What do you mean by 'Normal?'

[pdx_guy]

I am facing surgery (Aortic Valve replacement - mechanical - and bypass). I often read on these forums of how long it takes to be 'back to normal' but what do you mean by this?

Is it 'back to how I felt prior to surgery?' or 'back up to a functioning level' or 'back to a level of feeling and performance that is better than before?'

 

[Duff Man]

They say that usually when you're dealing with a valve that doesn't perform well pre-surgery you can actually feel better than before. Alot comment on how in hindsight they can tell they had several symptoms but never recognized them because they had nothing to compare it to since it had been so long since their valve was operating well.

 

[pdx_guy]

So then how long after surgery until..

1. I feel as good as I did pre-surgery
2. I feel better than I did pre-surgery (or how long was it for you?)

 

[Bina]

Howdy PDX, it depends on your age, and current level of fitness......to a degree.
And then some ppl just don't recover fast from OHS (I'm one of those), and others have some complications that take a bit of time to straighten out.
What stage are you at? age?

 

[Ross]

Short easy answer 6 months to a full year.

 

[dick0236]

Is it 'back to how I felt prior to surgery?' or 'back up to a functioning level' or 'back to a level of feeling and performance that is better than before?'

Odds are that "normal" will be what you want it to be. Its been a long time for me and my memory is a little dim. I can remember that I passed an employment physical with a Fortune 50 company six weeks after surgery and went to work full time (white collar). I also remember digging a post hole, much to my wifes horror, shortly after that. I think I was trying to prove that I was still "normal". I honestly cannot remember any downside to my physical recovery. From what I read here, physical recovery, if you are reasonably healthy going into surger, is not a big deal.

For me, mentally accepting the valve took much longer. Positive support and information thru groups such as VR.com are invaluable.....Thank GOD for the internet

 

[Woodbutcher]

Define Normal ?? It's a tricky one that.

But without being too profound I think Ross is bang on with 6 to 12 months. That's pretty much how I understand it. And I feel I've a long way to go yet after 5 weeks.

 

[pdx_guy]

I m very healthy, 47 years old and used to be quite active.

So what I am hearing is that I won't be back to where I am _now_ for at least six months after surgery?

 

[Marguerite53]

Hello and welcome! I am also in the Portland Metro area. I had my AVR at Good Sam almost 3 years ago.

It may be that there are going to be a lot of different responses to your question! For me, normal meant that my sternum felt solid (healed is not always solid), that the effect of the drugs were really gone, that my heart had settled into a good pattern/rhythm and felt as if it were used to its new status, I was sleeping normally, I was thinking clearly. I suggested the term me-ness in a different thread, and while difficult to explain, perhaps, that is what I sought as the definition of being back to normal. For me it was actually over a year, but I was fully functioning otherwise after about 5 weeks -- gently in the beginning.

In terms of everyday; getting in and out of the car without wincing or feeling protective, preparing a meal, doing your laundry, walking a large dog kind of thing, that depends on your sternum healing and that usually is fine at 4-6 weeks. The post-op with the surgeon is usually scheduled at the appropriate time and they do a simple test (hold the palm of their hand over your sternum and have you turn your head from side to side) to determine if they feel that the sternum is healed.

Hope that helps.

Marguerite

 

[Bina]

You are at a good age to feel better than ever after surgery.
2 months will give you a solid sternum, and some ppl are already walking a few miles at that point.
The thing is to progress in a steady fashion.....no heroics, just sensible exercise.

 

[bookjp]

pdx I'm kind of in your situation too.Don't know if you have any symptoms now.I don't have any at all but they talk like I'm lucky to be alive.I would be happy to feel exactly like I do now after surgery.I'm resigned to the fact that they know what there talking about.But I'm sticking to my motto I tell everyone.I STILL FEEL GOOD!!!!!

