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Posted 2/17/2005 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, :-)
I am new here and I would like to talk to people who have had surgeries like I had. I had a double bypass and a valve job all in the same day.

I had my surgeries on January 10th and I am still sore and have some pain across the chest. When I get up I feel like I am stretching my incision. I still tire easy and some days I feel like I am not getting better and on others I feel real good. Like a new person. Of course during these 5 weeks I have had other things to happen. I have had hemorrhoids and now I have spurs in my left foot. I just wonder what is next. sad I have even lost my appetite for some foods, like anything hot. I seem to just want to eat cold foods and fruits and jellos or puddings. I don't even have an appetite for junk food.

My surgeon has given me a clean bill of health now and has referred me to a Cardiologist and my family doctor now. I see the Cardiologist on February 28. I hope he gives me a clean bill of health too.

I just want to talk to someone who has been there and done that. I feel so alone in this, since none of my family has had this trouble.

Lettie :-)
Posted 2/18/2005 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lettie, it's nice to have you with us. You came to the right place! You'll find alot of support and understanding here. Many have had such an operation and I'm sure will respond soon. There's so many changes we experience when a heart problem comes into our lives. Don't be afraid to ask all the questions you want or tell of your fears. That's what this is for and the people are great. So, welcome again and hope to see you write often.
Posted 2/19/2005 12:06 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, Lettie,

Glad your doc thinks you're doing a-ok.  I hate to say it, but that chest discomfort and feeling like stretching the incision will likely be with you for quite some time.  I had my triple in May of 03, and it took a year or more before my chest felt fairly normal  Still gives me a fit if I overdo those chest muscles, which is REAL easy to do.  It's a long process of recovery from this kind of assault on our bodies.  I think about a year seems to be the magic figure for feeling fairly normal.

I'm sure you got all kinds of directions on what to do (or not do).  Follow them as well as you can.  Exercise is a very important part of the recovery process.  Try to get into a cardiac re-hab program if you haven't already.  That way you can do some exercising while being monitored by folks that know what they're doing and know what to look for, etc..  Also, it's a good way to meet other folks that are in the same heart-shaped boat as you.  Talking and comparing notes and experiences with others helps a lot.

Hang in there, and good luck with the total recovery.  Just be patient.  A patient heart patient!   hehehehe

Jim

Posted 2/19/2005 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi you two,

Thanks for replying. That is why I found this place, so I could talk to people with the same problem.

Jim I get so tired of the pains that I have. I would like to get up and do the normal things I do, instead of my husband doing them. He does enough working every day on his job, without having to come home and take care of me. Not to mention he has been sick with the flu and everything.

I am surprised they didn't put me in a rehab. Of course the new cardiologist that I will go to on the 28th might do that. I started out with a heartburn when I had the heart attack. Which I thought was heartburn, but instead was a heart attack. Now when I get heartburn I get fear all through my body thinking it is another heart attack. Have you gotten through your fears yet?

Besides the stretching part, do you still have soreness and pain? The nurse told me about 2 months and that will go away. Is that true? I still take Vicodin morning and night because of pain. I also have spurs on the bottom of my left foot, so that bothers me also and keeps me from walking too far. It seems like since I came home from the hospital that everything has hit me. I am just falling apart at the seams. hehehe :-) My skin is so dry that my husband calls me a fish because of the scaliness. :-) I use lotions and I guess it will finally clear up, but I get so impatient with myself.

Well I guess I had better go and let you all get a word in. hehehehe

Thanks again for responding. I hope to hear from you again soon.

Lettie
Posted 3/2/2005 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Lettie, Welcome to HealingWell! :-)

 

I, too, had a triple bypass in late August and along with several other heart problems, can understand what you are going through.  A lot of times when you're not feeling your best (and recovering from major surgery fits that category!)~you really don't have a big appetite, or appetites change.  Depression may enter into the picture and that's another issue that goes along with Heart Disease at times.

