in my own experience six weeks is the start of building up your fitness. It was for me anyway. Is he being offered rehab? If so this will help as it did me. They showed me how to slowly build up my fitness. A little bit at a time is good.
At six weeks I was still very ' wobbly' - I'm now 18 months on and feel much more like my old self before I was unwell. It's a long journey, baby steps, rehab and celebrate every day the small steps of progress that often go missed. I kept a journal and looking back at week six I was still breathless going up stairs and quite weak... But no angina chest pain. My left arm/ shoulder was painful for many weeks due to the position they put you in during the op.
This is so helpful APC65 - what a great idea to keep a journal and thank you for taking the time to look back at it for us. I'll let him know. Thank you.
My hubby had a quad bypass and the consultant was brilliant. He went into great detail about the placement of arms during the operation so it wasn't surprising that 2 months after the op, he could hardly move his arms and shoulders! Took a while but that sorted itself out.
I kept a diary just so he could see how he was improving day by day. I think 6 weeks is a bit too soon to feel really well after such a big operation. Everyone is different though. My hubby had the incentive of flying to Ireland days after Christmas in 2018 with our sons (horse racing!). That would have been 7 weeks after his op!! Lots of very slow walking on the flat!
I guess your man might be a bit impatient but with the better weather coming, he'll feel like getting out and about a bit more. As far as inclines go, we picked a few hills, walked up them a bit and down again. Each day, he did a few more steps.
Bless you Jan Handel . That's very encouraging in many ways. It's just so helpful to hear of others' experiences, as you're always worried things might be going wrong. Patience is key and, I think, once he has he follow up x-ray next week, which shows everything to ve as it should be, he will be reassured. Thank you for your time in replying.
Hi , how old is your hubby and how fit was he prior to the procedure? I had Nstemi and quadruple bypass 8 months ago aged 61 Rehab was initially great , pretty upward linear but then my meds started to make me like a zombie 🤦🏼 . First 3 months I focused on walking and got up to a regular 5k walk. I also focused on nutrition, I really believe that helped my healing. The 6 week level 3 rehab course was way too easy for me but it gave me loads of confidence and a bench mark of where I was. 6 weeks is so early post such a traumatic procedure, being reversed spatchcocked 🤦🏼. My left shoulder has been terrible, my physio identified that I had an internal rotation issue and I have been working on various painful drills/stretches since January and it’s taken months to get mobility back , it’s still very painful if I catch it wrong . However I’m back at twice weekly challenging yoga , work physically round my farm carting heavy feed bags, huge wheelbarrows of muck , hay bales , water buckets etc , ride my motorbike , run 5k … or don’t say it to impress you only to impress upon you that we do make progress by chipping away and being consistent. Stick to the protocols , keep asking advice , use this forum and the BHF nurses chat line and keep on top of your GP/rehab physios /pharmacist as some symptoms can be put down to the medication. Our journeys will all be different but sharing experiences can help. Give your hubby my best wishes , keep on keeping on.
I think it takes a lot longer than 6 weeks. I am sure if you look back to where he was last week he will be better. I find you cannot see the improvements day by day but week by week. Even getting fully over anaesthetic takes time.
Thank you GrannyE - I think perhaps he is being a little hard on himself, but when you feel like you're going backwards, it's tough to cope with mentally. He doesn't think he is moving forwards, but I do.
Hi, I had a quadruple and a heart valve replacement. It doesn't take 6 weeks to feel like your self. Take it easy. Don't over do it. You'll get there in the end.
Hi, thank you for your best wishes. A retired specialist lives just up the road from where I live. He said to me it's not a week at a time it's a month at a time. I attended cardiac re hab. Ten weeks after my op. Once a week for 6 weeks. It's worth it. It gave me confidence.
at the risk of appearing brutal maybe we could look at this realistically....
your husband had his chest ripped open, they cut through bone, muscles were cut and damaged along with lots of other bits
his heart was cut open and bits (possibly from other parts of his body) were bunged in
then he was stitched up again
good lord, a broken leg is painful for weeks, even with a plaster cast - and that's nothing compared to what your husband went through
the muscles around the ribs, which are trying to heal, are disturbed every time he breathes in and out - i recently cracked a rib which caused 4 weeks of pain, you husband had several ribs sawn through!
and his heart has to keep working to supply the fuel and oxygen his boy needs all the time, while it tries to repair and recover!
i'm amazed anyone can move at all for weeks, especially without being knocked out on painkillers
it takes patience and careful but persistant gentle mobilisation for people to recover fuly from this sort of assault on the body - you and he will get there, slowly and surely🌺
I think brutal is actually wise fishonabike . He's been comparing himself to other people (I think in the US) who have said they were more or less fine in 6 weeks. We have both been very reassured by all the posts here. We very much appreciate you honesty - makes complete sense. Thank you very much
A friend of mine had a valve in his heart replaced when he was 22. It took a few weeks to recover. Eleven yrs later that valve was replaced so he was 33. It took a few MONTHS to recover. So as you can see the older you get the longer it takes.
I had a double by pass valve repair and another artuary cleaned out im 10 weeks post op its only the last 2 weeks that i have felt i am improving day by day it will get better and its small steps and some days are different to others i was surprised how weak i felt after losing muscle mass and strength and how quick but you do regain especially after rehab and exercise just keep the faith 6 weeks is early days
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