Posted on 05/11/2024 12:28:02 AM PDT by eastforker
Just wanted to touch base with anyone that has had open heart surgery and what I can expect post surgery. I understand they want to replace my aortic valve, have had a heart murmur for many years and I guess it has gotten worse. Bless the VA because there is no way I could afford this any other way.
It’s called an incentive spirometer, and you’re right: it is absolutely crucial to get rid of the remainder of anesthesia in your lungs and get you used to taking a full breath, even with a painful chest.
From what I’ve learned, they are doing the TAVR procedure on just everyone except those who have arterial blockage that can’t be repaired without open heart surgery at the present time. Fortunately, I don’t have any blockages, basically my heart is in pretty good shape except for the aortic valve.
A lady friend attended a Thanksgiving get together 4 days after. Me, I’d rather die. I could be too cowardly to go out but the procedure seems too serious to want to go through. What if you’re tired of life? Wm. F. Buckley said it. He died 6 months after his wife passed.
And try not to laugh!
My best friend from law school (female) just had a quadruple bypass. She is skinny but somehow had built up plaque in her vessels. Anyway, they had her up walking the day after, it was extremely painful and she only walked down the hall of the hospital. She stayed in the hospital from Thursday to Tuesday then went home. Age 69. Her husband rented her a hospital bed so she can raise and lower the head of it and the height of it—their regular bed was pretty high off the floor. She is not able to sleep very well, only 3-4 hours a day. Home health is coming in. You will need help full time if you live alone, get a relative to agree to come stay with you for at least a couple of weeks, you are not going to be able to do much of anything for yourself. She was off pain meds and on over the counter pain relief quickly.
Yes had open heart surgery and valve replacement in 2018. Don’t want to make light of your particular situation, but to me it was a breeze. I have a strong gag reflex and the worst part of the whole deal was waking up with the endotracheal tube in my throat. I’m gagging like hell and the tech is sitting there saying “just relax sir” and if I wasn’t restrained, I woulda jumped outta the bed and strangled him. LOL.
Don’t remember much pain at all. Worst thing was coughing was a little unpleasant. Special instructions were given in how to sit up and roll over. They had me up and walking the same day as surgery. With a walker of course. Special care is taken to make sure you cough a lot to clear the lungs. a couple times a day an inhalation specialist gives you breathing exercises with a tube. I don’t remember any particular difficulty in bathing myself. Was home in 3 days.
In my situation, my valve was damaged by an infection, so was saddled with 6 weeks of IV pump infused antibiotics 24 hours a day. Had to walk around with the IV bag and pump in a laptop case I rigged up.
They had a nurse stop by a couple times a week to check on me.
IOW, I think this is pretty common surgery now and hopefully you’ll be fine. Good luck. If I remember anything else I’ll post again.
The way my Dad described it was that it felt like he had been in a car accident and hit the steering wheel without an air bag.
Your ribs are going to hurt. Your “core” muscles will need to mend.
They will get you up and walking pretty fast. But moving is going to “smart” for a week or so.
So, getting up and walking around, along with the breathing exercises will help prevent pneumonia—which is their biggest concern.
After about six weeks you will feel like so much better.
Slow and steady—and do your rehab—are going to be the keys. They might send you to a skilled nursing facility for a couple of weeks if you don’t have help at home. That way they can keep an eye out and keep you safe.
One of my friends had that surgery several years ago. She’s fine now but its a tough recovery.
I had quadruple bypass open heart surgery 3 years ago at VA in ct.
Softer surgery they got me up to walk,had nurse accompany me with all tubes attached,after first time I then walked myself,did not really feel like eating so didn’t eat much
I am a retired cardiac RN.
One of the most important concerns after open heart surgery is protecting the sternum as it heals. The flat plate of bone is cut to allow access to the heart, then stitched with wire to close it. It is strong - you will not pop open like the Alien movie. But the delicate bone structure will begin building and must not be disturbed. Imagine joining two flat plates by welding along the edge.
You must prevent ANY shifting of the healing bone until it has time to heal just like your broken arm would in a cast. When the arms are used to lift, push, or pull anything, the force continues to the chest muscles and torques the bone.
Standing and sitting down safely requires a little skill. When you are moving your body around to get to the edge of the chair, practice hugging your arms to keep from pushing off. Work yourself to the edge of chair, feet directly below. Hug yourself and rock forward three time and push up with your legs to stand . Your upper body weight will give momentum to stand .
It is a challenge to learn and practice after surgery, but will be much easier to start now. Getting in and out of bed is tougher, but you will learn. Glad you are looking ahead. Practice now.
