I am extremely grateful to all you wonderful people who have contacted me throughout this ordeal.
Yes I’ve survived the operation but I didn’t fully realise how bad things could be in the immediate aftermath.
I had to have two transfusions last night of something because my heart was racing. Also I was told that by leaving the chest drain in would cause me big big pain and it has, they have to do it apparently. Having COPD and needing to cough is impossible so that hasn’t helped and to cap it it the poor chap opposite Has a special bed and when they turn it on at night it sounds like a car engine going all night long. I’ve asked to be moved because I haven’t slept at all since 11.30 pm.
Let’s see what today holds
Highburyted
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highburyted
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Good morning Ted, yes, the early days can be a bit of a roller coaster. Just look for 1% improvement per day, don't expect to be up & running just yet, it's not a race, take the time you need . Your doing so well and it is early days yet when it can be sometimes one step forwards & two back but you will do it. Be gentle on yourself your body has been through a massive trauma. Have they shown you how to cough holding a rolled up towel on your chest, it really does help. And just sleep as & when you can whatever time of day, it doesn't matter when.Hope everything improves today for you.
Ah, sounds like you've had atrial fibrillation, it's really common, I had it. Feels really strange. There are lots of things they can do to control it so don't worry.
I'm on Amiodarone tablets until clinic to stabilise it. Whilst in hospital I was having daily injections in my tummy of a drug to do the same.
I'm surprised to hear the chest drain hurts, neither of mine did, nor did my pacing wires which were in the same place, perhaps it's your COPD that doesn't help matters.
Many of us had no bad after effects, so couldn’t tell you about bad after effects.
It is a massive op and we need to remember that. I reckon it takes two to three months to get really well.
Do use the rolled up towel or “teddy” it will reduce discomfort. I had a single room but that was a posh London hospital. My neighbour went to Basildon and he had a single room. That’s bad luck for you to be in a ward.
You could be going home in a few days. Then you know the worst is truly over.
I slept endlessly post op. Perhaps it helps that I am very small, so.maybe the drugs worked more
To begin with it can be difficult and many ups and downs and will take time but the main thing as you go through them tell yourself you made it you are here
Yes that bed would get on my nerves I hope they swap you and move you somewhere else as a lack of sleep is no good and you need some sleep to help your recovery
The first few days afterwards can be the worst, Ted - but try to think of these as small steps on the road to your recovery. I found the drains and wires to be painful too, although a lot of others in hospital at the same time didn't, and it was really frustrating not being able to move about the bed freely - you'll feel such a relief when they're finally removed (that'll feel like a good day). Notch up any little good things that happen during this time and concentrate on those.
You've had a big operation and at the minute the best thing to do is listen to your body - sleep when you're tired (if possible with all the noise!), eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty and allow your body to get on with the hard work of healing itself. The doctors and nurses will help you as much as they can so don't be afraid to talk to them if you're concerned. Hopefully they'll be able to find the space to move you to an empty side room too, but if not ask them for some ear plugs which may help a little. As other posters have said, a pillow or a rolled up towel hugged to your chest definitely helps with the coughing.
I'm sure it certainly doesn't feel like it at the moment, but these are good days - with each day that passes you'll be healing a little bit more and every new day is signaling the start of a different and new life. Take your time, small steps forward and we're all rooting for you here too. Carol
Cee-Cee1 has said something that jogged my memory, my appetite pretty much disappeared for a couple of days and food tasted odd for about a week after surgery. Quite normal apparently.
I was the same, Survivor, just for a few days though - I found myself just eating little and often during that first week and usually just things that I took a fancy for. Oddly enough, the things I took a fancy for were all things that would generally be perceived to be very nutritious and healthy. Fresh fruit etc. and live yogurt was number one on the list and I don't know why as I never really enjoyed it before but I'm still enjoying it 18 months later!
Can’t imagine what you’re going through but really hope that you can be moved so you’re able to get some peaceful rest! 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Also, just wanted to say that you’re not alone and there are many of us ready to help and support you through your recovery journey.
Keep talking and be kind to yourself, you only need to do what feels right/good for you each day, don’t worry about what any of the other patients are doing. It’s your recovery that is most important for you, it’s not a race 🙂
hi. I’m hoping that your recovery gets easier day by day. I found the recovery difficult at first but I was amazed by how much I could do so soon after the op. I didn’t expect to have to climb stairs before they discharged me from hospital but I did it. To be honest, I’d have walked over hot coals to get out after spending 2 months in hospital 😂 You will get there but you’ve been through major surgery and your body and mind are probably in shock. The drains are a nuisance and can be very uncomfortable, hopefully they’ll be out tomorrow. 🤞 x
Morning Ted. One thing I wasn't told in my pre=op was that I would wake up like Michelin man with anger management problems! I was horrified by the amount of fluid I had retained and became quite irritable with the noises and distractions of the hospital ward. That was the first few days - its not easy. But each day does bring some slight improvement and once you get home your recovery will begin to quicken. Honestly! You will have to promise to stay in touch with us here - we've followed your story with interest this far. you'd better let us know the rest!
Tell me about it that’s exactly what I was going through but I cannot understand why they r giving me fusimide to me me per someone’s as late as 10pm, then saying have a good nights sleep - all I’m gonna do for the next 3 hrs is go to the loo
Sorry you are finding it tough at the moment. I know the coughing is hard but it is so important to do. Our cousin was a cardiac rehab physio and she nagged my husband all the time to cough. I hope you start to feel better soon.
I am coughing as best I can COPD doesn’t help and I know the pain will get better. I was worried about the breathing etc but they say my chest is compromised at the moment and will improve.
