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Could I get some ideas on the things my husband should be doing at this point in his recovery? He's doing a small amount of walking, and is extremely tired all the time. I take his blood pressure once a day and the past three days it's been around 105/57. Is this normal or should I make a call to his Dr.?
no problem -be patient-nannoo-nannoo
Keep in mind that he went through and extremely hard surgery....hard on the body and system. A large amount of anesthesia is used and it takes a long time to get that out of the system. Mood swings, tiredness, depression are all reactions. Additionally, the pain and discomfort all add to the situation. Give it time, look for little things. Improvement comes in small steps. I'm approaching 8 weeks post surgery (4x CABG) and although I feel great, I still have discomfort at the breastbone/ribs.
Sleep is the body reacting to the recovery process. Lots of muscle tissue and nerve endings were severed during the operation. It takes rest to repair.
As for the BP, keep an eye on that. The distolic is just a little low, not tremendously, however it is worth asking the doctor. If you have any doubts in your mind about anything resulting from this surgery, you are more than entitled to ask any question. There is no dumb question.
I had my second CAB on May 6th.....I still remember with clarity how I felt at three weeks postop. You still feel like you have been run over by a "Mack Truck", you wonder if your energy will ever return or if you will ever be normal again. Then, there is the depression that everyone goes through. Now at five months postop I feel absolutely great. My cardio doc keeps telling me not to forget that it takes the chest wall up to a year to heal, so not to overdo. Give your husband all the TLC that you can. Right now, you can't overdo the TLC, it was really important to me to know that my family and friends did really care. Once he can get into a regular exercise program he will feel so much better. I did and still do cardio rehab. It is great to be with other people that are in the same situation. Before I did the rehab I walked several times a day. Even if it is only to the mailbox it is good to move often each day. It helps not only physically, but mentally also. I wish you both the best of luck.
I had mine (triple) 3 and half weeks ago. I find I am ok and then suddenly get tired really quickly, like hitting a brick wall....then I have to rest...... I told me doctors and they said it's totally normal.
I can walk about 200 yards and have to then stop and rest, but can walk again after about 3 min rest....My doctor told me to go to the mall and walk about...that way I can walk a while and then sit down at any of the rest spots....then when ready go again... At least it's more interesting thant the same patch of road outside my house:-)
My blood pressure is about the same and even when it went down below 100 to 95 they didn't seem to concerned, but 100 to 110 over 50 to 60 is what they tell me I should be at..... Pulse is 72 but for me when it goes down to 60 then I feel like I can't breath....but I am sure that's different for everyone. My scar is open and about 1/2 inch deep and I have to wait for it to fill out the doctors say...just have to keep it clean... However, as others have written above there will be pains etc as the bones heal etc..... Another member wrote to me and said that his healing went in plateu's and mine seems to be the same. Last week my ribs really hurt and now they seem to have got a lot better over one or two days....
I bought an exercise bike on the weekend, one of the ones that are for recovery, and I am trying to get on it 5 times a day and cycle 400 yards....It fills in between the walking so I am going to try and make up some excercise using that...
At least the heart gets a little workout without walking to far.......From what I have read though tired is the order of the day and that's quite normal....
Phil....
Thanks everyone, it's nice to be able to share my thoughts with those that have been there.
My husband is suppose to start re-hab on the 22ND. I'm glad I'm off work so I can take him.
My brother had CABGx4 in May and stayed with me for 6 weeks post op. He thought he would NEVER move again...but he did. We walked every day (after about a week in the house). He improved gradually to taking on a small incline on my street... and then started cardiac rehab after he went home. he's doing well...hasn't complained nearly as much as i thought he would.
It's a gradual thing....bp will be lower than before because of meds most likely. Mine dropped quite a bit...down to 100/67 or so. Now it's normalized to about 110/65 approximately.
just be patient... and let him start doing for himself.
How old is he? I'm sure that makes a difference. I'm 55 and I know that 10 years ago I would have handled this much better, overall.
I'm chuckling at the descriptions from others here - I have said so many of these things myself, especially the reference to having been hit by a Mack truck! Exactly!
3 weeks is very early in the recovery process. I was generally weak and easily tired at that time. The key is to do something when the body is able, but not to force it when the body is fatigued. Believe me, it will come, and his recovery schedule may not mirror mine or anyone else's. It's just important that he try, because that will hasten the process; we don't want to be patients forever, but it's not easy initially. For me, Week 9 was like a switch had been flipped - I started feeling a LOT better.
Keep us posted.
rex
Keep up the great work on your recovery. Three weeks is very short. My buddy who is an ICU R.N. told me a good thought for recovery is one week for everyday you were in the hospital. I had a triple and at three weeks I was still dragging my body around. Rehab will help greatly. I'm into my 23rd session and I'm doing 30 minutes on the treadmill and then a cross trainer for 25 minutes. Time will help you heal just listen to your body and rest if needed. It only gets better...Good luck
Marc
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