Hi Ricardo!
I cannot address all of your symptoms, but I also experienced some of them. My OHS was March of 2021.
- How long did it take for you to gain some sense of normalcy -- I have discovered I have a new normal now. I had a widowmaker HA July 2020 so it could be related to that, or the surgery; it's hard to know. I would say it was about 2 months before I felt close to feeling like myself again.
- I had my surgery on 3/18 but I still feel pain in my chest and can't sleep comfortably. Is that normal (it's been a month and I still have pain). -- Yes! It was probably close to 2 months, maybe 3, where I felt like I could comfortably sleep on my side again. It was pain in the beginning, but then turned into my chest just feeling weird. That has not gone away.
- I still cannot walk very far and I have to rest after walking up flights of stairs. Is that normal? --It was normal for me! I was pretty fit before surgery, riding my Peloton several days a week. After surgery I would try walking and would only get to the mailbox, then the corner, then 1/2 block, etc. I had to use the hand rails on the stairs and rest at the top for maybe 3 months. It slowly got better.
- My left eye goes dark sometimes (it's happened four times since my surgery. I googled and it said there's many times there's a lack of oxygen reaching the eye.
- Could this be an effect of surgery -- sorry, can't help you on this one
- My skin is peeling on my hands. Large portions (my finger print and close to the base of my finger). The hair on my knuckles has come up also
- The back of my hand is scaling -- sorry, can't help you on this one
- I am tired A LOT! Like I feel exhausted. Yes, for sure. I was surprised at how exhausted. This gradually got better too. I would say I am back to what I was like before, but I do occasionally need a nap.
- My incision on my shoulder is still a little numb (when does feeling usually come back after surgery). My entire chest is still numb. And sometimes tingly. And just feels weird. It has definetly gotten better. I only notice the numbness now once every couple of weeks.
So I have to have another surgery to repair the aorta on the lower part of my aorta/heart. I'm just now seeing my chest scar heal. Has anyone had two open heart surgeries due to aortic dissection? And how far a part were your surgeries? I have only had one OHS. I wish you all the best on your next one.
- What are the biggest permanent changes that I should expect. The unexpected sadness that comes from nowhere. The worry I still have that it will happen again. The continued weird feeling in my incision area. The foggy brain feeling when I am overtired.
- Advice you wish someone had told you that you believe will be helpful before, and after the surgeries. To do the cardio rehab no matter what. To be very careful getting into the back seat of the car the first time. To listen more to my body - rest when tired, move when you can. Don't let people pressure you into doing things you don't have the energy to do. To use something on my incision to make it heal nicer.
God bless,
Evelyn
------------------------------
Evelyn Quast
Maple Grove MN
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-21-2022 07:50
From: Ricardo McCrary
Subject: Normalcy, Healing Time and Sudden Changes
Greetings
I'm Ricardo and I am new to the group (just joined this month). I had my first open heart surgery on March 18 after having an Aortic Dissection. I had no clue it was that serious but I was in pain unlike I usually had in my chest. However everyone kept telling me "you're lucky to be alive" "most don't make it" "you could/should have died" this is all new to me and to be honest makes me slightly nervous to have my second open heart surgery. But I know some things depend on the person, or most things depend on the person. However I have a few questions:
- How long did it take for you to gain some sense of normalcy
- I had my surgery on 3/18 but I still feel pain in my chest and can't sleep comfortably. Is that normal (it's been a month and I still have pain).
- I still cannot walk very far and I have to rest after walking up flights of stairs. Is that normal?
- My left eye goes dark sometimes (it's happened four times since my surgery. I googled and it said there's many times there's a lack of oxygen reaching the eye.
- Could this be an effect of surgery
- My skin is peeling on my hands. Large portions (my finger print and close to the base of my finger). The hair on my knuckles has come up also
- The back of my hand is scaling
- I am tired A LOT! Like I feel exhausted.
- My incision on my shoulder is still a little numb (when does feeling usually come back after surgery)
So I have to have another surgery to repair the aorta on the lower part of my aorta/heart. I'm just now seeing my chest scar heal. Has anyone had two open heart surgeries due to aortic dissection? And how far a part were your surgeries?
- What are the biggest permanent changes that I should expect
- Advice you wish someone had told you that you believe will be helpful before, and after the surgeries
------------------------------
Ricardo McCrary
------------------------------