Hey, Revvy... just wanted you to know I've been thinking about you every once in a while... just remember that recovery is a long process. I agree with the Rocky quote above, but it's good to have a kick-ass attitude.
It's official, I'm having heart surgery on Feb 18th...wow, it's real now.
- Thread starter Revvy
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Yes, Revvy, I thought of you last night as I sipped on my Bourbon Oak Stout while snowblowing. Man, I bet Revvy wishes he could be doing this right now!
Revvy, you'll have to work hard for quite a while but you're going to improve. It just takes a while for muscles (including the heart) to strengthen, for blood vessels to sprout, and for your body to become more efficient at extracting and using oxygen. Keep at it, OK?LOL.
I know, it's just hard. I'm so anxious to be able to do stuff again. And to get back into shape. I just want to be normal. And I thought I was going to be like Rocky and kick butt on the treadmill this morning. Not nearly be puking after only a few minutes.
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
yay they ley me go home today thanks to all for prayers and well wishes
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Revvy View Post
LOL.
I know, it's just hard. I'm so anxious to be able to do stuff again. And to get back into shape. I just want to be normal. And I thought I was going to be like Rocky and kick butt on the treadmill this morning. Not nearly be puking after only a few minutes.
Well i tell you what I am in army national guard 6 months ago i was doing push ups sit ups and attempting to run 2 miles LOL now im lucky if i can walk fast out to edge of yard and back to check the mail!!!!! we both just had major trauma to our major organs that control that ability. Yours was worse than mine I only needed valve replacement not pace maker so revvy as a great man once said "relax don't worry have a home-brew" you will get there my friend!
LOL.
I know, it's just hard. I'm so anxious to be able to do stuff again. And to get back into shape. I just want to be normal. And I thought I was going to be like Rocky and kick butt on the treadmill this morning. Not nearly be puking after only a few minutes.
Well i tell you what I am in army national guard 6 months ago i was doing push ups sit ups and attempting to run 2 miles LOL now im lucky if i can walk fast out to edge of yard and back to check the mail!!!!! we both just had major trauma to our major organs that control that ability. Yours was worse than mine I only needed valve replacement not pace maker so revvy as a great man once said "relax don't worry have a home-brew" you will get there my friend!
OP
OP
Yeah I was kinda waiting for you to come back online last week to talk to you about it. I figured from your FB page you were active duty or something, and probably were more fit than me. SO you'd be a good one to bounce this off of. I've been pretty much sidelined for a year and a half or so or whenever my valve to a powder. It's gonna be really interesting to see what happens with your first post surgery stress test in a month or so.
Looks like we're going through this together, buddy!!!
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
What i found very funny is after surgery the dr said he dont even know how i walked into surgery my opening was only 8 millimeters and the valve they put in was 25 mm he don't even know how i was functioning told him it was hardheadedness LOL yes i will definitely let you know how im getting along
OP
OP
Sounds like mine, it was smaller than a dime, the surgeon said the surrounding tissue was calcified, and he had to do the same thing, widen the hole. But also the calcification spread to the node, and that's why my heart wouldn't re-start and they had to put in the pacemaker.
I'm curious what meds you're on now that you're out of the hospital...If you don't wanna mention them publicly...I'm curious about how different docs deal with this and what they put you on. My meds will prolly change this week, I see the cardiologist on tuesday now that I've had all those followup tests.
Sounds like good news for both of you! 
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
I opted for mechanical valve so I will be on blood thinners (coumadin) the rest of my life and im on a blood pressure medicine (Lopressor) just until everything is regulated, and next 2 i have to take for next ten days Lasix for water retention after surgery K-dur a supplement for pottasium due to lasix LOL and i have percocet for pain
OP
OP
Oh god...Lasixs suck....Were you on it while cathetered? They are a cruel joke, when they kick in there's not not going to the bathroom. When I was on the cardiac unit I had a cool make nurse and I used tease him that he was giving them to all of us troublesome patients to keep us in the bathroom and not punching the call light.
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
They didn't start lasix till after i was uncatheterized and when my weight didn't drop fast enough they doubled the dose, I was going to bathroom every 5 minutes had to have 2 urinals cause they couldn't empty them fast enough. i hated that I think its to keep us running to and from bathroom for exercise LOL
OP
OP
Not feeling too swift today. My ribs ache for the first time in weeks. Yesterday we went to MB's brother's house in marysville. And it was on a long (maybe 3/4 mile) washboard dirt road. And no matter how slow she went I think they took a bit of a punishment. I feel low grade achy...
mikeysab
Well-Known Member
As long as you don't feel like low grade dog food
OP
OP
"Someday I want to see those streets of gold in my halo
But I wouldn't mind waiting at least a hundred years or so..."