 

Someone once told me that having open heart surgery is like a violation of your body.  And that is so very true!  It takes quite a while for not only the outside of the body, where you can see things, to heal, but underneathe it all, there are nerves that are now sending new signals to your brain from your heart and everything's kind of mixed up for a while.

 

I continue to have a pain on my left rib cage that hurts when I breathe.  Apparently, that's from when they cut open the chest and opened the ribs up to get to the heart and lungs.  I've been told that is expected and it may be there for a very long time.

 

Take your time and let nature take it's course in the process of healing.  Everyone heals at a different speed.  If you ever find yourself with anything that you are concerned with, don't ever hesitate to call your Dr.'s office and get in to see him, or her!  Feel free to jump in anytime and ask questions, I'd be happy to try and help you. yeah Best Wishes, Teri

Posted 3/2/2005 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lettie, nice to meet you. My name is Barb and I had a stent put in my heart on January 4th. I'm only 42 and it was a total shock. I was really bummed out after that for about 2 weeks. When those around me started saying stuff about it I decided it was time to get back to my normal upbeat self. It is scary when you have don't know what is causeing the pain and what pain to worry about and what not too. The doctor and even the nurses at rehab couldn't help out with that. The nurse told me to try taking my inhaler first and then the nitro and if it was still there then the ER. When I went to the hospital I thought my asthma was really bad and thought the shoulder pain and arm pain was my fibromyalgia. So I know what you mean about not knowing what pain is what. Things will get better. My leg pain where they did the cath has finally stopped last week. I was thinking I'd be back to where I could ski by now but last week developed an infection in my foot and some painful lump in the other leg that they have ruled out as a blood clot but don't know what it is. I just do what I can though. I still went to rehab and just went on the stepper instead of the treadmill. I have lots of health problems but try not to think too much about them. Find a hobby that you can do that helps. I do scrapbooking and crocheting and recently got one of those books with the word finds in them. I hadn't done those since I was a kid. It keeps my mind busy with other stuff. Take care and keep in touch. Barb

P.S. everyone here is awesome and a big help.
Posted 3/2/2005 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Terri and Barb, thanks for replying. I try to keep myself very busy, but it is hard. I am dealing with the chest pain, but the foot pain is very hard to deal with. I can't see a podiatrist till the 14 of March about it. I did call his nurse though and she told me that it sounded like I had two problems. Yipee! Just what I wanted to hear, right. eyes Anyway, she said it sounds like I have bone spurs and a pinched nerve. She gave me some exercises to do, (which I was already doing because of the surgery) but also take a coke bottle with frozen ice and roll my foot on it. I do that and oh golly does it ever hurt. I think though the spurs have left, but not the other. My foot is constantly burning and in pain. I can't hardly walk on it, and it doesn't matter if I have my foot propped up or on the floor, it hurts. It wakes me up in the middle of the night several times, and that can't be good on the heart. If it hurts real bad I walk with a cane.

But one question I have about the heart is: I know they had to cut the chest bone to do the surgery. My surgery was on January 10th, so how much longer is this soreness going to be here? It is almost 7 weeks now. I feel like I have a heavy metal plate right in the middle of my chest. It is sore to the touch. Also, did all of you have dry skin? My skin is so dry, when I change clothes the flakes just fall off. My hubby says I should be able to swim like a fish. hehehehee They won't let me take a bath yet, so I can't soak in baby oil like I usually do in the winter. My hubby does rub me down with it though. It is very difficult to know what is normal and what is not. I finally went and cut my hair and got it washed at the beauty shop, so now it easy to take care of. I also lost 20 pounds during the surgery. They must have cut off some fat. hehehehe I did come out with a good sense of humor though. hehehehe My friends say it is much better.hehehehe All of the incisions have healed up really well and not much scarring.

Another question, when you wake up of a morning or from a nap, is your chest really hurting? Mine does. It is all I can do to raise up.

Well I guess I had better go so you all can come back and talk to me.

Have a nice day.

