Kid at Heart

2.5 months later

2011-04-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

This is the start of my second week at work. Last week I needed a nap several days out of the week. Today, I worked and then did the food shopping. Tolerated a real bra for 8 hours. Tomorrow I may be interviewed for the local paper. I look forward to sharing my story with those who may be considering this surgery.
I will note more migraines and more violent migraines, since the surgery. I can't imagine that there is a connection, but I will mention it to my surgeon in May. I had flu like symptoms this past weekend, again, probably not related, but needed to make sure I stayed hydrated. That was hard and I worried more than usual about it.
I must admit that if I could afford to retire tomorrow I just might. I enjoyed staying home and weekends were much more fun when I didn't have a list of things to accomplish!

week 10?

2011-04-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it has been that long. Most times I forget about the device. My stamina is excellent and on vacation 2 weeks ago I was able to do all that I normally do.......I walked Disney World and Universal and went down the slide at our resort. Great fun.

Travel: Pat down went fine. One group insisted on a private check of the incision itself. No problem. The grandkids were so good at security and were a big help for a 5 and 7 year old. Sweethearts the two of them.

Not being able to sleep on my left side continues to make bedtime unpleasant. In fact, it is the awakening and moving supine to sit/stand that makes me most aware of the lead, even sometimes under the right breast which is odd for sure. No pain to speak of but bra wear is still avoided when at all possible.

Today was my first full day of home care treatments and carrying the computer in my left hand is my habit. That felt weird under my arm, like something was there......oh yeah, the device. We shall see if I ever get used to that.

In general doing well........all things considered....and I have stopped feeling like there will be an incidence just because I now have the device.......but I do cherish each day just a little bit more

week 8

2011-03-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

Sporadic use of Aleve, usually for muscle spasm feeling at mid back near back of device.

Ahh bra use 7-8 hours at a time. Will try real bra on our vacation next week. That will be a first.

Sleep...I so miss sleeping on my left side. Don't know if I will ever get used to that. After vacation I may try to fabricate something out of temperpedic foam that I can place on mattress to cushion device on left side. I do sleep thru the night sporadically, but that may more be a function of age than surgery.

Exercise....still feel the need to stretch that left arm over my head periodically thru the day, at least once for sure.

Migraines.....may be totally coincidental but have had more migraines since the surgery. Will mention to surgeon at next visit in May.

Work.......I have so enjoyed this time home and had hoped to accomplish so much more in this time off. I could get used to this tho some days are lonely I have seen the grandkids SO much. That has been heaven. I will offically have been on disability 9 weeks and could see making a case for 3 more weeks depending on your job responsibilities. In one of my jobs I must carry laptop computer in and out of homes as welll as get in and of the car 12 times a day. That may be a challenge to stamina, left arm, left side, etc. We shall see. First day back due to be April 4th if all paperwork is filed correctly.

7th week

2011-03-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

No pain med used last 48 hours. Sleeping getting so much better as I am able to move and roll to my right side without a lot of prep. Still using body pillow. This morning I actually slept on my stomach for 2 hours! I often forget I have the device at all which is a surprise. Then at other times it feels as if it is stretching the skin again, especially towards the back. The incision at the bottom of my sternum is sore at times especially to touch. There is a bump there, the lead is wider there? Don't know, but will ask.
Note I still avoid anything that looks like a bra. Ahhbra is the only way to go still when needed. Also some clothes with side seams really aggravate the skin/incision over the device.

Another active day

2011-03-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

Took an Aleve at 9am and headed off to the Philadelphia Flower Show. Climbing steps, taking train, walking and on my feet 5 hours. Even carried my packages back to the station....6 blocks away. Wore Ahhbra.......and couldn't wait to get it off..........LOL. Felt like I was walking around the convention center at my normal speed, not thinking about having had surgery. Did have to make sure that I didn't get knocked on the device when in a crowd. All in all a good day but I am a little sore over the device. Tomorrow a day at home. a

week 6

2011-03-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

I might get brave enough to take pictures this week. Sites look great healing wise.
Tolerated ahhbra for 12 hours Saturday, tho I needed a vicodan at 11 am to do it. :-(
But I was on my feet most of the day which was great and I tolerated it well. 3 nights of 7.5 hours of sleep but still need "body" pillow to sleep on right side. I think sleeping on my left side is forever impossible, tho I am considering cushioning with a temperpedic cushion to see if that helps.
Today I have been working nonstop 10 am to 6pm straightening up, tagging clothes for sale, ironing and hanging said clothes. So lots of arm exercise thru the day. Back sore now so off to take a codeine.