Good of you to wait and hang out with us, sir.
But I wouldn't mind waiting at least a hundred years or so..."
Good of you to wait and hang out with us, sir.
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
well had my first blood check and my INR lvl whatever that is was high so he told me to stop taking my cumiden (blood thinner) and told me to stop taking a medicine he never prescribed to me now im kinda scared he don't know what medicines im on!!!!! WTH
Uh, yeah, I would think the doctor not knowing what you're taking would be less than comforting!!
Hopsilicious
Member
I wouldn't worry about the doc not knowing what he's doing. Coumadin can be touchy and it varies by individual. It can also vary if your diet varies. Vitamin k reduces its effectiveness. I've had 2 open heart surgeries and I'm only 23. Mitral valve repair followed by replacement 4 years later. I was on coumadin for 6 months after the replacement as a precaution and my INR wasn't normal until the last month. This open heart business strikes a personal note with me. I'm glad to hear the both of you are on the road to recovery. Believe me, its a long and rocky road, but you'll get there. Just do not stop rehab or exercising. I did and basically felt horribly out of shape for over a year.
OP
OP
Thanks for the encouraging words. I see the cardiologist tomorrow and he'll clear me for rehab, which I'm looking forward too...I guess.
I know it's different for everyone, and even the location of the pain is different for everyone, but I'm just so sick of this pain under my right breast that goes up into my arm pit. Partially because it's in the same spot everyday.
How long was pain for your surgeries? I've had 4 refills of pain meds, and I'm about to run out. I'm down to "as needed" but that's still everyday- I can get to maybe 6 hours, but then it's back, and stronger than ever. And after sleeping on my back it's terrible in the morning, just a tearing feeling.
I'm afraid to call the surgeon again for a renew of the script. I was told hydrocodone isn't addictive, but still. I don't know if I should just go to regular over the counter tylenol or what?
I guess I should be glad that for me the pain is not in the ribs like it was in the beginning, (except today because of the bouncy drive yesterday- and the fact that I'm coughing for some reason today) that pain is some of the worst I've ever felt. But this pit pain because it is the same day in and out is just driving me crazy.
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
What i meant is he told me to stop taking a medicine im not even on and revvy Im now starting to get that ache in right armpit lol
OP
OP
So which doc is confused, your cardilogist or your surgeon? The one thing I noticed is there is the too many chiefs syndrome, especially when you're in the hospital, and they ALL have their own agendas.
After surgery the surgeon is really just concerned with recovery from the surgery....though he may also be the one making the decisions in regards to the mechanical valve....but my home nurse told me pretty much the only thing your sugeon deals with after is pain management, healing/recovering from the surgery, and making the decision about when you go back to work, drive, etc.-
Your cardiologist is the one in charge of your heart function, cardiac rehab, and any medication concerning cholesteral/blood pressure etc. You may see your surgeon once or twice after you get out of the hospital, but you will be seeing the cardilogist a lot, for the rest of your life. I guess after I'm back to work it will only be once every 6 months or a year.
In my case I also have a doc in charge of the function of the pace maker- though evidently my surgeon normally would be, but in mine's case I think because he's the chief of cardio-thoracic surgery, he probably has too many cards on the table to be able to deal with tweaking the pacemaker, so one of my cardilogist's partners sees me for that stuff....
I don't know if you have a third doc dealing with the mechanics of your artificial valve, but maybe that is dealt with by your surgeon.
When I was in the hospital I had all these docs...
1)The "hospitalist" in the SICU who say me every morning. He was the house doc.
2) My cardilogist, but since he was in Beliz, it was one of his partners representing him.
3) My Primary Care physician, but since he didn't have privaleges there it was one of HIS partner's representing him.
4) My surgeon- Or one of his nurse/practitioners representing him because he was in surgery practically the whole time I was in the hospital.
5) The pace maker specialist.
6) The other cardilogist who was trying to regulate my heartbeat chemically, since they at first couldn't control it with the pacemaker.
All of them had some control over the meds I was taking. It was ludicrious. And half of them didn't seem to know what the other half was doing.
As to pit pain, try an old school hot water bottle, or one of those bean bags that you heat in the microwave. I just started using it And it does help. I wish someone had thought to suggest it to me right away. You can move it from under your arm to over the breast area.