Lettie
Posted 3/3/2005 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Lettie, you just need more time to heal!  yeah They told me at least 3 months before I'd start feeling better, but if you talk to 10 different people you'll get almost 10 different stories.  They told me I was a little slow to heal.  I was also on steroids due to asthma medications, and that will slow up healing times.  When you see your Dr., make sure you address these questions to him, okay?  Write them down so you remember.  I'm always ready with my list. :) 

 

Re the dry skin?  That could be from several things, including the time of year and the amount of dryness in your house.  Hormones?, or lack of them?  Medications?  I'm not sure what is causing yours specifically.  It sounds like you are doing the best you can, though.

 

When the weather is cold and damp, I seem to be able to feel the wires a bit, but at 6 months post op, I'm doing pretty good, so I think some of your discomfort will ease up with time.  Just remember, you should discuss this with your Dr. when you feel it's something more than what they told you to expect, Lettie.

 

You take care!  Teri

 

 

Posted 3/3/2005 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Terri,

Thanks for the info. I have discussed them with my doctors. Plus I have discussed with the nurse of my surgeon. She has seen so many patients with this I figured she would know a lot about it. She is very helpful and very sweet. The dry skin is no big deal since I have it every winter, it's just that there is so much more than usual. She did tell me though that I shouldn't be having so much pain and soreness in my chest. Sorry, but I do. hehehe Of course, she doesn't know about the roads that I have to travel down. I hold my pillow in front of me so there is not so much jarring. I live about 4 or 5 miles out in the country. Don't have race track roads out here. hehehe

So you are 6 months out of your surgery? What did you say you had? I had a double bypass and a valve put in the mitrial something or other. Those big words get to me. hehehe Where do you live? I live in Southern Illinois. Do you have very much constipation and hemirroids? I know that is a personal question, sorry. I seem to have them about every other week. I told the nurse and she said it is probably my Vicodin. Now I have to take laxitives along with the other medication. I just love to take a bunch of pills, don't you? hehehehe I guess that is the price of getting old, huh? hehehe I don't feel like I am old. As a matter of fact I am ready to get started on my flower garden. I am so tired of winter. In my mind, I am in good spirits and doing well, now if I just could get my body to join it. heheheehe

Well that is all for now. Post soon, okay. I enjoy talking to someone who knows what I went through.

Lettie
Posted 3/3/2005 5:22 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning, Lettie! tongue

 

I had a triple bypass, due to a ruptured artery during a stent placement.  I have mitral valve regurgitation and stenosis, but it's still in a mild to moderate stage, so is causing no problems.  I have a history of left and right sided heart failure (HF) and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), a stroke, arthritis, GERD, Diabetes II and just plain ole allergy problems that cause me to have Asthma.  The left side of my heart muscle, the apex is dead due my MI along with the majority of the front part of my heart.  They told me what is beating is erratic, so the right side of the heart is trying to compensate for that which in turn can cause that problems.  The med.'s I take are helping me tremendously and keeping active not only helps me physically, but emotionally as well! 

 

I love to garden and I breed cockatiels!  I volunteer in the afternoons parttime at a pet shop training and taming birds, which is great!! yeah I've also recently added my name as a volunteer to help with the Breast Cancer Foundation in honor of my Mom who passed away about 2 weeks ago due to metasticized breast cancer, she was also a Heart Attack and Bypass Survivor for 20 years. 

 

I've been a moderator for a year now on another board and mainly worked with the nutrition angle of Heart Disease and Diabetes as they seem to go hand in hand. 

 

 I love being involved with learning and teaching others about Heart Disease and many moons ago worked as a nurse. 

