Tired 💤💤 post op day 13

[Dazzler142]

Never felt so tired since getting home.

I was expecting to be slightly more energised ?

I had a mechanical mitral valve and beta blockers too so maybe meds also hitting hard x

[skid112 Heart Star]

hey Dazzler, firstly welcome home!!! Your beta blockers slow your heart rate, that and the after effects of your op will make you feel tired. You just put your feet up for a while, slowly does it, let the recovery process begin

[Dazzler142 in reply to skid112]

Aww thank you very much indeed skid,

Its lovely to be at home and feel like i have met the brick wall.

Will not feel so guilty for being so tired then 😊

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to Dazzler142]

Its s big procedure plus the anesthetic will take a while to get out of your system but big positives coming as you recover

[Nettyanne]

Hi Jenny, good to hear from you so glad you are home. Try not to expect too much too soon, we are all different and it also depends how you felt before your op.

You have had a lot of anesthetic so as skid112 says that is still in your system, just take it easy listen to your body and rest when you need to.

Best wishes

Annette

[Dazzler142 in reply to Nettyanne]

Yes,i had been slightly off things as have bronchiectasis and chronic sinusitus also.

I am patient,everyday is different

Jenny x

[Midgeymoo17]

For me it was week6 when the new valve finally 'kicked in' giving me that greatly anticipated energy boost.

[Dazzler142 in reply to Midgeymoo17]

Thank you,

Thats very interesting to hear week6 as i dont particularly feel different either..just the tick tick tick from the valve is so very annoying and hoping i get used to it sooner rather than later.

I sound ungrateful but i am not,its really like i have swallowed a watch.

Jenny x

[Midgeymoo17 in reply to Dazzler142]

oh dear. i did not have the ticking issue as i had a tissue valve. but i suspect just due to the large amount of energy my body was expending on healing it was not until week 6 one suddenly i am not falling asleep at 6pm.

[Dazzler142 in reply to Midgeymoo17]

I got a mechanical valve,its rather loud or louder than i ever expected sadly..but i am grateful for it.

Its so helpful hearing peoples experiences so a massive thank you x

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to Dazzler142]

I can't stop humming "never smile at a crocodile", youtube.com/watch?v=ZGkdcpT...(Not working as expected?)

[Fredders]

Give yourself a chance, you've just been through a massive op so it will take you a while to build your energy levels up. It took me about 5 weeks until I felt reasonably well. Just build your exercising up gradually and you will get there, there are no miracle short cuts, unfortunately.

[Dazzler142 in reply to Fredders]

Thankyou fredders

No manua givenl for after surgery so all info is very greatly appreciated

Jenny x

[skid112 Heart Star]

You take it nice and easy, a few steps per day gradually building up. Join the rehab class you should be offered that will help as well

[Dazzler142 in reply to skid112]

Yes i had a call from the rehab team yesterday and that starts 4 weeks after surgery now.

[Sina-6491]

Yes glad to see you are home safe & sound.

One step, day by day remember.

Put some music on to distract you from the tick, tick, tick.

Make the most of your resting recovery time, as you'll never get that time back again. Before you know it, you'll be up and about, forgetting what it was like being allowed to just rest, hahaaa....

Few little short walks each day, you know, a few yards. But several times a day, as this will keep you flexible.

Ha you could watch the build up to xmas films while you're resting. How lucky are you?????

Hugs & best wishes girl 😆

[Dazzler142 in reply to Sina-6491]

Oh no the christmas films haha

Super advice..thank you

I feel quite stiff and achy so will do a little bit more walking

Thank you 😊 x

[Sina-6491 in reply to Dazzler142]

Yes, 1 & 2 & 3, 1 & 2 & 3,

Not really hahaa, short slow walks, little & often 😁

[pjbird2000]

Hi Dazzler, thanks for sharing, I am due my op soon so hearing how your feeling post op will help to prepare myself. Best wishes x

[Dazzler142 in reply to pjbird2000]

Anything i can help with please feel free to ask.

Good luck and stay positive

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Great to hear you're home. I wouldn't expect to be anything other than tired so soon after such a major procedure, don't be too hard on yourself. Definitely agree with Sina - make the most of this time to rest. Read books/magazines, binge on boxsets, snooze... The ticking would drive me crazy too, hope you get used to it soon. Would listening to something through headphones help in the meantime? Best of luck x

[Dazzler142 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thank you very much for the advice 😊

I can still hear it sadly 😢through headphones

I was never given an option because of my age.i suppose i will just learn to live with it but i am struggling mentally 2 weeks post op with tick tick tick

Jenny x

[FMW62]

Post mitral valve op, I learnt to distinguish between normal tiredness and exhaustion. One of the arts of recovery is to learn how much you can do in a day without exhausting yourself too much. Sometimes, whether by accident or because I really want to join in with something, I do far too much and the payback is one or more days of exhaustion, often accompanied by depression. The exhaustion is handlable, the depression is less easy.