I also found that wedging your heart pillow into your pit when you are lying down does seem to help too. I think it just puts a gap in there that takes some strain off the muscles. But definitely try some heat. Maybe you can nip it in the bud.
In fact it's time for a waterbottle treatment.
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
I haven't seen my cardiologist yet have appt on Thurs with him and new blood draw on Wednesday this was the surgeon who wrote my scrips on leaving hosp!!
Hopsilicious
Member
I never had this long lasting pain you speak of. The main pain i had was the typical soreness. Although every now and then I may have a slight, sharp pain when i move a certain way. Almost like I tweaked a muscle. I've been told that's normal. Actually, I was never on any pain meds either. Ibuprofen as needed. The soreness went away within 4 months or so. One thing I've noticed, its been 3 years and I'll still get a random cough with some fluid build up. Maybe a couple coughs and it goes away. What's weird is the fluid though. I can feel it right now. Doctor can't explain it and isn't concerned since my lungs are clear and the fluid is clear.
manhattanksbrewer
Well-Known Member
Well it may have to do with the fact we are almost twice your age LOL I have noticed alot of things for me dont heal up as fast as they used
Hopsilicious
Member
Age plays a major factor in recovery time. I had my first surgery at 16 at childrens hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A day after surgery I'm still laying around when a 2 year old comes in, just hours out of surgery. All he wanted to do was get up and go play in a kids room down the hall. The kid literally just had surgery and he was running around. I was amazed.
It sucks to think I'll be due for another surgery most likely in the next 5 or so years. Originally, the docs told me a tissue mitral valve replacement could last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. So being as young as I am I decided against the mechanical valve and being dependant on blood thinners. So far it's worked out great, besides being open on the table for more than 10 hours since the surgeon lost a tiny peg in my heart, which led to tachycardia once I went home. One of my last visits, I saw another cardiologist who is on the same team as mine, and he told me I'd be lucky if I get 10 years out of a tissue valve.....
It sucks to think I'll be due for another surgery most likely in the next 5 or so years. Originally, the docs told me a tissue mitral valve replacement could last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. So being as young as I am I decided against the mechanical valve and being dependant on blood thinners. So far it's worked out great, besides being open on the table for more than 10 hours since the surgeon lost a tiny peg in my heart, which led to tachycardia once I went home. One of my last visits, I saw another cardiologist who is on the same team as mine, and he told me I'd be lucky if I get 10 years out of a tissue valve.....
ChshreCat
Well-Known Member
I noticed the same thing when our daughter was recovering from her accident last year. At one point she was going to have surgery to set the breaks in her pelvis, then it was decided it wasn't necessary. Then for two full days after that we kept having different doctors coming in and demanding to know why the patient was eating when he was about to send her for surgery or why she was extubated when they were just going to have to intubate her again fro the surgery. It was nuts.
OP
OP
Had a very good cardiologist appt. He set my mind at ease re: the stress test last week. He also took me off the statin drug since I don't really have cholesterol issues. I'm still on mega doses of blood pressure meds, and the one to regulate my sinus rhythym, but he might take me off the Amiodarone when I see him in 2 months. I make an apt to start cardiac rehab tomorrow.
Hopsilicious
Member
How long is rehab? Mine was 12 weeks
OP
OP
I don't know, he didn't say, and I can't read his writing on the script for it. I wonder if 12 weeks is the average. It's probably determined by insurance.
Hopsilicious
Member
Probably. Hope it goes well
OP
OP
As long as I see improvement from that crappy stress test last week I'll be happy. I know that's what it's about, building back my endurance. I'm actually looking forward to it. I miss working out.
Hopsilicious
Member
My main advice is to do your best not to get discouraged. You'll have good days and the bad will seem worse than the stress test. Also, don't stop working out after rehab. I've noticed if i go a short while without exercise, I lose the progress I've made fairly quick.
OP
OP
Contacted cardiac rehab @ St John's, now I have to wait for the paperwork to go through before I can start. Hopefully all that insurance and authorization can happen quick so I can start this week. It's M-W-F so hopefully I can start on Friday.
mikeysab
Well-Known Member
Cardiac rehab....thats good times.
OP
OP
It sounds like when I was starting out at my gym when I was able to work out, having a trainer for a few weeks. Except for the whole heart monitor thing.
Hopsilicious
Member
I hated being strapped to the monitor. Darn thing never stayed on.
OP
OP
For the stress test it was attached to a belt. But I'm wondering if it will be a loose unit like I wore in the hospital, I have a scrub shirt that I wore in the hospital with a pocket right on the front, I'll probably bring it with me and try that.
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