In about ten hours, I should be on my way to theatre to have my ASD closed via open heart surgery!
Strange enough, I feel relatively calm and no tense as all my friends, family and some of my nurses are. 😅
What most used to worry me was the possibility of complications or unexpected events during the surgery. But I guess having direct access to the heart may be beneficial in these cases! And also..it’s something completely out of my control.
However, I am aware that the recovery time will be veeery long and hard, and I am determined to get thought it at best of my abilities!!
Any advices on the post-op?
I hope I will be able to read your comments as soon as I am able to hold the phone up!
Thank you for all your help so far!
See you soon!
♥️
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Mills27
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Good to hear about the relative calm! I've heard others say the same so that's encouraging for those of us waiting still. I'm sure you'll be fine. Yes, it'll be a long recovery so just take it in small steps and don't be too impatient!
Hi Mills, wishing you a success outcome and a speedy , comfortable recovery . I had 4xCABG on July 25th 2023 following Nstemi. Hopefully you’ll be home within 5 days . When I came out of surgery and started to come round I felt like I was an astronaut on a space ship , I blame the anaesthetic and fentanyl 🤦🏼🤣.. I could hear ambient white noise , blurry vision of slow moving nurses in white on the intensive care ward , my bed “rippled” in waves underneath me , it was all very high tech . They make you get up out of bed pretty soon , sit in a chair . Sternum will obviously hurt , you’ll be encouraged to cough , by holding a wrapped up towel (a teddy) on your chest, pretty painful.
Then moved onto HDU about 24 hours later , then a day or two back into the cardiac ward where you’ll be encouraged to walk. I found that my leg scars were very tight . I was swollen post op , I went up by 6-8kg , fluid ! Grr er tying comfy at home is key , having your bed with enough raised pillows and what I found difficult was getting out of my bed as it was quite high , I needed something for my feet to rest on otherwise I slid onto my back and arched , that was awful , I got stuck on my first morning home.
Make sure you have a copy of your discharge notes , they should cover all your history , medication , procedures and findings. It should also come with contact numbers and advice on post op returning home protocols. You shoukdvss as Kai be checked out by a physio and pharmacist before leaving . You should be given info about cardiac rehab and classes .
My consultant told me “ you have new pipes now , you’ll make a full recovery, you’ve got one job to do , keep them clear” I made a couple of tweaks to my nutrition , pretty much Mediterranean type diet , low salt , sacked off ultra processed foods ( no factory made stuff as far as possible) . My chest wound did become infected and was stubborn to clear up (3 lots of antibiotics). I was back riding my motorcycle within 2 weeks and driving , I walked everyday and got up to 5k in a couple of weeks . Bisoprolol made like a zombie and was reduced from 3.75mg to 1.25. Docs we’re good at listening and agreed to change. I did a 6 week NHS level 3 cardiac rehab course, found it way too easy but it was supervised and interesting in parts and nice to meet fellow hearties . I’m sure you’ll be fine and look forward to hearing from you post op. 👊🏻❤️👊🏻❤️👊🏻❤️
it’s a long long recovery, I dread the stitches being removed, but in fact it was hardly painful at all. Then I felt stronger every two days. Then one day I realized I was strong again and I had been given my life back. One of the most fabulous days in my life.
Good opportunity to read. And become fully acquainted with daytime TV. Follow the rehab instructions. As you are one of the youngest then you will probably heal faster than most.
All the best for your surgery. You will be in the best of hands and it's good to hear how calm you seem....I was the same before mine. My own advice for post op....essential to do the chest and coughing exercises. You will be given lots of advice before you leave hospital....do's and don't do's !! At home, don't expect too much from yourself....there will be days forward and some not so good days....this is normal. Accept all the help you can get....don't over do anything....try to exercise on a daily basis but also make sure you rest often. Youve said you are relatively calm before your op....stay the same after and get your determined head on. A big must....do the cardiac rehab programme. Keep us updated 👍x
Hi Mills27,I had my OHS nearly 5 years ago, aged 49, for a new valve and a patch. Straight after surgery I was glad I had at least 4 or 5 days in hospital but was desperate to get out when I did on day 7!
Don't be surprised if you can't even watch half an hour of TV to start with, I just couldn't concentrate, same with reading which made the first couple of weeks crap.
Otherwise it was a case of realising your body is not up to much but it gets better each day and the improvement is noticeable.
As you improve listen to your body and remember 12 weeks for your sternum to heel reasonably well. Don't be surprised though if you are still getting twinges in a couple of years depending on what you are doing. I've got a land rover in bits which gave me some pains but generally all good.
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