 

 I hope this gives you a bit of me?!~and let's you know where I'm coming from. tongue

 

Feel free to post anytime, Lettie, you sound like a wonderful person!  (Just be careful riding on bumpy roads!! yeah )

 

Teri

 

 

 

Teri

Posted 3/3/2005 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Teri,
I didn't expect you to respond so quick. heheheh You sound like a very busy person. I am sorry about your mother. I lost my mother, it will be 5 years in May. We are not sure what was really wrong with her, but we think she had a massive heart attack the night before we pulled the plug. She had been very sick for a year before that. We thought she might have had luekemia, but they checked her 3 times and none showed up. It is a tragic time when you lose your mother. I lost my 29 year old son 3 months after that in August due to a drowning. He had a brain anurysm. I am 53 years old and taking a course on Medical Transcription. I love the medical field but I could never be a nurse because of some of the things they have to do. I can't stand seeing what happens in surgery or losing a patient. I get attached to people to quick.

You didn't say what state you are from. You seem to stay pretty active to have so many problems. That is what probably keeps you going. hehehehe They said I had regurgitation also. I am not sure what that is, I will have to research that. I also have GERD. What did you mean about the country roads? Was that a warning or just a joke? I hope a joke, because I don't want to move. I have lived here now for 29 years. hehehehe You seem to be a very nice person also. I can usual tell right off. Do you have children and grandchildren? I have 3 sons living, 1 son diseased and 1 daughter diseased. I have 12 grandchildren. Nine grandsons and 3 granddaughters.

Well I guess that is enough for now.

Lettie
Posted 3/3/2005 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about your mom Teri. Try to remember the good times and be thankful for all the time you had with her. I lost my mom when I was only 18. I was lucky to have a wonderful mother in law though that was like a second mom. She passed in 1999 which was just as hard as when my mom died because I was so close to her. My granddaughter is one of my greatest motivators for taking care of myself. My son wants her to know both her grandmothers. She's only 5 months old.

Wow lettie you are really lucky to have so many grandchildren to enjoy at such a young age. I live in Wisconsin and am sick of the cold long winter also. Summer is my favorite time of year. The cold seems to bother me more as I get older. My husband is the gardner in our family. I do the cooking and work 2 jobs. My hobby is scrapbooking with my husband. You sound like your in great spirits. That is the best way to be. I have lots of health problems and find it is best not to dwell on it. Get out and do what you can and enjoy each day. A lady I met on line from mended hearts told me "Don't count the days, make each day count." Sounds good to me. Take care. Barb
Posted 3/3/2005 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,
Glad you could join us today. I am in good spirits. Of course warm temperatures and sunshine can do that for you, besides being alive. hehehe I think that moto your friend has is a good one. My grandchildren are part of the reason I want to get well. I want to see them grow up. They range from 1 year to 14 years old. I had a picture of them in my hospital room to look at every day so I could what all the trouble was for. hehehe They are very well worth it. I couldn't ask for better motivation.

You have had some pretty cold weather up there in Wisconsin this year. It gets cold here in Illinois, but we don't have the snow like you do. It won't be long though we can put out the flowers and enjoy the green grass and green trees.

Lettie
Posted 3/4/2005 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Lettie, I was just teasing as you had just got done telling me that you lived out in the country and had to hold your pillow to prevent too much jarring! tongue

 

I'm from the grand state of Texas and I love it!

 

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss of both your Mother and your son, Lettie.  It's very hard to lose your Mom, but to lose a son as well, must be terrible.  Again, I'm so very sorry.

 

Good for you to be continuing your education!!  You go, Lettie!! yeah

 

Teri

 

 

Posted 3/4/2005 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb!

 

Thank you for your kind thoughts as well, I appreciate that so much!  I'm also sorry for your loss as well-you were so very young, I'm glad that you had such a nice Mom-in-law for the time that you did!  And you are right, children and grandchildren are wonderful motivaters! yeah

 

You take care.  Teri

 

