Get over it already

[TomS]

This week will be four weeks since I had my aortic valve and root replaced. I spend a lot of time sleeping and am getting a bit frustrated with still being tired most of the time. Any tips from you vets out there on how I can get back on my feet faster? I'm only 48, otherwise in perfect health, and had anticipated that I'd be closer to normal by now, and am looking to get back to work in a couple of weeks. The Doc's say I'm slightly anemic, but otherwise perfectly fine.
Thanks,
Tom

[Mary]

No advice, other than to say:
Four weeks is only four weeks! You'll feel much better at 8 weeks, and almost normal by 12! IMHO

Mary (about12 weeks post-op)

[catwoman]

Tom:

I had MVR & a septal defect repaired @ age 52. At 4 weeks, I began feeling better, went back to work half-time @ 7 weeks, was full-time @ 11 weeks.
However, I did not feel really "normal" for about 8-9 months. I travel a lot on weekends; leaving right at 4 p.m. to drive somewhere & arriving @ 11 p.m. drained my energy. I tended to fly rather than drive to places like Houston, Tulsa -- both usually 4.5 to 5-hour drives from my home near Fort Worth -- to conserve my energy.

So, it's hard to say when someone will feel "normal" again.
But when it happens: Look out, world!

[Ross]

Yoo Tom, your trying to rush something that is unrushable. You are exactly where you should be for this time out. Give it another month and things will begin to improve faster. I'm not going to say that you won't need a few naps even then, but it will be less then now. Your body has had major trauma and it takes a whole lot longer to bounce back from this then most people realize. I know alot of them make it sound like they are fine one week out, but honestly, I think their lying through their teeth too!

[Tom F.]

Make haste SLOWLY my friend. Your chest will still be healing six months after surgery. That is the reason why most of us still feel the effects of surgery for six months or more post op. At four weeks you will be tired. At three months you will be better, much better, but if you push yourself too hard you will feel it. Relax. Put your feet up. Whatever great things you want to do, put them off until spring !

[Karlynn]

Just getting over the affects of general anesthesia takes a while in itself. I think if you were to see a video of your own surgery, you'd really find that you felt silly for expecting to be further along after 4 weeks.

Take the time to rest, walk and care for yourself. A year from now you may look back nostolgically on this time you had just to rest and recuperate and wish you'd had more time to do just that.

[LLJ]

4 weeks??? Man that's no time at all! Admittedly, I thought I'd be good at 4 weeks and I was not in any way, shape or form where I thought I would be. Like you: young(46), healthy except for valve and anneurysm. In fact I ran my usuaual 3 miles the day before surgery. I thought I would be moving in no time. Hah!! Progress comes in small increments. By 6 weeks I noticed a much bigger improvement and by 8 weeks even more. This is a blip time wise in your life. Let it blip, you got nothing but time after you heal.
Laura

[perkicar]

I too was frustrated at what seemed to be a turtles pace recovery. Then I reminded myself I'd gone back in the hospital for 5 days, was still having problems while the effusion went down......I didn't really start to feel ALOT better until about 6 weeks out, when everything seemed to be accelerating. I was glad I was able to go back to work part time for 4 weeks and build up my day over those 4 weeks--I would have fallen over flat if I'd had to go back to 12 hour days with patient care (Yikes!!). I think I'm about 90% back to normal--and realize now how out of breath I really was before surgery! I just hit my 4 month mark. Wow, I can hardly believe it's been that long.

[TomS]

OK, guys, I get it, four weeks is not really a reasonable time to be back on the golf course. I'm just sick of having the same pep as our nine year old lab. Karlynn, maybe you're right, I'll look back at this one day with a different attitude. Laura, like you, I was active until the operation, so will do a reset on my expectations to about 8 weeks. Tom, I'm hoping to be skiing this winter, so waiting till spring to be back is not an option (well, maybe early spring).
Ross, thank you and everyone else for the feedback. It's great having this site to post a question like this and be able to get feedback from so many people that have been through it. Sounds like I'm having a pretty average reaction to the operation.
If anyone has any thoughts on anything besides time that got them on the fast track to recovery, I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks all,
Tom

[bvdr]

This week will be four weeks since I had my aortic valve and root replaced. I spend a lot of time sleeping and am getting a bit frustrated with still being tired most of the time. Any tips from you vets out there on how I can get back on my feet faster? I'm only 48, otherwise in perfect health, and had anticipated that I'd be closer to normal by now, and am looking to get back to work in a couple of weeks. The Doc's say I'm slightly anemic, but otherwise perfectly fine.
Thanks,
Tom

Hey? Remember reading any posts pre-surgery mentioning that recovery takes time? Even though you are in good shape a heart still requires time to heal. You'll get there...it just takes time.

[Johnny Stephens]

I was active until the operation, so will do a reset on my expectations to about 8 weeks.

