse asked if I wanted to do another. *I had no limit on stairs and walked them a number of times a day from day one home.
............

I know it can vary widely how much surgeons permit their patients so we can't list what is permitted for all as it varies widely..

jkm7,

I totally agree with you that:

(1) "it can vary widely how much surgeons permit their patients". Since I trust that surgeons base their instructions upon careful each patient's unique health's condition and heart's muscle strength.

For example! I was not permitted to walk a flight of stairs until my 12th day in the hospital. At home, i was instructed to limit myself to only once-a-day downstairs/upstairs walk, until the nurse cleared me which was six or seven weeks later.

(2) Again I totally agree "we can't list what is permitted for all, as it varies widely". You may have noticed that was a list i copied from CC which was ended with this advice:: Check with your doctor to confirm activity guidelines.

I like to encourage patientsto follow their doctors who knows their exact situation more than we do! And I hope they do not use the activities listed by the luckier patients as a measure to go by!

 

[epstns]

Yes, but D's issue, I think, is that the advice of the three doctors varies greatly. I would think that the best thing to try is to see if the cardio realizes that he/she is at odds with the surgeon. My surgeon pretty much told me "If it feels good, do it." at 4 weeks. I was 63 years old, and had a rough time in the first month of recovery. The surgeon basically said that as long as I didn't try to do any extreme tasks or lift heavy objects, ordinary daily activities like walking and stairs couldn't break anything, so go ahead and to them. Heck, I was back to work nearly full-time at 6 weeks. I would talk with the cardio and if no help there, follow the doctor you trust the most. They are probably all right, in their own ways.