Peter,
You didn't mention what type of surgery you had, but I'm going to assume it was open heart and tell you my recovery timeline. I feel as good as new, by the way.
February 12, 2018: I had a completely unexpected heart attack. I was a very active 67 years old at the time, weightlifter, bodyweight calisthenics, walker, former long distance runner, gymnast.
February 13, 2018: Quintuple bypass surgery.
February 26, 2018: Awakened from a medically induced coma due to recovery from ventilator pneumonia and cdiff post- surgery.
February 25-March 5, 2018: ICU and post-coma hallucinations and delusions. They sound worse than they were. I thought I was at a hospital in the Bahamas and my surgeon was my shipmate in the Navy (I was never in the Navy and I was at a New Jersey medical center).
March 5, 2018-March 23, 2018: Inpatient rehab where I learned to walk and feed myself again.
March 23, 2018: Paroled. I went home, 6 weeks after the heart attack an started outpatient rehab the following week, as well as a daily walking program.
March 24-May 14, 2018: Good progress in rehab but I am physically exhausted after a workout or even a slow walk in the neighborhood. Making progress, though, and gaining strength and stamina.
May 14, 2018: Back to work, back to my old gym. Next month or two I have stamina and shortness of breath periodically while going to work, especially as the season turns to summer.
August/September 2018: Running again until sciatica lays me low. I just walk and bike after that, as well as the weight and bodyweight workouts. I'm slowly getting stronger.
February 12-13, 2019: My Alive Days. My one year heart attack and OHS anniversaries. I'm maybe 89-90% recovered to pre-surgery levels.
Spring 2019 and thereafter: I'm back and better than ever.
I'm now 70 1/2 years old, semi-retired, still working out and feel great. Just had a nuclear stress test and echo, and my grafts are clean as a whistle. It may take you between 12 - 18 months, maybe a bit more, but you'll get there, brother. Just be patient, follow your cardiologist's instructions, eat healthy and keep exercising.
Best,
Ira
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Ira Reid
Hoboken NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-18-2021 11:12
From: Dennis Danner
Subject: Depression post op 14 weeks
Hi, I am a new member here, but I wanted to share that some of your issues may be related to your Hgb levels still. I am a retired nurse, and I worked cardiac units and intensive care units in the past. I know these days, they don't give blood transfusions during surgery the way they used to. I have known several people who have had problems with anemia post-op, which could definitely cause some of your problems. Do you know if you are anemic? Are you taking Iron supplements?
This is no minor operation like you may have had before. Even some surgeries like Gallbladder or others I have had, it took 4-6 weeks before I was feeling up to my norm, and this is much more of a surgery to recover from.
Are you in a cardiac rehab exercise program? What do they say about your shortness of breath and fatigue?
Hang in there. You will be just fine. I'm sure you will gradually get stronger and get your endurance back as time goes on. Make sure and discuss this with your doctor, too. Even if you have already talked about it, let them know you are still having issues and are concerned about this. Many times a short course of antidepressants can help get you over the hump as well. I have known several people who did this. Depression is not unusual, and everyone is different. It's a pretty major thing you went through and it takes awhile to recover completely. Let us know how your are doing periodically.
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Dennis Danner
Punta Gorda FL
Original Message:
Sent: 06-26-2020 12:42
From: PETER VALENTY
Subject: Depression post op 14 weeks
I'm having some depression 14 weeks into my recovery. Because I'm still having fatigue and breathing issues. I am uncertain as tp how long it takes for full recovery and if anything full what full recovery means. This is causing me concern. I am 71 and prior to surgery i was fairly active. I cycled and skied. I'm having some stamina issues I have none.
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PETER VALENTY
RETIRED
OAKDALE MN
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