@mbi, your walking is a great way to work on staying in your best shape leading up to surgery! Keep up the good intentions! If there is a mall nearby, consider walking there when weather is uncomfortable. May I also suggest core strengthening exercises - ask your doctor first - such as planks and bridges? I just found this link! https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/core-strength/art-20546851 I found that the PT and OT challenges were easy to do because I went to the gym and walked very regularly - the main difficulty were the machines hooked up to me. I was annoyed at the slow speed at which these activities were completed, should not have been - I just had a septal myectomy! As far as how long to stay in Rochester, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. I was home (we drove from north of Albany NY), a week after surgery, many others were uncomfortable leaving the area so soon or were not feeling up to traveling. See how you feel after discharge instructions and actual discharge.

Im scheduled for june 19th
I was told to plan on 5 days in hospital and 5 days in nearby hotel, they mthen scheduled me to be there two days early for other lab, testing, xrays, ct’s and consultations on 17th 18th angiogram, and surgery on the 19th so the concierge helped book my flights 16th return home on 29th

Hello, I booked the Aspen across the street from St. Mary's so my husband could walk back and forth. I booked it for 10 days to accommodate my two days of testing before surgery and time in hospital after. It was perfect timing. I had surgery on a Wednesday and was released from hospital a day later than usual on Tuesday. Had my follow up appointment the next morning, checked out of hotel and headed back home. The hotel would have worked with us if we needed another night, they are used to working with hospital patients. As for the walking, I followed the advice of others and started doing leg and arm exercises and core exercises also. It paid off, I think. I was able to sit straight up in the bed the next day without help or using my hands and get out of the bed and walking with no problems. The nurses were quite surprised and pleased. I am 68 and active as far as I like to garden, tend to my flower beds, and I have livestock to feed and water a couple times a day.
Like others, I only had Tylenol for pain of which I really did not have any at all. I was surprised the I have not had any pain. I am three weeks out from surgery and doing great. I was really not given any restrictions other than no driving for 6-8 weeks. Otherwise, the dr. said do normal activities but try not to pull or push with arms extended. I asked about weight of things, and he said follow my body. If it hurts don't lift it, if it doesn't then fine. I have been slowly getting back into my routine, except feeding livestock. It is easy to get hurt by accident and I did go home on blood thinners due to a couple bouts of Atrial Fib while in hospital so I don't want to chance getting hurt. I have been cooking, sweeping, mopping, making the bed, laundry, gardening, watering my flowers, repotting some plants. I just watch my heart rate and sit if it gets high. I have not suffered from shortness of breath or fatigue. I can sleep on my side with no problems. Dr. said if it does not hurt, it is fine..no sleeping on stomach. I must admit, the nights are still long..I wake every couple hours and have to get up to go to the bathroom, I blame it on lingering Lasix, lol. Hopefully it will stop. I did take a Tylenol PM the other night and slept 5 hours straight..it was glorious. I don't want to rely on them, so I have not taken another. I am sure sleep will get better. I was up with coffee at 4:41 am this morning. Just could not go back to sleep. However, we do go to bed at 10 pm so I had enough rest. I like to take a morning nap which is new to me but since I have been getting up so early, at about 10 am, I get sort of dozy and want to sleep about an hour.
I could not have asked for a better experience. The scenario in my head was what scared me. Please read the posts, it is not as scary as you think. You will do fine. They are a great medical team from the drs. to the CNS. They know what they are doing and will talk you all the way though. I felt very comfortable with them, and they treated my husband well also. I look forward to healing and a better lifestyle and thank the Lord every day, for the great experience and my cardiologist referring me to Dr. Dearani and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.