Getting up, moving, and breathing deeply is critical to preventing pneumonia. The discomfort of moving causes shallow breathing that facilitates growth of germs that would set back recovery. There is always congestion after this surgery. You will probably be given a “ flutter valve “ by respiratory therapy. Use that to clear the nasty blob a mucus. When you feel a sloppy, floppy loogy (can’t spell it ), blow that horn strong and long as though you are calling in troops to battle. Take a moment between blows, you can feel the blob getting floppier. Blooooow again. About the third or fourth time, it will break loose and cough up. Don’t freak out if you swallow it, better in the stomach than lungs.
Manage your pain well after surgery. It is a tough procedure. This is the proper time to use opioids effectively in a short term event.
The goal of pain management is to be comfortable enough to move and deep breath. You are not going to achieve “pain free”.
A stoic patient that bullies his way through the pain slows his recovery with elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily responses. A truly strong man uses his will to protect his body while it heals. Manage your pain well in the early phase, and the body’s need for medication will taper off.
Most pain meds have a 4 hour dosing. The effect begins about 15-30 minutes after taking and peaks an hour or so later. The med diminishes slowly until gone. That early bloom of the pain med is the perfect time to clear the lungs. Knowing that the pain relief is coming, blow the flutter valve, cough up stuff, then rest. Trust me, it is worth it.
One more thing
During the first 48 hours after valve surgery, many patients go into Afib. This is a temporary reaction that is corrected with IV meds. The heart muscle is just twitchy after all the excitement and will calm down. It may not effect you, but don’t freak out. The staff will be on it.
May you have a successful surgery and recovery. You are in my prayers.
Appetite got better as time went along but hospital food not very appetizing,not bad but did not really have much appetite,got up every morning,nurses sponge bathed me fresh pajamas,got up walked with wires attached myself,as days went by tubes were removed,just mostly boredom,watched tv all day
Care was fantastic
Post Op the pain I had was all in the sternum which they cut in half to get to your heart. They wire it back together but each time you cough it hurts a lot. That is the only pain I had. You will be very tired for a few days. You will not remember much of the first day due to high dose pain killers.
Post Op you will be on a ventilator until you can breath on your own. If you have any other questions, send me a Freeper Mail.
Wish you luck my friend.
Appetite got better as time went along but hospital food not very appetizing,not bad but did not really have much appetite,got up every morning,nurses sponge bathed me fresh pajamas,got up walked with wires attached myself,as days went by tubes were removed,just mostly boredom,watched tv all day
Care was fantastic
That wire they put in to hold your chest together comes outlast,doesn’t hurt just weird,nurse will tell you to hum as she slowly pulls it out
It’s normal,not knowing,but I did not have any problems after my quadruple bypass heart surgery,was not in any pain,you have to begin activity with help from the nurses of course,was sponged bath in mornings,walked with tubes attached,ate very little.
It’s normal to be nervous but had best care from Cardiac doctors from Yale New Haven and staff at VAHospital New Haven Ct.
Right. I couldn’t think of the name.
Here. 1990. Mitral valve replacement. Tough afterwards as I was in the healing process. Several weeks in the hospital recovering. Miserable as I was taking a pill Quinidex they ordered me to take. hurt constantly and could not get sleep. After 6 weeks I was OK.
Since then new procedures have become standard and people recover real quick! Quinidex is no longer used.
I have an Omniscience valve and have been on warfarin since that day. Have had no problems and have my blood checked every few weeks.
I understand modern valves do not need warfarin.
I saw an X-ray of my heart before surgery. it was huge! double the size of a normal heart. A year later I again saw an X-ray of my heart. It had returned to a normal size.
Again, that was 1990 when I had the surgery done.
Note: If they put you on blood thinners USE THEM! One woman had the same surgery I had, a mechanical valve like mine. She was on Warfarin till one day she decided aspirin was all she needed. She died a few weeks later of a blood clot.
Good for you! I had my mitral replaced in 1990! Hard time recovering but I did! Was weeks in the hospital!
Not long back, in a hospital visiting, I saw a man walking the halls with a small scar on his chest and staples holding it together. I asked about it and he said he had a mitral valve replacement just a few days before. And he was up walking the halls on his own!
Thank Heavens for Modern Medicine procedures!
My mitral mechanical valve has clicked millions or more times. Like a Timex, “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking!”
I should mention that with my mechanical valve from 1990, the constant “click” may annoy family members. Of the workers could hear me tapping clear across the room.
But it is worth it!
How true. I had my surgery in 1990. Wires, stitches and everything. I was warned that in old age arthritis would set in and cause pain in that area. At the age of 77 I have had NO PROBLEMS in that area.
Since that time I have also had gall bladder surgery and a stent put in my heart. I am doing very well and am on warfarin.
One thing more. All my life I have had AFIB. After the stent was put in they wanted to kill my heart, then restart it to stop the Afib, or put a pacemaker in. I said NO! I am still doing well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.