i go in for Avr + triple bypass tomorrow. I wanted to ask has anyone managed recovery with chronic back pain? i gather a big part of recovery is no pushing or pulling but i normally can only get in and out of a chair by pushing and pulling. i won't have anyone here to stay with me but i will have people who can come and check on me.. Daily walking seems to be a must to prevent clots, do you need someone with you when you walk and for how long before you can go out on your own? Putting anti blood clotting socks on in mornings i think is going to be a challenge. Now that the opp has arrived i cant say how i feel, i am glad its happening because the alternative is not an option but anxiety is beginning to build and clouding my thinking.
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joel132
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I had AVR and bypass done 4 years ago, firstly white stockings they will show you a trick in hospital with a plastic bag that will really help you. Going for those first few walks felt I needed my husband next to me, a bit of a confidence thing, but that soon pasted. Getting out of your chair well while your in hospital have a word with the physio they might come up with a way of doing it without you damaging your sternum. They are really helpful, remember to carry on doing your breathing exercises, when you get home they really do help.
I wish you lots of luck a very speedy recovery and you will be on the mended heart road.
Hi, went with the surgeon, he thought my best option was tissue valve (pig) good job I stopped the bacon sandwichs😂 though still have a pork chop occasionally! Get pangs of guilt. He said 7-15 years wear, 4 years on so far so good! He said things are moving so quickly with new ways of replacing valves by the time I need it doing things would have changed again. I decided that after my op I would do everything I can to keep my mended heart as healthy as possible. So many people had worked really hard to give me my life back that I had to do the best I can to keep it that way.😉
Things will be good tomorrow I know it’s easy for me to say but you will be surprised how much easier than you imagine. When you get home let your brain catch up with what your body as been through, it’s saying what on earth as gone on here! If you follow what your told life will be good again.😊
Yes from what i have read i think tissue with possibility of valve in valve in the future is the way i want to go and run the gauntlet. I understand they can fit a tissue valve now that is ready for when technology advances. At 68 he said i could have the choice, its a conversation we are going to have continue tomorrow i guess. And yes this has all come quick to me and a big wake up call to life changes to healthy lifestyle. Thank you for your response i will ask about the plastic bag... x
I was 68 when I had mine done as well, I just felt the surgeon knew what was best, ( sons had checked him out on line!) he as a phenomenal reputation. And he was lovely as well 😉
I've had my op three weeks ago. I was asked asked to wear the stockings all the time for four weeks assuming I picked it up correctly, the advantage being you don't need to be concerned about getting them on everyday. I changed them every week which suited avoiding the struggle and causing pain but not necessarily what you would choose from a personal perspective. But you have to do what's right for the recovery. Don't use your arms getting up from a chair you will definitely feel some pain and can cause problems with the breast bone repairing itself. Try leaning forward as you're sat down and push up with you legs although not natural reaction to get up it works.
Walking is good for you and your recovery team will surprisingly get you up walking within a couple days and encourage you to walk a little bit further each day all being well but not to do too much. You can start the walking around the ward and home, I certainly felt delicate when going outside for the first few times then confidence was built up over time.
It will take time to recover there is no fast track and there will be good and not so good days. Things may occur which seem you've taken three steps forward and then drop back two and a half but again the treatment appears to be so well known and routine that hospital team are familiar with dealing with.
Hi Joel, I am post 4 weeks today having had CABGx4. While in hospital my wife got some Streetwize Maven Furniture Risers, they come in a pack of 4 for £14:99 in Argos. You put them on the legs of your chair/sofa and it raises the seat up so it is easier to stand without pushing or pulling of the hands. After I came home I couldn't settle in bed or get up from laying down without the help of my wife so my son got me an electric riser recliner chair out of Gumtree which was quite cheap very clean and hardly used. I put some sheets over it and slept in the riser recliner which has helped me become more independent and not rely on others helping me get up.
I take regular walks about the house and climbing stairs, but I am a big old unit and more concerned about my breastbone healing properly in the first 8 weeks and losing weight than anything else. To be honest I am getting more pain from my leg where the saphenous vein was taken out then my chest area.
My husband had a stroke 5 weeks after my surgery our sons got him a recliner and rise chair, it’s been great and as made his life much easier. He took a tumble on Saturday and as pulled a muscle in his back the last couple of nights he as spent in his chair laying in bed he found very uncomfortable. The chair as allowed him to sleep well.
thank you Pauline.. Recliner, raiser chair i have decided is the way to go.. so grateful for this site i wouldn't have thought of it until it was suggested
Good luck. Re the socks; I would think the district nurse should be able to come and put them on for you if you ask. You can get a type without toes in so at least you don't get sweaty feet
They do here mainly for dressings and people who are housebound or physically unable to do things but it's not common.. You can buy a gadget for getting socks on so you don't have to bend right over.
had quad bypass 2 years ago and from the walking side of things afterwards as some have said before it was more of a confidence thing to have someone with me and also starting with short walks maybe 500-1000 yds on the level and back just remember that everyone is different but i found picking a point (normally a lamppost on the route) and then aiming for the next lamp post the following day and so on gradually building up the distance and if I hit a day when my body was telling me enough is enough then don't let that get you down. definitely take up the oppurtunity of the rehab on offer as it's invaluable in building up both physically and also on the mental side of things as you're in amongst other that have went through similar ops. Wishing you well and a speedy recovery.
Hi Joel132. I can't add much more to what's been said. The plastic bag idea is brilliant and will help you so much. I was tasked with changing hubby's 'stockings' but with arthritis in my hands, that became impossible. Our GP was really helpful and sent me a video he'd obviously taken himself!!
You'll be running around by Christmas!! Thinking of you xxxxx
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