1. < Heart & Blood Health

Open heart surgery, aortic valve replacement and 3 bypasses.

Posted by LyndaMM @lyndamm, Jul 20, 2016

I had open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement and three corinary artery bypasses. I live an hour and half from my clinic. I feel I wasn't given much education before the surgery as what to expect. I'm at 7 weeks post op and I get so tired so quickly. I don't know what I should or should not do at this point. I'm trying to walk everyday but it's not easy as I live in a city built on a hill and finding a flat area to walk is not easy. Can anyone help, maybe tell me about your recovery? I want to start cardiac rehab but they said I NEF to wait till I'm feeling more like myself

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 20, 2016

Hi @lyndamm, welcome.
I'm happy to introduce you some other Connect members who have had open heart surgery (or their partners). Please meet @cynaburst @jackj @thankful @lynnkay1956 @callalily74 @jimmorris900 @crhp194 and @jc2buds. They'll be able to give you more insight about recovery expectations and what you should and shouldn't do.

I think you'll find this discussion useful too https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/husbands-open-heart-surgery/

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Cynaburst, Alumna Mentor | @cynaburst | Jul 20, 2016

I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I did start cardiac rehab right around 5 or 6 weeks and I found it very helpful. Can you visit a local mall to walk in where it is flat?

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3 replies
crhp194 | @crhp194 | Jul 20, 2016

Try walking each day at a mall or around a store like Home Depot. I am about 9 weeks from open heart surgery and i try to walk 30 minutes each day. If I am too tired to do 30 minutes at one time, I do 15 and15. Slowly this walking is making a big difference. I would start rehab right away. It was strongly suggested I start rehab 4 weeks after surgery no matter how I was feeling.

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1 reply
thankful | @thankful | Jul 21, 2016

I would agree with Cynaburst & crhp194. The sooner you can find a comfortable place to walk the better! Not only for the exercise, but also it will get you out of the house. You have so much to be thankful for and hopefully you may begin seeing things in a new light that are so easy to take for granted. I know I do. The summer smells of a wooded path and birds chirping away. I take a a few big cleansing breaths and give thanks that I have life and I am loved. So much to be thankful for! Lyndamm, you can do this! Start slow and be consistent.

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1 reply
LyndaMM | @lyndamm | Jul 22, 2016
In reply to @cynaburst "I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I..." + (show)
@cynaburst

I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I did start cardiac rehab right around 5 or 6 weeks and I found it very helpful. Can you visit a local mall to walk in where it is flat?

Jump to this post

We don't have an in door mall and our open air mall has lots of steps. My grandson is going to start taking me to his church parking lot that is flat.

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LyndaMM | @lyndamm | Jul 22, 2016
In reply to @crhp194 "Try walking each day at a mall or around a store like Home Depot. I am..." + (show)
@crhp194

Try walking each day at a mall or around a store like Home Depot. I am about 9 weeks from open heart surgery and i try to walk 30 minutes each day. If I am too tired to do 30 minutes at one time, I do 15 and15. Slowly this walking is making a big difference. I would start rehab right away. It was strongly suggested I start rehab 4 weeks after surgery no matter how I was feeling.

Jump to this post

I've tried, they just don't do it until 3 months here. I live in a very small town with just a tiny community hospital, no mall.

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LyndaMM | @lyndamm | Jul 22, 2016
In reply to @thankful "I would agree with Cynaburst & crhp194. The sooner you can find a comfortable place to..." + (show)
@thankful

I would agree with Cynaburst & crhp194. The sooner you can find a comfortable place to walk the better! Not only for the exercise, but also it will get you out of the house. You have so much to be thankful for and hopefully you may begin seeing things in a new light that are so easy to take for granted. I know I do. The summer smells of a wooded path and birds chirping away. I take a a few big cleansing breaths and give thanks that I have life and I am loved. So much to be thankful for! Lyndamm, you can do this! Start slow and be consistent.

Jump to this post

Thank you

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Sep 28, 2016
In reply to @cynaburst "I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I..." + (show)
@cynaburst

I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I did start cardiac rehab right around 5 or 6 weeks and I found it very helpful. Can you visit a local mall to walk in where it is flat?

Jump to this post

Hi @cynaburst If you could, please share something about your surgery and the length of time you had valve problems. Was the valve replaced or repaired?

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Cynaburst, Alumna Mentor | @cynaburst | Sep 28, 2016
In reply to @cynaburst "I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I..." + (show)
@cynaburst

I remember that it took me at least months before I stopped taking afternoon naps. I did start cardiac rehab right around 5 or 6 weeks and I found it very helpful. Can you visit a local mall to walk in where it is flat?

Jump to this post

I did not have valve surgery. I had a septal myectomy for obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. They did not have to otherwise address my valve.

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