Craig's Posts

Hi Craig, yes ... I, like you, am following my very own path to recovery. It's now 6+ weeks since mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve. I've had issues with unusual heart rate/rhythms and had a pacemaker put in just over two weeks ago. Having symptomatic AFib again (for the past week) but I remind myself that this is MY journey and MY recovery. It's NOT where I thought I'd be but it's my reality. And I have several factors involved that increase my fatigue. We'll get there in our own time! I, like you, have been told to give myself a year for full recovery. Wishing you continued healing and full recovery.

I am trying to enjoy the good days and accept the roller coaster of ups and downs two and a half months out from mitral valve repair. When I get impatient, I get depressed. A year sounds right. Hope your headaches improve. Last week, I went shopping, had friends over for brunch; my house was clean. This week, I have done very little. Maybe I overdid it? And, I am having a bad reaction to a medication. We will get there!

4 weeks is still early Craig...I don't believe I was doing 3+ miles at that point. I'm 4 months past mitral valve repair, finished cardio rehab, feel absolutely fantastic, but the first 6 weeks were tough, very up & down. It keeps improving, slowly but surely- hang in there, it really does get better!

A year gives one some time to get used to another normal. It can help to have lower expectations. My doctors told me I would be exhausted for a long long time. I was glad to be forewarned. Sometimes when you read this site, you'd think it was par for the course to jump right back, run a marathon, have no repercussions. That can be hard especially for those who were in great shape before OHS. You don't really control your recovery. A lot of things are out of your control and every case is a very singular personal case that can't be compared with others. If you had a broken leg you might watch it heal and see the time it takes. But you can't see what your heart is going through and so expect to be better very quickly. There is much emotional stuff to add to all that that one has to process. As far as headaches, I have had some sort of short vascular headache almost everyday since OHS. They don't last long but they are different from any headache I had before OHS. I hope yours go away soon. As far as migraines, I hate them. Had them before, still have them. There are some lucky folk whose migraines change, get alleviated after OHS. Here's hoping that you fall into the good category! Take care.

Craig, you're doing great for 4 weeks. I like you felt I should have done more at the same time as I read how some people were walking 4--5 miles. I couldn't do it, though I thought I was in pretty good shape before surgery. But, we are all different and we heal in different ways.. I came to that conclusion as you have, take it one day at a time and the energy will come back.. don't over do if you can, but as I know, we don't know we've overdone until we've overdone. I am 5/12 months out and pretty much feel back to normal..though I have returned to my normal activies, I still find trying to keep up with full time work, family, trying to go to the gym it tough.. I'm pooped at the end of the day on some days. but, I do feel so much better. Are you planning on cardiac rehab? I found that very helpful both physically and mentally.. I started at 7 weeks and I could hardly do a full 15 min on the treadmill and I left with over half an hour at a high incline and fast speed.. Never thought I would see an incline again as before surgery I couldn't do it without being short of breath. so my new mantra is "its a marathon not a sprint". keep up the good work.. you'll get to where you want to be. best to you