Maybe someone else can confirm this...
Like you, just after getting extubated, I was SO THIRSTY!!! My ICU nurse was a stickler, but I was also able to persuade her to give me ice. The problem is, I ate a LOT of ice -- I recall going through 3 of those large containers in just a few hours.
A couple days later I was discharged. Everything looked good. That same night, I felt something weird in my neck. I quickly realized that my pulse was going crazy. I contacted my nurse and he said to go to the emergency room.
It turns out I was experiencing A-fib. It appears this is quite common -- 4 of 10 people. They treated me with Amiodarone. I continue to take it now. I was in the hospital for 2 more nights.
I read somewhere (can't find it again) that too much water immediately following surgery increases the likelihood of this A-fib complication.
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Anthony Smith
Lake Elsinore CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-16-2020 08:35
From: Anne Birdsong
Subject: Info on preparing for OHS and learning stress management
Hello folks. At my sister's suggestion, I have written a couple of posts as I recover from my OHS (to repair an atrial septal aneurysm and ASD).
I only joined this group very recently, but have noticed there are a lot of questions about preparing for surgery, as well as how to handle the stress and anxiety. To that end, I am sharing the links to my posts here. My blog is not monetized and there are no annoying pop-ups or anything, I am just posting in case it might be helpful to others. I plan on writing two more posts, focusing on "after".
On preparing:
Series: Open Heart Surgery. Before.
On the details of going through the surgery, and stress management:
Series: Open Heart Surgery. During (Stress Management).
Thanks, I hope this may be helpful.
Anne
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Anne Birdsong
Occupational Therapist
Rural
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