Kyle's Posts

Kyle, if you are maxing-out your spirometer already and feel no pain doing so, you are light years ahead of most warriors. It helps -a lot - to be so young; your healing rate is incredibly faster. - a upside to needing OHS when so young. Keep it up. You are doing really well!!! 😊❤️👍

Had a 6 heart bypass last month. My surgeon said after approx 8 weeks my chest would be back to 80% and that it would take about a year to be at 100%. I have wire underneath and they used glue on top. Some people have the wire removed if it bothers them. She said no trouble driving or getting hit with an air bag though it would hurt of course.

I've had a couple of heart surgeries. My tube was still in at least twice and the restraints are loose enough to move your arms around but not loose enough to be able reach up and yank the tube out. It's like a velcro around your wrists with a strap on the bed. They are loose. Not super confining. It will feel more like you're dreaming anyway. You'll be so sedated and they'll sedate you more if you're fighting the tube but still need it. They may decide to take it out ahead of your sedation wearing off. The restraints also help with making sure you don't pull IV lines/chest tubes etc. This really is what people worry about all the time but you'll barely remember it, if at all. It wasn't a huge deal either way. You still have so much anesthesia and pain medication in your system when you're waking up. My surgeon even said I fought to pull everything out - I have absolutely no recollection of that lol but knowing me, yes I did lol. So I wouldn't worry. Hope that helps 🙏

I had the tube still in but don't remember if I was tethered to the bed. Definitely you are pretty out of it. I just wanted the tube removed. Im not really sure how long it took because everyone is different but I want to guess 20-30 mins and I was in and out of consiousness.

Hi Kyle, I had surgery 4 weeks ago and I very vaguely remember the nurse telling me they were removing it, and I vaguely remember a sensation in the back of my throat, but as everyone says that day is very blurred by sedation, so you probably won't remember it as a bad experience but just a memory. Everyone is different of course, but I have no recollection of having it in or feeling a need to get it out. Wishing you well ❤️

I was walking 8-10000 steps a day, spread out over the day by week three. Then in week four I had a low grade fever all day one day and this continued each evening for several days. I followed up with my GP and then my cardiologist with a few tests and when my cardiologist called with my x-ray report and we discussed symptoms he recommended going to ER for a more thorough look. I ended up being admitted with possible pneumonia and had more tests and a thorocentesis to remove some fluid buildup between the left lung and chest cavity and amazingly I could take deeper breaths I didn't quite realize I was not able to do before. The pulmonologist believes I have Dresslers syndrome, which can be caused by cardiac surgery in some people. Basically your bodies response to the trauma bringing more fluid to the area. I'm feeling much better today. I caught myself dancing along to the radio as I walked around my room 😄. I saw my echo results on MyChart tonight and they look A ok. They have been giving me IV antibiotics for possible pneumonia but I feel very hopeful about getting sprung from the hospital tomorrow 😃 A little bump on my journey ❤️‍🩹

I had the breathing tube in because I didn't wake up for about 26 hours or so after the surgery was completed. I was gently tied down like Cathleen said. I started gagging as a natural reaction. My CICU nurse Bill was right there. He and my husband calmed me in down. The pulmonary guy came in shortly thereafter and took it out. They said they tried earlier but I wasn't breathing on my own so wanted to keep it in. It was a little distressing but not as bad as I had imagined.

My tube was in when i woke up, and i was chewing on it! I had no gagging sensation at all, and i fell back asleep. When i woke up again, it was gone. I was nervous about this part of the experience, but the actual event was not as bad as my worrying mind had me believe.

I had my sternotomy Sept. 26, and I remember absolutely nothing about the intubation tube. Don't know when or how it came out. Just know that I did not have a sore throat or a scratchy voice afterwards. I honestly don't remember much about my first hours in ICU, but I do remember that I saw a PT while in ICU, and she had me up and walking in the hallway. And, they moved me to the PCU (progressive care unit) a day sooner than I had anticipated. Every person's experience is different, based on their personal histories and pre-surgery condition, but your care team will help you in your recovery. They are experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate. Best of luck to you!

I'll give you my experience. I woke up extremely fast after surgery and fought pretty hard. In the moment I hated it, but eventually was able to calm down. By later that day I had already forgotten it. Just know that it's temporary. Plus it sounds like different hospitals have different procedures for intubation. Either way it's not as bad as I thought it would be.

Great question. I woke up with the tube in. But, that was all the way back in 2005. I understand that is happening less now but it still happens. Fyi, nobody told me that I might awake with the tube in so that was a bit dislocating. I'm glad to see are getting educated about what to expect after surgery. Is this the video you mentioned? If not, you might want to check it out. Hope this helps! Adam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIJWqdFdSDU

Everyone is concerned about the tube. You're in the norm. It's there as a precaution and will be taken out as soon as possible usually before you realise it. You are very groggy and out of it when you wake up and unaware. You're on a lot of meds. Your anesthesiologist should be able to answer all your questions pre-surgery and let you know exactly what waking up is like.

Adam, actually it isnt. But im going to check this one out as well. Im a firm believer in your body cant go where your mind hasnt so if i can have an idea of what to expect i hopefully wont fight and itll help that much more. Thank you all so much. Adam this is one of the absolute best resources fir patients like us.