Posted 3/4/2005 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lettie, yes it's cold up here that's for sure. It was really cold this morning. I would rather live where it's warmer. Perhaps Tennessee some day when my son and his wife move back there when they are done with the Marines. My son called me from Iraq today and is doing well. He requested beef jerky so will have to go get that to add to his box. He's been there a week now. He is a mechanic that works on the humvees and 7 ton trucks. My son is the one with the new baby. His wife is ok but miss's him. You have a wide age range for grandkids. That must make it fun. I had my grandbaby up on my tray table in the hospital. I was only in for 24hours had a stent put in. Have to go to work now. Nice talking to you. Barb
Posted 3/4/2005 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Terri, I think about my daughter and how she almost lost me at age 18 if they wouldn't have found that blocked artery. I just wish she would realize how lucky she is to have me still. My son sure does. He's going to be 22 next month. I have to get his box sent off to Iraq in the next few days so he gets it by Easter. Was going to send it tomorrow but he called and reqested beef jerky today. It was so good to hear from him. He will stay mostly on base to work on the trucks and humvees. Have to go take my bath before I go off to work tonight. Talk to you later. Barb
Posted 3/4/2005 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
Barb, tell your son that we're all proud of him and that we'll all pray and hope that his tour of duty goes quickly and safely!! 

 

Teri

Posted 3/5/2005 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Teri, I'll pass that along to him. I got him the jerky he requested and I'm going to send it off tomorrow. His aunt already sent a box to him yesterday so I better get going with my box. Well better get to bed so I can get to the post office before it closes at noon. Take Care. Barb
Posted 3/5/2005 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Barb, I am also very proud of your son. My prayers go out to him and all the soldiers in Iraq. I hope he has a very safe tour over there and gets back home to you and his wife safely. I feel for any mother who has a son or daughter over there. I know they are proud of them and have a lot of worries too. Just tell your daughter-in-law to hang in there. How long does he have over there? We just had some soldiers leave here to go to Iraq. We also had some to come back that had been there a year. My neighbors son and son-in-law just came back and now they are out of the service but still work for them. They make the bullets for the soldiers, so they are still contributing. Just don't want to let go I guess. I guess they want to feel they are still doing their part. Which they are, and I am proud that they feel that way.

Teri I am glad you were joking. hehehehe I didn't want to have to move. hehehe I am glad I have found this site, because I think I have found a couple of good friends, which I can use all the friends I can get right now. Expecially ones who know what I am talking about. It is not easy putting up with this pain and keep a good state of mind, which I am sure you two know about. It is almost two months now since my surgery and I still can feel the pain so bad. What gives me the most trouble though is my foot. Thank God I go see a podiatrist on Tuesday. Maybe he can straighten that part out and I can work on the other a little better. It is so hard to walk with the way my foot is. I know that is what is keeping me from getting better. Besides my house is going to hell in a hand basket. My grandchildren miss their old grandma too. I have one who is wanting a meatloaf as soon as I get better. I gaurantee you she will get it also. hehehe

So Terri I see you are the moderator of this website? Have you been doing things like this very long?

Barb, you say you are working. What kind of work do you do? I use to be a cashier and Aisle Manager in a big drug store. You might of heard of it, Phar-Mor. They were all over the United States. I was a cashier before that for 20 years. I loved my job. I haven't worked since 1996 though and then I started taking this medical transcription course and I think I will love it better. I love the medical field and typing, so this is going to be great for me. I will feel like I am helping out with patient's this way. Of course, I am having to invest in a lot of medical books, but that will just make me a better medical transcriptionist.

Well girls I could talk all day, but then I wouldn't get to talk to my other cyber friends and you two wouldn't get a word in edge wise. hehehehe

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Lettie :-)
Posted 3/6/2005 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Lettie,

 

Yes, since 1998 I've been involved with heart disease in general since that is when I had my MI and for the past few years have enjoyed talking to others on heart boards that have shared similar problems. You can see I've been a member at HealingWell for 2 years...For the past year I've performed moderating duties on another cardiovascular board, so you could say, I've been around this area for a while. yeah

 

Good Luck with your new endeavor with the medical transcription-I think that's great, Lettie! :-)  

 

Teri

Posted 3/6/2005 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Terri,

I sure am tired of waking up each morning with this pain in my chest though. I like 4 days it being 2 months since I had the surgery and each time I wake up, whether it is from a nap or overnight sleep, I hurt like crazy. My surgeons nurse said I shouldn't be hurting so bad by now, but I am. Expecially after I make a trip to and from town. Hubby said I guess I shouldn't go to town unless it is to a doctor visit. I did give another Protime test Friday and it came out good again, so now I don't have to do another for a whole month. That is better every week.