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to FMW62]

Very true. I've found post op very similar indeed though the dark says are getting fewer and fewer

[Hidden]

Hi Jenny, hope you are well, be kind to yourself.💜

[Dazzler142 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Bee

I am very tired still x

[skid112 Heart Star in reply to Dazzler142]

You will be for a while dont fret it's normal

[kefalonia1]

Glad you are home safe. After my AVR l too had beta blockers, they slow you down so my Consultant stopped them because l had a pacemaker. l was walking around like a 90 year old. lts early days for you and each week you will get stronger try and let people spoil you and eat plenty of protein for healing it is fuel to repair your body. Take care and well donex

[Dazzler142]

Thank you very much.

The i had them given in hospital as went into AF 3 times,but since getting home i feel more tired and gone when i take them now.

My heart rate is still high so am very confused as to what they do..i dont think they meant to be a long term plan for me but worried without them what my heart rate will be like.i was told they wanted my heart rate down to about 60bpm but i am anywhere from 80 to 100 which is making me like before breathless. 😢 x

[kefalonia1]

Hi Dazzler, l get what you are saying and l think the worry is increasing your heart rate l had that for a while until they gave me a pace maker located in my stomach just under the ribs. l don`t` even notice it most of the time. You really need to speak to the hospital/GP because it sounds like something is not quite right and lm a bit worried for you! Please do that if only to put your mind at rest! Let me know how you get on l`m sure they will come up with a plan, don`t suffer in silence. lf they don't know they can`t sort it! Take care, big hugs. Suex

[Dazzler142 in reply to kefalonia1]

Thank you so much

I saw my gp for the first time last night..he is increasing my beta blockers gradually over the next 3 weeks..he thought my heart was in rhythm but i can hear at times extra beats etc.

Had some chest pain also but putting that down to bending and not behaving really 😢

I do have an echo next week and see my cardiologist also so am hoping he can explain why my heart rate high

I feel no better post op,still breathless i expect the pain.

Very confused

Thank you for your message

Hope you are well

Jenny x

[kefalonia1 in reply to Dazzler142]

Hi Jenny, thanks for getting back to me l was worried about you, even though l don`t know you l think in this lovely" heart club" we all care about each other, you have done the right thing talking to your GP but an echo will tell you everything, they are amazing. Post AVR surgery l too thought l would be jumping around like a gazelle but it took a few months for the breathlessness to subside especially after something simple such as a shower and hair washing. lt comes as a shock when you expect to be back to normal quickly but you are going to have to be patient and look after yourself big time. l am 7 months post op and physically l am much better but be prepared for the post op blues, l recommend having one of your 5 a day (grapes) in the form of WINE!!! Take care x

[Dazzler142 in reply to kefalonia1]

Hi there,

Aww it is lovely everyone cares..as i really do too.

I met some amazing people in hospital and love to listen and help if i can.

Yes i think with me being 45 i was perhaps expecting slightly rather too much.i felt better on discharge to be honest..now quite lethargic and shattered but not alot of sleeping done yet.

Its going to take time,the penny has dropped..i have had super advice from soooo many lovely people on here.

Looking forward to my echo and seeing my cardiologist as at least can see how things are and get recovering without worrying too much.

Hope you are well

X

[kefalonia1]

Onwards and upwards mate! x

[arethusa_12]

Hi Dazzler, I know what you mean about the clicking, or more like a thumping in the ears. I'm 7 months post op and it hasn't got any better or worse, just getting used to it is the key. People say "well at least you know your alive and your heart is working" didn't cut it for me, I knew I was alive before! Quietly reading or dropping off to sleep as you will probably know are the worst times. I find watching telly until I am too tired to stay awake helps and the better the book the less you concentrate on the thumping in your ears! Hope your recovery continues in the right direction, I am sure I, like you will learn to live with it eventually, happy to be alive and cant praise the NHS enough, but still cant stop googling how long mechanical valves last though! Obsessive or what!

Bob

[Dazzler142 in reply to arethusa_12]

Hi arethusa,

Ooh heck this ticking is not the most pleasant thing at all is it..very annoying and hence why i am on here late..i cannot sleep.

Very grateful to have had the mechanical valve and to be alive is the realistic part but i perhaps at 45 would have chosen a tissue one as its so loud and high pitched when i move my head in certan directions.

This alone is lifechanging.

The mechanical valve should last a lifetime i was told so i dont plan on being opened up again anytime soon.

I sleep with noise..tv is on quite loud.

Jenny

[arethusa_12 in reply to Dazzler142]

Well good luck. Saw your post this late for the same reason. Things can only get better