Best Night's Sleep Yet

2011-03-04T04:26:00.000-08:00

7 hours!! Maybe the secret was sleeping on my right side from the beginning instead of trying to fall asleep, and stay asleep, on my back. I used a regular squishy pillow instead of my body/king pillow to cuddle with. Rolling to right side takes no effort now, just adjustment of where your left arm goes. This weekend, bra wear to increase number of hours tolerated.

painful morning

2011-03-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

Odd........4.5 hours sleep, then 1.5 more before morning. Increase in pain across chest and left side when I sat up. Took Tylenol #3. Maybe too active with my arms yesterday and I did some lifting of bureau drawers. No walking but a lot of upper body use might have done it. Makes me think and wonder if I will be back at work in April.

First full night of sleep

2011-02-28T07:39:00.001-08:00

OK, week 4 and I now can roll over to my right side without prepping first by holding body pillow up against the front of my body and rolling like a log! Also, 1/2 vicodan last night needed before sleep. Aleve this morning and hope to stay on that.
Slept 7.5 hours last night without waking up. First time in a month! Hallelujah

28 days with ICD

2011-02-27T18:48:00.001-08:00

Used no vicodan today, only Aleve, can't say it took a lot of pain away tho. Still prefer the stronger stuff for really allowing me to move and behave as if it wasn't in me. Worst time is moving into sitting from lying flat. Can hold baby against my chest without pain, thats very nice! Still no bra wear on a regular basis. Maybe next weekend we will try to accomplish that.

Day 25 with my new subcutaneous ICD

2011-02-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

Got out and about again today. Stopped and walked/shopped at the Goodwill store (great finds BTW with $5 suitcase!) and then into my hospital to surprise my Neonatal Clinic Girls...how I love them. They were all interested in how the device looked, how big, where it is, etc. Since they are all medical folks this was of high importance LOL. Of course, I also had to brag on the grandkids.
Pain meds used every 12 hours and I am wondering/worrying if the doc will refill. The vicodan takes away the presence/my perception of the device and I tend to be more active, otherwise I want to remain supine and gravity free. Certainly makes a difference when getting comfortable in bed at night. I still have to use my body pillow when sleeping on my right side. Someone at work told me its like the pillow they give you after heart surgery.
Finished off my day with visit to furniture consignment (found a great cherry twin bed for Mike) and then off to produce store.
Working around the house tomorrow to get things straighened and decluttered. Things I never get to do on work days. I have two pantry closets that really need to be reorganized so that may be on the agenda.
I also have my one month post op study visit with my surgeon. I have to have a chest xray beforehand. Note that this is not part of a traditional defibrillator followup so study will pay for this in full. The chest xrays are repeated thru the first year and again not part of the traditional followup. With digital xray technology I might be able to see it!
Renee

ah, wonderful sleep

2011-02-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

Went 14 hours without pain med and had 9 hours sleep!!! Feels amazing for sure. Moving much easier and hope to get out for more walking/exercise today

3 weeks tomorrow

2011-02-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

Out yesterday for about 5 hours of retail walking, about 3 hours today indoors and outdoors. Tolerating 9-10 hours between pain meds. Feels like a really bad charley horse, or muscle cramp, on my left side when it begins to ache. Have to continue to remember to stretch that left arm over my head and out to the side as well as take deeper breaths.

Post Op Day 19

2011-02-18T13:53:00.000-08:00

70 degree weather here in NJ found me out and about for about 4 hours, tho not walking all of that time. Tolerance of Ahhbra lasts about 3 hours especially at end of pain med range. Clearly the wearing of the bra is a weaning process and I may be pushing it way too fast.
Renee

A Great Day

2011-02-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

The weather here was delightful at over 60 degrees and sunny. A dear friend took me to a local park along the Rancocas Creek and we went birding!! She is an avid birder and has a high power camera and great binoculars. I saw a hawk as well as a beaver dam and mud house! Great conversation, great exercise in walking and a 34 year friendship celebrated. Doesn't get much better than that. Thanks Marge for a lovely afternoon.
2 1/2 hours outside and I feel great. Going 9-12 hours without meds for pain.
Oh, and I wore the AhhBra for 3.5 hours without issue. I highly recommend it for post chest surgeries in women.

