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I hit a wall with Hypertrophic Cardiomyothopthy nothing working
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) | Last Active: Sep 29 9:32am | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
@brumasterj I am so glad that your myectomy went well. I am hoping to have mine at the end of October and have been interested in the recovery process and duration...three months sounds hopeful to me. I am really curious about arm mobility, how much do we have in the first few weeks? And how long until full mobility? I am trying to plan ahead. Any advise would be appreciated!
Replies to "@brumasterj I am so glad that your myectomy went well. I am hoping to have mine..."
@deniseinflight Others (@brumasterj and @baystater101) gave solid advice and rightfully pointed out that we are all different. Starting the day after surgery there was OT and PT. Eight days after surgery in 2022 at age almost-76 I was walking up and down our long driveway several times a day and around the block slowly soon after. I was cooking - hubby lifted anything too heavy - and a few other light chores, too. I was told to pretend that I had my upper arms in a cylinder, my lower arms did all the work. I was to start cardio rehab 2 weeks after surgery, but no appointments available for 6 weeks. The owners of the gym I belong to had worked at cardio rehab and they were able to get me going on that - without the heart monitor - by the time I did go, I was easily walking 3.1 mph on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Much will depend on your initial fitness, if you can get the OK from your doctor, it will be helpful to work on core strength before surgery. Yes, there were restrictions on lifting, NO DRIVING for 4 weeks - one should listen to both your doctor and your body.
@deniseinflight i think the recovery will be a little different for everyone but the pain is bearable i never took any hard medicine after my second day in the hospital! Im very active 57 year old so i think my muscle mass may have hindered some of the healing! I could bench over 300 before my surgery! Now i have not even attempted a single pushup:(
4 weeks hurting getting in and out of bed, lifting with arms forget about it, keep it close to your chest when lifting anything and use ykur legs,
Im 3 months out and still struggle lifting anything with just my arms!
Listen to your body and you will be extremely tired just doing simple tasks for the first 6 weeks
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@deniseinflight My septal myectomy was July 24, so just over 9 weeks ago.
I was told no lifting more than 8 or 10 pounds in either hand for 6 to 8 weeks. The first couple of weeks there was no temptation to test that limit, as the sternum was pretty sensitive.
Because I had a pacemaker installed 4 days after surgery (that's another story) I was also told not to raise my left arm above shoulder height for 6 or 8 weeks.
I gradually felt stronger overall (walking daily, more and more, with rests), and could move and use my arms fine, but followed those instructions.
This past week I started cardiac rehab, which includes some arm work as well as treadmill, bike, and other machines (rowing machine to be added soon, I think).
... and once I post this I'm heading out to mow the lawn.
Each of us is different. (I'm a 73 y.o. basically fit guy, pre-op.)
Advice? Here goes, for a start:
1. Be a patient patient;
2. Trust your health care providers (but verify to the extent you need in order to feel comfortable);
3. Browse and read posts here and ask more questions as they arise;
4. Check out the HCM Association if you haven't already done so (consider joining and taking advantage of their pre-op class and one-on-one consultation);
5. Listen to your body.
... and you'll be fine.
Best of luck!