Scar -One month Post Op

So here is my scar and drain holes 1 month post op.  I am happy at how low it is....but I still have alot of swelling at the top and I cannot wait to start using Vitamin B on it to start the fading process.  For those of you coming to my blog prior to your surgeries....here is something I was not aware of.  You may have one, two or three drain holes from surgery.  Mine were left open, not stitched, to allow them to heal from the inside out.  They are starting to look better now.

4 Weeks Post Op

So, four weeks have gone by.  Pretty amazing really.  I feel almost like myself again.  There are a few things that are still hard to do and I can tell when I did to much and need to rest. I also think goin up stairs is hard. But really I am amazed that I just had open heart surgery 4 weeks ago and I feel like this  :)

My incision is looking good.  Healing very nicely.  My drain holes are getting better and seem to be closing somewhat.  I think I finally got all the adhesive off me....honestly there was sooo much tape put on me.....ridiculous.  I kept finding more and more. 

I am only taking my pain med at night now.  My breathing is much better and I feel like I can take full breaths without much discomfort.  

I had my cardiology appt on Monday.  Went very well.  I have lost 8 pounds since seeing them prior to surgery.  She thought everything looked good.  She does not think I need to start a beta blocker YEAH!  So just an Aspirin a day right now.  My heart rate was 89 but she said that is a normal response to heart surgery and it takes time for the heart to heal and return to normal.  If it is still high at my 6 month (JAN 2011) appt she will rethink the beta blocker.  I have to go for an Echo in 3 weeks to get a baseline reading of my new valve.  I read on someone else's blog that getting that first echo was really painful because they have to push so hard with the wand and they make you turn on both sides.  She warned to take pain meds prior to that visit.....so I am doing just that.  My doctor also thought it would be fine to start driving in 6 weeks.  

The worst thing that happened to me this week was SNEEZING.  It has now happened 5 times to me and OH MY GOSH....it is the worse pain ever!!!!   I do not even know what is making me sneeze.  But I can feel it almost an hour later. 

But really, all in all, I am doing good.  Dan is keeping me up and busy.  We are shopping. I went out to dinner twice.  We even went to Lake Anna and I sat in the sun for a few hours (admittedly there where some rough points....and the steps almost killed me to get back to the car) but I loved it....even had a little picnic lunch on the beach.  We are planning to walk the mall on Sat morning.  So I really am up and about and doing lots.   I think I would be doing even more if we were not in a never ending heat wave.  Really I think it is 95 to 100 each day here. 

3 weeks since surgery

Today, July 14th, has been 3 weeks from surgery.  I have to admit I have good days and bad days.  I am able to do almost everything for myself now such as showers, washing hair, getting in and out of chairs and bed.  I can walk up and down stairs easily now....although up I still get out of breath.  I can ride in the front seat with my pillow across my chest under seat belt. Laughing, the more I list the more I sound like I am 3 years old......I guess when they cut you open like this everything is something I had to learn how to do again.   I am only taking vicodin at night.  I still have pain and discomfort during the day....but if I try not to do to much it is tolerable.  My incision is all but healed.  It is looking pretty good.  My drain holes (something I was not really that aware I would have or talked about on this blog) are not doing to great.  Kinda 2 open wounds right below my incision that were not stitched up.  I was told they would heal from the inside out......well they are gross and it is taking quite a long time to heal.  I have to admit I am getting tired of not feeling like myself.  Maybe one more week. 

I have a cardiologist appt on monday.  I want them to explain my fast heart beat.  My rate is close to 100 all the time.  Before surgery it was 60-70.  I hope this is a normal thing and not a problem.  The surgeon's office did not seem concerned.  I will post how the appt goes.

So thats where I am right now.  All and all I am doing well and each day things get a little better :)

2 weeks post op

I am doing pretty well.  Each day is a little easier.  I have posted a pic of my scar.  I am happy it is low and it is healing very well.  I am sleeping better and able to get out of bed alone....a very big accomplishment.  My pain is under control too.  I am able to go 5 to 8 hours between pills.  I was able to stand in shower and wash my own hair yesterday.  Things are improving.  I am thankful that the hardest parts are behind me and I just need to concentrate on getting back to me. 

Happy 4th of July

I was released from the hospital yesterday.  I came home and rested.  I woke up this morning feeling very good.  The twins were coming at noon so I decided to wash and blow dry my hair (huge accomplishment when you can't lift anything or bend arms very well) and get dressed in normal clothes.  They were so happy to see me looking so normal.  I did take a long nap in afternoon but we planned to take boys to fireworks tonight.  We decided to try Quantico.  I have to admit I was very concerned about having to walk a long distance or uphill in woods or something because we were headed to a lake on base.  We had my handicap placard and we hoped that would get me closer to the lake.  It all worked out just perfect.  The handicap parking area was right next to the front.  We literally walked 25 steps and picked a spot for our chairs.  The boys ran off to find some fair food for dinner.  There was a live band and tons of people.  The fireworks were great and I am so glad I went.  The boys had a fun time too.  Pretty good for 11 days post op.

I am back in the hospital

Last night, after dinner and my parents went home, I started coughing and air kept bubbling up. Making me cough and nausea. I was very bad. We called surgeons office
And she gave us a choice of coming in to an emergency room
Or trying to wait it out and see how it goes. Well. I could not stop the bubbles or coughing. So dan decided to take me to stafford hospital. **** a bad choice****. We were transfer by ambulance to fairfax. I got here around 4 am. Had another chest ct and a chest xray. Also did a abdominal ct. No word yet but they are ruling out and infection in the fluid buildup on my sternum


UPDATE:
2 surgeons came in and after reviewing the tests they do see fluid around the aorta and poss elsewhere( I will clarify that). They want me to have another chest ct with contrast this time to rule out infection. Neither seemed to concerned and I feel so much better. A little morphine and antibiotic drips have done wonders! So they are keeping me another night. I am sure they will let me go in the morning unless the test shows something worse.