Post op day 18

2011-02-17T06:19:00.000-08:00

Body pillow was too big for me to use ( I am 5 ft tall). I exchanged it for a king sized down pillow and used it last night with some success in sleeping on my right side. My new program is to fall asleep naturally (after taking melatonin 3mg) but no pain pill, falling asleep on my back. I usually awake at 3-4 am, take a pain pill and then roll to my right side with my new pillow. I slept until 6 am two days in a row this way. I do wake with some chest pain. I think it is the "crush" of the shoulders together when you sleep on your side. It bothers the lead over the sternum. The pain resolves quickly but you should stretch out on your back to help it along.
Sinus headache this morning.....tylenol for sinus headache doing nothing.......will have to resort to Imitrex I think.......
Planned walk in the park on this lovely day with one of my oldest friends, Marge. Should be lovely.
And there is a nap in my future......soon

post op day 16

2011-02-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

Now using pain med every 8 hours. I try to get out every day to walk inside stores or outside. Due for warmer weather end of the week so a park visit will be in order. I think bra wear may actually occur over the weekend so stay tuned for reviews and pix of choices. So far the seamless camisole works best. I picked this one from Kohls. It is Daisy Fuentes and is seamless.

Continue to exercise arms, especially left over my head and out to the side.

Slept on my right side with help of body pillow for about 2 hours last night. Body pillow helps with support of left arm and leg and cushions the chest wall. I actually was hugging it to me. Slept well that way.

Subcutaenous ICD education video

2011-02-14T17:57:00.001-08:00

Since we celebrate love and its association with the heart in this the National Heart Month please check out this video to see the different kinds of electrical devices used to keep the heart beating so we get to stay with our loved ones even longer!
The subcuteneous ICD is what I have and continue to hope to never use.

Day 15 Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

Ironic that I had my surgery on the cusp of National Heart Month. There is a big push in the media regarding women's heart issues and that more women die of heart disease than from any cancer. Heart attack symptoms are different in women and often symptoms are ignored by us and by physicians. Now my problem is genetic and not necessarily related to heart attacks, though heart attacks run in my family and I have a female first cousin who had her first heart attack before the age of 50. Please be aware of your numbers: blood pressure 120/80 or below, cholesterol 200 or below and genetic makeup. Obesity, diabetes and smoking are risk factors that you can control and you must!

Those three little people are my reasons..........

What are yours?

Renee

Post Op day 14

2011-02-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

We are 2 weeks out from surgery and I am needing pain meds less and less. Can go maybe 12 hours over night without and every 7-9 during the day ( I guess because I am more active). The pain seems now to be mainly in the area where the device actually sits and I think that once those steristrips come off it will feel even better. The other two incisions over the sternum are now without steristrips and look really good.
Ahhbra arrived yesterday and will try those out shortly. And the best news is that I can hold my 2 week old granddaughter without pain

re: Bra

2011-02-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, indeed. Order a size larger. Still not ready to wear it for any length of time. I suspect that you have to work on weaning yourself into it. I propose starting with 1 hour and adding 1/2-1 hour each day until you work up to the 8-12 of usual wearing time. There is a lace version that I ordered as an exchange for the one that is too small.
Will add pictures sometime over the weekend.
Also order my new medical alert ID. More on that later.

Wound Check/Bra Review

2011-02-10T13:55:00.001-08:00

I had my 10 day wound check today. All is well. Steri strips should be coming off, or coaxed off, by day 14. No sutures to come out. Dr was pleased with the lack of bruising and minimal amount of swelling. Next visit is a study visit at 1 month with chest xray required. Study pays for xray as it is out of the scope of standard post op care for the traditional device.

My Dream Products bras arrived today. I probably should have ordered one size larger and may do that. I tried it on and it fits well and is not uncomforable. Not gorgeous and you might not wear it under a shear blouse, but certainly ok for T-shirts and sweaters. Still not ready to wear a bra at the moment but will let you know how it works out when I do.

Walked 2 miles today and now I can drive, if I am not taking the pain meds (which I am not able to get rid of yet).

10 days post op

2011-02-09T11:14:00.001-08:00

Took a 3/4 mile walk today in the brisk cold air. Careful to cover mouth and nose as to not set off the asthma cough. I was less short of breath today which is encouraging. I am probably walking at a 2.0-2.5 speed.
Still managing pain with hydrocodone every 6-7 hours. Pain remains primarily at the lower left rib area under left breast.
I am also trying to be diligent with the range of motion exercises for my upper extremities and plan to post an instructional video for those who might be undergoing this procedure in the future.

2011-02-08T09:01:00.002-08:00

Lateral view straight on to device. Bruise inferior to incision, down by my waist, is over my floating rib and most likely occurred in the course of this surgery.

2011-02-08T09:01:00.001-08:00