Putting a hard date on when you'll be 'normal' isn't likely to help you 'fast track' your recovery. IMHO your fastest track will be to slow down, listen to your body, and give it the time that it's obviously asking you for. Push too hard, and you're setting yourself up to slide backwards a few steps.

Johnny's $.02 - best of luck :D

[PaulW]

This week will be four weeks since I had my aortic valve and root replaced. I spend a lot of time sleeping and am getting a bit frustrated with still being tired most of the time. Any tips from you vets out there on how I can get back on my feet faster? I'm only 48, otherwise in perfect health, and had anticipated that I'd be closer to normal by now, and am looking to get back to work in a couple of weeks. The Doc's say I'm slightly anemic, but otherwise perfectly fine.
Thanks,
Tom

Are you taking iron? I'm 62. My wife started me on vitamins with iron right away. Even so at five weeks I still tire easily but am improving every day. I see a real difference this week as compared to last week too.

[Cris N]

OK, guys, I get it, four weeks is not really a reasonable time to be back on the golf course...If anyone has any thoughts on anything besides time that got them on the fast track to recovery, I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks all,
Tom
As the others have said, four weeks is pretty early to be feeling great. I'm just about 4 months out now and and am starting to feel human. (I'm 57 BTW) Have been golfing since about 7 weeks (range at 5 but took it real easy). I'm playing at least 18 holes every weekend (riding) though this past weekend I rode for 18 on Sat. & walked 9 on Sunday (it wore me out!)

Don't know if you're in rehab... that really got me going on building strength & stamina, but in a safe environment.

Whatever you do, though, listen to your body. The iron is probably a good idea too, I'm still taking it - made me feel loads better.

Cris

[JohnnyV_46]

Sounds like were almost at the same spot Tom. Friday will be 4 weeks since I had my Aortic valve replaced, annuerysm repaired and 3 arteries bypassed. I had a great day yesterday. I woke up today, my chest was sort of rattling. I felt 180 deg. of what I felt yesterday. It's hard not knowing the time schedule for really being able to get back to doing what you want.

[hensylee]

Tom, MAJOR SURGERY, MAJOR SURGERY, MAJOR SURGERY. That's what you had and we don't get over major surgery in four weeks - or eight. You will see improvement for a long time. In my diary that I kept, I wrote after the first month that I was still short of breath and weak.

[Dan W]

Take it easy. I was the same way. It seemed like it would take forever to get better. After about weeks 4-5 it seemed like I could see a definite improvement every 3-4 days and then the time started to go faster. I just got really tired with walking but that got better also.

[ALCapshaw2]

YO, Tom !

You just had OPEN HEART SURGERY and they cut your chest open with a SAW. :eek: This was NOT a walk in the park you are talking about. :D

I read somewhere (probably here) that your body consumes 5000? calories a DAY while the sternum is healing and at SIX WEEKS the sternum is about 80% healed.

Most surgeons allow patients with NO complications and a smooth recovery to return to non-physically demanding work at 6 to 8 weeks, preferably with a 2 week stint at half time to 'build up' to the demands.

Your sternum should be fully healed at 12 weeks after which time you will feel MUCH more energetic. As long as you can look back on a WEEKLY basis and see progress, you are healing on schedule.

MANY of us noticed continued inclemental improvements in energy, stamina, and exercise tolerance for several MONTHS and for us older types or repeat surgeries, this can continue for a YEAR to Year and a Half. Someone here actually conducted a poll on Time to Full Recovery.

Naturally, the younger and more conditioned members were back to full speed sooner than that.

'AL Capshaw'

[TomS]

Chris,
When did the doctor tell you it was OK to play golf (with a cart)? I was hoping to get out the weekend after next, which will put me at 5 and a half weeks. I'd like to get the exercise and hack it around a bit, even if I end up just punching 5 irons down the fairway. Were you taking a full swing at 7 weeks?
Thanks,
Tom

[Cris N]

Chris,
When did the doctor tell you it was OK to play golf (with a cart)? I was hoping to get out the weekend after next, which will put me at 5 and a half weeks. I'd like to get the exercise and hack it around a bit, even if I end up just punching 5 irons down the fairway. Were you taking a full swing at 7 weeks?
Thanks,
Tom

Well, let's just say that if the dr had had his way, I would have just started back to golf 2 weeks ago. I saw the PA at 8 weeks & he said I could practice putting. Now,I must say when I started at the range I had nothing close to a full swing - best I could do was to drive about 60 yards. Scared to death of hitting the ground. But, as they say, practice makes perfect, well, not really perfect, but at least better. Full swing came a couple weeks ago. I'm up to my 150-165 yard drives with an occasional one a bit better. I did start out the first few times out playing only 9 holes (cart). Took a lot out of me but it felt good. I've only been playing a couple of years... got my first birdie last weekend - short hole, on the green in one and one long putt :cool:

Obviously, golf can be hard on the sternum & surrounding muscles. Check with your doc and then listen to what your body tells you. Be careful out there!

