Connect
← Return to HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi
Discussion
HCM-ers: Introduce yourself or just say hi
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (1049)Comment receiving replies
Hello,
I’m a 72 year old retired woman diagnosed with HCM last fall following a pacemaker. One test led to another and I was diagnosed. I opted for a Myectomy and will have it done in a month. Will also have a repair or replacement of my mitral valve plus 1 vessel bypass. I’m worried if sitting up from lying to get out of bed or back in bed is a huge problem. I don’t want to put undue pressure on my chest incision. I usually sleep with one pillow on my back or right side. Do people get special pillows. I don’t really want a hospital bed. Also, looking for a front closure soft bra for support.
Thank you,
Baltimore lady
Replies to "Hello, I’m a 72 year old retired woman diagnosed with HCM last fall following a pacemaker...."
Wishing you a comfortable recovery after your upcoming surgery! Recliner - the nonelectric one I sit in to watch TV and movies worked well for me, a couple of pillows we had in the house were helpful when needed. Bras are an individual preference, I usually just didn't wear one, shirts and muumuus with patterns looked fine. If I needed to wear one, I had no comfort issues with my regular ones. I would close them in the front and then move the closure area around to the back. There may be that trial and error period to figure out the easier and most comfortable ways of doing things, it's so helpful to have a "bag of tricks" to try.
Connect
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-i-learned-from-my-open-heart-surgery-part-1/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1258080/
Hello @pga17, so glad you found this Mayo Clinic Connect group before your surgery.
I posted something you may find interesting.
WARNING! It's looonnngg! But full of good information.
I have posted before that I had like seven pillows in bed with me.
One for each arm. One for my head. One for my feet. One to hold on to. I guess that's really five pillows. But still...they were so comforting.
I went to TJ MAXX and got a two-pack of lounge bras for after surgery. These were so easy to just step into and pull up. It's not easy using your arms right after surgery. Trying to hook a bra is not impossible...but the lounge bras were such a great thing.
You do not want underwire anywhere near your chest wound! The bras were soft and felt like a gentle hug.
Before we left for Rochester, my guy got a La-Z Boy recliner that was electric with a remote.
I used it mostly because he was so wonderful to buy my an electric chair. It was nice, but I would have been fine without it as well.
You will be amazed at what your body will be able to do! It just knows.
Sure, you're gonna be sore for several weeks, but I promise...each day gets a little bit better.
Where is your surgery being performed?