Good Morning.....lots of advice from people about the coughing. It's so important to try to do this even if it is painful. Unfortunately being on a hospital ward is noisy and I expect you will be being woken up often for blood pressure checks etc yourself as well. Can you get someone to bring you in some of those little foam swimming ear plugs....they might help to keep some of the noise dimmed at least. Being in hospital isn't the place to get decent sleep. There aren't many beds available so getting moved onto a sideward might not be possible. Hopefully you will make enough improvement to be able to go home soon so keep trying to do the coughing and get mobile so that this comes sooner rather than later for you. All the best x
good morning highburyted , lack of sleep really doesn’t help ! With the COPD the coughing is the hardest , I found I couldn’t get a deep enough cough to help , the physio brought me a bottle of water half full with a straw , very puzzling , she explained to me by taking a breath then blowing bubbles would help …. Really I thought … well a couple of hours later I actually did and the relief was unbelievable and as others have said rolled up towel /pillow held against you really helps, yes it hurt but once I got the first proper cough it got a bit easier ,
I really hope you get moved today so you can get some much needed sleep
Good morning highburyted. That's not good you getting no sleep. And hope the treatment overnight has brought your b.p down and hope today goes better for you and you get moved to enjoy a good sleep. Brian
Lovely to hear your updates HighburyTed , I look for them each day. Lots of great replies to you and I read them with interest. Take each day one at a time and sleep when you can hopefully you can go home soon . Wishing you a speedy recovery
I have not been through what you are going through but I know that healing can seem to be maddeningly slow and you may not seem to have had much improvement day by day but if later you look back to where you were a week ago you will def notice the difference. All you can do is to take it one day at a time and be grateful that you have had the op and all will be well.
I remember many years ago when I was in a ward we had a woman who snored fit to bust and none of the rest of us slept a wink. We had a lovely night nurse who used to wheel the snoring lady out of the ward and put her into a side room and wheel her back before she finished her shift, the woman still snoring loudly. We all managed to sleep and the snorer never knew that she had been moved.
Can you get someone to bring you in earplugs? Not the sponge ones but the wax ones. Boots own (the best ones I’ve ever tried) are absolutely great at blocking noise. Not sure if it’s viable for you but if it is they’ll do the trick. I used to wear them in bed after night duty and they were great. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Dont worry much, its just the start of something wonderful. Appreciate everything now that you are out of the table. Take it an inch at a time. Get well!
No sleep still but only being caused by another chap with a special bed, I’ve asked to be moved because my complete tiredness cannot be helping my readings, otherwise they’re all happy. Just got lots chest pain
I asked for earplugs when I was in, they didn’t completely cancel all sound but muffled it enough that I was actually able to sleep quite soundly. Wishing you all the best with your recovery, take care x
I hope they can move you somewhere quiet ted. Not getting proper rest and sleep won’t be helping Matters.!! Hang in there mate, sending you best wishes.👍
Hi I understand what you are going through at the moment but hopefully each day will bring a small but noticeable improvement that will help you on your way to being discharged.Somehow I managed to collapse my lung while still under anisthetic apparently I moved and pulled the drain out so they had to reinflate it and leave the drain in for longer, but as the days went on I got back to HD and slowly but surely they started taking everything out, the drain, pacing wires, the catheter 😳 the pic lines and drips, the physio got me up and moving every day the long recovery had started, the small things like going for a shower etc followed and just under three weeks later I got home. We are lucky up here that in the jubilee everyone has their own room, it was built as a private hospital for Arabs and eventually the NHS bought it. I had problems sleeping when I was in the general hospital and I asked to speak to the ward manager about the situation they moved me very quickly after that, I do hope they can do the same for you, wishing you a speedy recovery char
Still no sleep only caused by this other special bed, sounds like a car engine running all night, I’ve asked to be moved cos it cannot be helping my readings esp with COPD . Apart from that just lots of chest pain
I haven't been through that yet so can't really advise, but what I found useful on my last stay was a set of cheap in-ear bluetooth headphones and set your phone to stream a radio station. Planet Rock can drown out most things!
It's never good when you are recovering and in pain; everything seems much worse and lack of sleep is horrific. I never ever go into hospital without absolute top quality ear plugs. They need to get physio to you to help with coughing.
Thanks to all, I am coughing just hurts a hell of a lot, they’ve desired me so I can move but I’m have to use a walking frame cos the chest pain is like nothing I’ve felt in my life, more walking better it will become
It will get better day by day. The worst is over now but do ask for more pain relief. I know men reckon they don't cry but y ou'd be amazed what effect it can have on nurses to get you some help.
I'd ask for some stronger painkillers, Ted. I noticed, when I was in, that some of the other patients were given morphine patches when their pain was bad. This is Monday and you only had your operation last Thursday, just four days ago - it's fantastic that you're up and walking again already, even if it is with a frame - you're doing brilliantly well, you must be trying so hard, you're a bit of a hero! I know it won't feel like it, but it really does get better, it's just one day at a time for you at the moment, but you'll get there. 👍🙌🙌
Ask for some earplugs. Most hospitals have them. I needed some once when the patient in the next bed was shouting all night and banging her cup against the cot sides. Glad the surgery is over and all you have to do now is try to take it easy and recover.
Congratulations, highburyted, for surviving the op. So sorry you are in discomfort and pain. Remember, it's not forever. I didn't say anything to you before but I was hoping for some good news from you. Everyone has been worrying and hoping. I hope they allow you a decent night's sleep tonight; they don't do much at the weekend, so perhaps tonight's your lucky night. Now you have to take it easy. Our thoughts are with you.😊😊
hi, like others have said, ask for stronger painkillers. There’s no need in this day and age to suffer if you don’t have to. I was also given sleeping tablets in hospital as I struggled to get any rest. They gave me zoplicone and it was a short term solution that helped me sleep. It’s not ideal having to take sleeping tablets but if you are desperate they might just help. Good luck. X
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