Cris

[TomS]

I'm now about two weeks since my last post about trying to "get over it" and am almost six weeks post op. I thought that it might benefit someone who is going through it to tell you that I've hit one of those points where recovery speeds up exponentially. I saw my cardiologist this week and he even OK'd me getting off of all pills (except coumadin of course), and I feel even better, much less sleepy without the beta blockers. (please note, I specifically asked him if I could go off of the pills on a suggestion from another AVR friend).
Given others advice, I also asked my cardiologist what I "specifically cannot do" at this point. He said that based on my progress that I'm now cleared to do whatever I want. I even asked about golf, and he said if you feel up to it to go ahead.
I hit a bucket of golf balls yesterday and hope to get in 18 over the next week.
As I went through the forum and searched the web I could never find much on when you can get back to regular activities, how quickly you can really recover from this, etc. Almost all of the information out there are warnings such as "don't drive", "don't lift anything heavy", "it takes six months to heal", "don't believe those people that say they are recovering quickly", etc. Frankly, after just getting out of the hospital, and feeling like that truck just hit me, a more optimistic outlook is what I had been looking for.
So, I offer one man's experience 40 days after surgery. The first four weeks were tough, but after that, healing can move along pretty quickly. In my cardiologists words, "you did this to be even better than you were, not to feel worse, it's time for you to get back to normal".
Thanks again for everyone's support during my turn in the barrel. I realize that progress does not always remain linear and is different for everyone, but I offer this as a case for some early optimism.
Tom

[catwoman]

Tom:
Glady you're doing well now.
Many people expect to bounce back from OHS and when they don't, they become very frustrated. Therefore, many of us stress not to expect a return to "normalcy" overnight and that it can take 6-12 months. Recovery comes in stages. Sometimes it seems you're on the fast track to being normal again and then WHAM! something happens to remind you that you've been through a very major major surgery and to take things a little easier.

Re on your golfing:
A very dear friend of mine in California had surgery for lung cancer in June 2000. She was 68 or so, had been a longtime golfer, played at least 3X week, played in tournaments, with a women's group. She told her surgeon that she was an avid (rabid maybe?) golfer, so he approached the tumor in a way that would allow her to go back to her game sooner. She was playing golf @ 4-5 weeks, but very gingerly. It did take her a while to get back to "normal," as far as the orthopedic insult was concerned.
She was a tremendous inspiration to me while I awaited MVR & following my surgery.

[MSG Morrissey]

Take your time, foll the guidance. You will be well. In 12 weeks you'll forget these days.

[JohnnyV_46]

You are right Tom. Today marks 5 weeks for me and I feel much much better than I did last week. Last week I was having trouble walking a block or two and this week the Doc released me to drive. Start increasing the amounts I can lift by 5 pounds a week. My Sternum is definitely feeling much better.

[Mary]

Tom,
It's always great to hear a positive postop recovery experience. :)

I think members try to stress that 6 weeks isn't the end of the recovery process; 6 months is a more realistic time frame.
Until I reach my six month mark, I intend to knock on wood and hope that I encounter no more unexpected obstacles along the way.

[Vicki448]

I recall my doctor telling me to do whatever I felt like doing. Then, my body would tell me if "it" felt like doing that activity or not. I felt like vacuuming one day - did the entire house - upstairs and all. Felt fine doing it at the time, but the next day I though a truck had run over me during the night. I really didn't feel "well" up to about a year from my surgery. Listen/read what people are telling you....OHS is not a piece of cake - it's the entire cake and the icing....and then some. Take it a day at a time and before you know it, you'll look back at the days you felt were wasted being tired and lazy and they will be just a memory of how you felt at the time.

[Ambience]

As you get older it takes longer to recover. I spent about three weeks worth of time in the hospital, and was just starting to regain a spring in my step only after another four weeks. Take it easy and hang in there.

[Cris N]

Happy to hear you're doing better. Hope your golf clubs remembered what to do :D

Cris

[TomS]

You are right Tom. Today marks 5 weeks for me and I feel much much better than I did last week. Last week I was having trouble walking a block or two and this week the Doc released me to drive. Start increasing the amounts I can lift by 5 pounds a week. My Sternum is definitely feeling much better.


Glad to hear it. My operation was 8/16, so it looks like we were on the table a few days apart. Best of luck to you.
Tom

[Big-Chuck]

It was around 12 to 13 weeks before I felt like doing much. I am 56. Had mitral valve repair and have a 8" red line down the middle of my chest. At 13 weeks I went and found a full time job which requires me to work 53 hours per weeks so far. I have been handling it with no chest pain but at the end of the day I am really tired. I am sleeping anywhere between 9 and 10 hrs a night. Feel good the next morning and am ready for another day.