Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice?

   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #11  
Never go with the lowest quote.
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #12  
John...triple by-pass two years ago 06/24/15 @ age 67. I am fine...other than being two years older. No doc restrictions other than as he says "act like you are approaching 70...but otherwise do whatever a 70 year old does :)"

Not what you chose but they are really good at this procedure. BTW...wife had new Arotic valve (Titanium St Jude) 13 years ago at age 57. She is also doing great.

My recovery went well...three things I look back and think helped me recovery on schedule.

1) When they give you a spirometer and a schedule of use...use it with whatever energy you have. Its purpose is to try and make sure you don't get lung congestion but I also believe it helped begin to loosen up my upper body a bit...and I had no lung congestion to speak of. I continued to use it quite awhile when home recovering.

2) When they give you a walking schedule follow it religiously...and ramp up as they advise. I was out walking on the street very quickly. I also increased my distance to a mile and then two as soon as I was comfortable. During your recovery expect good days and not so good days. After 2-3 weeks I learned that is I was having a bad day a 5-10 minute walk seemed to help make me feel better.

3) If you have the opportunity to go to a hospital/medical based cardiac rehab program do do as soon as you can get in...I think I started my second week home from the hospital. You get lots of benefit from such program...consistency, medical monitoring, progressive exercise intensity and perhaps most important is always being confident you are working through your rehab on a good pace. Also, they can help you with any questions you may have which will help with your confidence that you are moving forward. Again, work as hard as they advise/allow.

Your "combo" surgery may have a different "pace" for your recovery/rehab...just remember this is new to you but they have been through this MANY times and are there to help you.

Good luck...and keep us posted as you are comfortable...BTW...small side benefit...I attended my 50th high school reunion at 10 weeks post surgery. 3 night event and I felt fine...pretty tired by the end of the third night but felt fine. Also, I lost over 20# during surgery and 10 weeks of rehab...lowest weight from the last probably 20+ years just in time for my reunion. :)

Again...not something one might choose...but they ARE really good at this and it is a lot better than the alternatives (my dad died at 50 from a heart attack...pre-stent and by-pass days). My best to you...TMR
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #13  
Do what the doctors tell you to do. They are experts at helping patients recover. Do what they tell you, how they tell you to do it, when they tell you to do it.
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #14  
Something else that might drive you crazy is the cost. Best guess is in the $300,000-$400,000 range. If you just have Medicare, you will be responsible for 20%.

I can offer some advice on that, since I sell those things. :)

I can offer some advice on the forced inactivity and not liking daytime TV too... I got an amateur radio license when I was 16. I can always find some interesting activity to do on the radio. :) I think when I can't do anything anymore, I can always crawl into the "ham shack" and strike up a conversation with someone..

Of course there is always Netflix. :)
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #15  
I've had a Quad-Bypass -- no real heart problems before or after (no heart attack). the one thing I would caution against is not letting them put you on any Statin drugs. The Statins KILLED my stamina.
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #16  
the one thing I would caution against is not letting them put you on any Statin drugs. The Statins KILLED my stamina.

I'm inclined to agree with you, but my doctor has had me taking those Statins for several years now, and I still take them.
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #17  
I'm the youngest of 8 kids and everyone in my family had at least 1 heart surgery,I've had 2, the one thing to keep in mind is everyone is different and every case is different.I agree with get into a cardiac rehab program asap and get off your butt.Don't worry about having to watch T.V. get up, get dressed and get outside and be as active as you can.You will soon become addicted to walking and it is great for your health. If you don't have confidence in your cardiologist, change, they are a dime a dozen and the only thing they have in common is giant egos and mercenary hearts, find one you feel you can trust.The rehab really has helped everyone I know that's been there.
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #18  
Don't ignore the warnings and precautions they give you. A friend of mine decided he was healed up enough to resume his normal activities, and he separated his sternum. He was disabled for the rest of his life due to that error in judgement.
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #19  
I had 5 way bypass 12years ago..It hurts no doubt. I started walking the day after even though it hurt like ****. It heals you and soon you will love walking. Just get it done it's better than the alternative, 8 weeks later the pain will start going away.. If you never had chest pain before,I would get another opinion from a good heart surgeon ..I had pain whenever I walked up a steep hill..The Doc gave me a stress test and said I was fine..I went to another Doc told him I was having pain when walking up hill and I wanted an Angiogram he found 5 stuffed arteries. Just like every job you have ever been on there are good workers and bad ones, same with Docs. I'm 71 now and walk 3 miles 5 days a week and look forward to it...
 
   / Triple by passs and heart valve replacement on the radar. Any advice? #20  
I had a silent heart attack (no pain) on June 5 and thought I just had lung congestion.A couple of weeks later my legs and feet swelled up and I went to the ER and they gave me a shot of Lasix and sent me home.Few days later I got to another hospital and about 2 weeks ago had a Quad bypass.Went from 224# down to 190# after they got the fluid off.One thing they forgot to tell me was the air tube was still down my throat for 2 1/2 hours after I woke up(not fun).Been back home for 6days an not allowed to do much. Only 62.Thought I was in good shape from farming.First time in a hospital and first operation ! The worst thing has been the pain when I cough and having to rely on my brother to take care of the animals on the farm for the next 2 months( only allowed to lift 8 #)
 
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