How tired should I be?

[hpuehler]

Well I'm two and half weeks out from AVR. Have been up and walking around but doing alot of sitting also. I took a walk across the street to the grocery store and around the store and back and it wore me out. How much should I be doing at this point? My surgeon said as much as I feel ok doing. I just wanted some input as to how far along I should be. Should I be pushing myself harder or am I on course? Feel like I could take a nap today. Only taking N-100 for shoulder pain. Please chi:rolleyes: me in and let me know what you all think and have experienced. I am to start cardiac rehab next week.

Thanks,
Heather

[twinmaker]

Sounds to me like you're doing fine. Remember what your body has been through during the last few weeks. Don't push yourself too hard and don't be hard on yourself if you feel tired. I can tell you that resting when you feel like it is a good thing. This is your body's way of healing also. I remember those weeks and months following surgery...some of them, I felt really good and some I didn't. Just listen to your body. Things get better, gradually, not all at once. Keep us up on how you are progressing and feeling. You will feel better, trust me. LINDA

[Phyllis]

Heather that sounds perfectly normal at 2 1/2 weeks out. Daily naps should be normal too, especially if you are not sleeping that well at night. Your body will tell you when you did too much and cardiac rehab should be a big help.

[Granbonny]

2 1/2 weeks..I was still tired. In fact, I rode the motor-chairs in Grocery store and Wal-Mart around that time.I was afraid I would give out too far back in stores.:eek: and not make it back to front of stores. I also saw my surgeon at 3 weeks. I think this is the Norm for follow-up...I asked him, then, when will I start to feel better?..He said around another 6 weeks.Then, I saw my Cardio about a week later. He took me off all my meds I came home from hospital with...and I noticed a huge difference.:) At 6 weeks, took a 6 hour car trip over to see my Dad..That was my first time I drove..(at Dad's, just to the store)Hubby drove me over there and back.....I would find that I would have 1 good day and 1 bad day..off and on for months. Depending on what I did the day I felt good.:p .....Don't over-do it.Takes a long time for those cells, muscles, sternum to heal.....Bonnie

[tobagotwo]

Everyone's recovery is different. Your age and especially your condition before the surgery are very important in determining what you can do now. If you are doing mild or moderate exercise, it's much easier to determine if you're reaching your limit than if you're pushing yourself.

I am an advocate of movement after surgery. Walking, stretching, and relatively gentle things that assist your flexibility and move lymph through your body, reducing swellings and generalized pain. Rhythmic exercise, such as walking, may also lower the incidence of palpitations and arrhythmias. I'm not a fan of pedometers, heart rate monitors, forced-march walks, or intense types of exercise after OHS.

I feel it's not a competition with a clock or a heart rate; it's a regenerative partnership with your heart and body to return you to physical competence. My belief is that you should be listening to your body's rhythms, and extending your capabilities accordingly. Try to stetch yourself and your abilities at least two days out of every three.

One problem is that sitting begets sitting. If you rest too much, you become less tolerant of any exercise, and only feel like resting more. That's not the cycle you want to enter, if you can avoid it. It's a common error for people post-OHS to believe they should behave like they're sick, and stay in bed. Having had OHS isn't like having the flu. Your heart needs you to get up and move, if you're capable of it. The longer it takes you to do that, the longer and less satisfying your recovery is likely to be, and the greater the likelihood of lingering physical pains.

Of course some people have limited mobility before the surgery, or still retain other serious heart problems or concurrent health issues (usually termed "comorbid conditions"). It wouldn't be reasonable to expect someone with those issues to jump up and walk to the next town, or run up and down the stairs. Nevertheless, they can stretch themselves within their limits. To each according to their abilities.

After a week, I was doing a five-mile+ walk daily, and normal walking around and stairs in the house. I also stretched to regain freedom of upper body movement. I did drop and rest when I got tired, and made sure I kept my feet up. I didn't stretch to music, as that might have encouraged me to do too much, too hard. I didn't speed-walk. I kept at a comfortable pace. At first, I sauntered, then advanced to normal speed, and then went faster.

Some thoughts I employed regarding walks:

- When heading out, I started at a very reasonable pace, and didn't speed up until I was on the way back, and then only if I felt like it that day. No point getting tired out at the halfway point, farthest from the house.

- There are no bathrooms in the suburbs. Go before you leave.

- Bring a cell phone, and make sure there is plenty of battery left. Have people who you can call if you overestimate your energy. Don't be embarrassed to use it.

- It can be an advantage if you walk into or through a town or shopping center during your daily wanderings. These offer places to take a break, sit, have refreshments, and other comforts should you need them. If kept reasonable, some reward from there can even be a motivator for the walk.

- Make a deal with yourself to sit down and rest wherever you are if you suddenly get tired, even on the curb. Include in the deal that you won't worry if you look silly or attract attention by sitting down. Anyone finding out you've just had OHS will stop laughing instantly, guaranteed.

- You will have no reserve energy ("second wind") right after surgery, and it takes weeks to get it back. As such, when you get tired, you're done: you can't walk your way through it or walk it off. If you start to tire, sit and rest. You will have a finite amount of energy for a while.

- Finally, remember that you've got all day. If you run low on Moxie out in the sticks, you have all day to rest and get back home at a pace you can manage. In short, don't panic. You can either use your cell phone and call someone, or you can just take your sweet time getting home.

Best wishes,

[Georgia]

When I was only about a month out from surgery, the weather was horrid and icey, so I needed to walk inside. I went to Penney's and walked around for as long as I could. I chose it (and Walmart) because they had carts, so I could go longer and had the security of hanging on to something.

[MikeHeim]

About two weeks post-op, I walked with my fiance about six blocks to the post office. After we dropped off the mail, we turned around and started walking back. Within eighty steps my legs were jelly and I was stumbling all over the place. As embarrassed as I was, I was forced to sit down and wait for my fiance to run home and get the car to pick me up. BTW, I'm a 28 and a former/future marathon runner.

Don't feel bad.

[bobcatrel]

Your body needs to heal - take naps whenever you feel like it! Also in my case, I had always slept on my stomach pre-surgery. Couldn't do that for a good while after surgery so my sleeping at night was not good and sound. Another reason to take naps.
As far as the exercise, alot depends on what you did pre-surgery. If that was a normal walking distance for you pre-surgery it is not what you should be doing after just a few weeks post-op.

[MitralMan]

When I first came home, all I wanted to do was sleep.

One year later, I'm skiing and prepping for a marathon relay!

You'll be fine!