 

[danb1983]

I'm at the 2 month mark now after OHS for a valve repair - I'd say for doing normal easy day to day things i feel 95%+ - there are no tiredness / lack of energy issues, just no heavy lifting....

when having a busy day - I mean walking 3 or 4 miles + / and going shopping, out to bars on a night / round to see friends / out for a meal /.... generally a busy day with a few different activities I feel 90-95% normal - not really any energy / tiredness issues - but perhaps a little towards the very end of the day i..e I'm glad for a rest... but I / anyone "normal" would probably be glad for a rest after a hectic day anyway...

If I was to go to the gym I probably would get tired so, well I havent tried it and will have to build up to it but I couldnt really jog / do more than 30 minutes on a cross trainer / exercise bike without getting pretty tired, but would be fine after a rest I'm sure...

I'm aged 25 and was generally healthy before the op, and certainly didn't get tired or held back in any way by my valve, so it depends upon your age, any other problems you might have, and your fitness before hand - but yes, there is life after OHS, and whatever your "normal" is, I'm sure you will get back there

Dan

 

[pdx_guy]

Great answers! Exactly what I was looking for. You guys rock!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

It took me 18 months to feel that I had reached my "full surgical benefit" which meant recovery PLUS reconditioning my body to be able to work in the woods hand sawing trees and push mowing large areas (45 to 90 minutes per session). Note that I was pretty well de-conditioned before surgery.

 

[Rich]

I was 58 at the time of my surgery. At twelve weeks there was nothing I couldn't do physically.
It is my understanding that the sternum takes about ten weeks on the average to pretty much fully heal.
Take it slow at first but don't just sit around doing nothing.
By the end of the first week I was home we walked at least a mile twice a day,everyday rain or shine. I still believe that was the one thing that really helped me recover quick and easy. I asked about re-hab and my cardiologist said what for, you are already far ahead of what they could do for you.
Rich

 

[ponygirlmom]

I just had my six-month valversary.

I am "back to normal" when I clean my house.
I am NOT "back to normal" when I clean my horse.

I am "back to normal" when I inline speed skate.
I am NOT "back to normal" when I ride horses.

I am "better than before" when I belly-dance.
I am "worse than before" when do yoga.

I am "back to normal" for daytime activities.
I am NOT "back to normal" for nighttime activities, because I need more sleep than before.

 

[netmiff]

I had AVR at age 52, not particularly healthy or fit; was kept in a "drug-induced coma" for two full days afterwards, due to a spot of pneumonia - still needed the breating tubes. I was working from home (I will admit, in PJs and between naps) the day after my release, a full week after my surgery. I also used public transportation (buses) about a week after that. I was still a bit sore in the sternum-healing department, and my heart huggie pillow went everywhere I did. 3 weeks after surgery, I opened my first retail store. I was still a little tired, and could not (was not allowed to) lift anything heavy. Surgery was Sept 6, and I would say by Christmas I was "normal".

 

[abbanabba]

Hi pdx... I spent 5 years with symptoms before my PVR and last year was pretty-much housebound because I was so short of breath and exhausted all the time. This Wednesday will be 6 weeks since my surgery and in many ways I am already feeling better than I did pre-op (can walk and talk at the same time!!) - yet I am nowhere near what I would consider "normal", which was what I was before I became symptomatic and could dance, weight train, work full-time, socialise, etc. I expect it will take me at least 8-12 months to get back to that point.

I guess it also depends on a lot of other things too like how your general health/fitness/diet is before the surgery. The better shape you're in beforehand, the quicker you're likely to recover.


A : )

 

[ctyguy]

I had my AVR 11 months ago and other than the scar on my chest and the pillbox on my sink you wouldn't know I had OHS. I was walking on the treadmill at 2 weeks, slow jog at 4 weeks, back to work at 5 weeks, running a few miles and weight lifting at 6 weeks, and golfing (still crappy) at 10 weeks.

If your in good health going into your surgery other than the valve (thats how I was) you will probably drop a few pounds and lose some muscle mass but you will bounce back pretty quickly.

 

[Cooker]

I?m not really sure what normal is ?. It took me about a year before I felt like myself ? I have improved steadily from that point ? I believe this is improvement ins due to the surgery, adding exercise and eating correctly ?. Normal is what is normal for you.