I am glad to see that you and Barb and all the others are doing so well from your heart surgeries. It gives me hope that I will do fine and the pain will go away. I just hope it will be soon. hehehe I hope you have a nice day.

Lettie :-)
Posted 3/6/2005 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lettie, I heard from my son on Thursday by phone. He is doing good. He works long hours in the shop. 14 hour days and then 12 on Sundays. He's got most of his buddies from the garage in North Carolina with him. I am hoping they just keep him on the base like this. He is very lucky to be staying in a building instead of a tent like most of the troops. He even got a real bed to sleep on instead of the usual cot. The walls in the building are 3 feet thick. That makes me happy. He also said he hasn't heard any gunfire or bombing. He's only been there a week and a half. He has 7-8months over there. I just hope they don't decide to send his wife over there. Yes she's a Marine too. That is how they met when they were both staioned over in Japan. She is a sweet southern girl from Tennessee. She can be a little spit fire though. My son needs that though to keep him in line. Ha Ha.

I graduated from college with a diploma for Medical Assistant in 1994. Medical terminology was my best grade. I got A's in that one. I work in a group home nights which I don't really care for anymore but it pays the bills. It also helps that I can sleep 4 hours a night if no one needs me which is usually the case until about 6am when a few of them get am meds from me. During the day I have a job I work 3 days a week that I really love at a Senior Center. I get to do all sorts of things there. I take care of the front desk and do all sorts of receptionist type things and working on the computer. I also plan our monthly parties and do alot of the cooking for them. Sometimes close to a hundred people. I have helpers though. I do all the decorateing and teach craft classes. I also have a weight loss support group that I teach. I get to use so many of my creative talents. The only way it could be better is if it was full time. I am forced to work 2 jobs because of the rediculous cost of insurance. My insurance right now is 722 a month for family. As soon as my daughter graduates in May she is on her own for insurance because I can drop it down to 450 if I take her off. It's still very expensive but what can I do. I have to have insurance. Well I'm off to walk to the video store now. It takes about 30 minutes so that should be a good walk. We have friends coming for supper. The chicken is in the slow cooker so I'm all set to go now. Hang in there and keep up the good attitude. It's much better to laugh than cry. Talk to you later. Barb
Posted 3/7/2005 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,
Boy you are a busy person. I am very happy for your son being in a building. It's nice to have some of your buddies there with you. Maybe it will make the time go faster for him.

I see you must like the medical field also. Have you ever thought of taking a medical transcription course so you can work at home on the side?

What kind of crafts do you do? I see you are very talented. I do crochet, quilting, crosstitch, I do rug kits, some plastic crafting, and of course my flower garden, which isn't a craft but I love doing it and watch them grow.

I talked to my neighbor yesterday, who had heart surgery 20 years ago, and she told me she still gets sore once in a while. I told her not to be telling me that, I don't want any more pain after this passes. hehehehe She is a good friend. I have known her for over 10 years and I didn't know she had surgery. I did know that heart problems run in her family though. I plan on talking to her more about this, I think she can give me some great input on it, don't you? I don't get to talk to her very often, because her and her husband are like us and stay very busy.

Well, I will talk to you again later. Have a nice day kiddo.

Lettie
Posted 3/7/2005 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lettie,

 

I'm glad you were able to find someone that you know to talk to-that can really be helpful.

 

One thing that I was thinking about with you...have they done any chest X-rays since this pain started??  Just wondering...perhaps you may want to enquire about that, okay?!

 

Be well.  Teri

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