From The US and Recovering from surgery

[Batgrrly]

Hello all of you. I had Mitral Valve repair surgery 2.5 weeks ago and I am struggling with our American Medical Nightmares. I wish we had the NHS. I am writing as I am not finding much support here for getting back to health groups. Before the surgery I was at the gym 4 days a week and walking and hiking. Today a 15 minute walk floored me. I am having a lot of brain fog. I have read that some feel this is due to the heart lung machine used during surgery.

I am trying to stay away from the pain drugs as much as I can. I was told by all of the surgeons that my health would be better than before, that my heart wasn’t operating right. Have any of you experienced memory loss? Have you been able to go back to work? Walk and hike again?

I feel like I worked so hard to be healthy. I was hoping to return to Scotland and do a Munro in two years.

[stevejb1810]

Firstly, take the pain meds. I know many people don’t like doing it but I was told that the surgeons want you to take the pain meds because otherwise breathing deeply is painful and you stop breathing deeply because it hurts. Not breathing deeply is potentially damaging. The advice regarding exercise here in the UK is to walk briskly 3or 4 times a week, for 30 minutes each time . A brisk walk is fast enough that you can hold a conversation but cannot sing. Your fitness will return but take things easily, it takes a bit of time. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Just keep at it and increase what you do in stages. You’ll feel fitter sooner than you might think.

[Shoshov in reply to stevejb1810]

I think 2.5 weeks is very early to be thinking of pushing fitness. I had a heart attack and after that time I was still very weak. You have to listen to your body and be sensible. As for brain fog,we've all had it. In fact I'm getting worse and I'm 7 months on. Sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear but it's reality I'm afraid. If you want to come over to Scotland nxt year you need to take a step bk and build it up slowly. Our monroes aren't going anywhere. Good luck on your recovery my friend

[Batgrrly in reply to Shoshov]

Yeah, it’s just I was training. No heart attack, just a worn out valve. They did the repair. I have been told it was working wrong for so long, now I have to get used to it being right.

[Shoshov in reply to Batgrrly]

You'll get there. Bonnie Scotland awaits your visit

[gal4God]

I’m have memory less due to my heart condition at the mo. I’ve worked with my heart condition not being cool including working right up to a surgery. I walk loads and looking at getting into a sport but been told it be a while. I’m trying to stay off pain meds and rarely takeing them but sometimes I have to.