My progress since open heart surgery

I thought I would update you guys on my progress from my OH surgery....
when i was in the hospital i gained 22 lbs of water weight in 4 days...
talk about freaking the hell out!!!

well since i've been home (a week ago tomorrow), i have had lots of trouble breathing and just can't do the physical activity like i should be able to...at this point i should be walking 7-10 minutes straight, 3 times daily...not happening...i can not even walk from the living room to the bathroom w/o becoming winded.
i had noticed that my water retention hadn't gotten better since i got home and my "output" hadn't increased.  my "heart" aka chest is killing me and im "popping" more nitro then before i had open heart surgery.

i have gotten to feel that if living is going to be like this after open heart surgery...this sure the hell is no way to live!!! something has GOT to be done!!!
i am miserable, in agony (pain meds NOT helping) and just can NOT breathe! so i have been feeling VERY downhearted lately.

my fear was that there was water around my heart and lungs...so today i had to make an unplanned visit to my cardiac surgeon's office...he has me doubling my lasix for the next 3 days to see if that helps w. my breathing as he feels as i do...that it could be water around my heart and lungs...
sooooooooo...that's the game plan...

i also had a hell of a time getting off of the ventilator in the hospital due to undiagnosed sleep apnea....so i "officially" go for my sleep study this thursday...dr wanted me to leave hospital WITH cpap machine...insurance company won't let it happen until i have had my sleep study...it's like the frigg'N chicken and the egg here....

i had some friends on here wanting to know what was going on and i figure this was the easiest way to get it out there.

will keep ya'll updated
hugs and much love
p

Well doggone it Pammie!!  Glad you went to the doc.  You're right - you should be feeling better and doing more day by day,so the Lasix adjustment is probably spot on.

Hang in there chickie poo!!

Hugs honey - can't wait to meet you IRL!  You're a Miami County girl - I'm a Howard County girl - born and raised in Kokomo.

Pam, I'm sorry you are still struggling. Please keep an eye on your breathing and call the doc if things aren't improving. Sometimes oral Lasix just can't cut it and you need a dose or two of IV. You should be weighing yourself daily (monitoring weight gain/loss due to fluid) and writing it down. This is the nurse in me wanting to run to your house and do a full assessment and check you out. Hang in there and keep me posted.

Huggs Pammie
Neil didnt have open heart ,he had a stint put in but he had trouble breathing,and chest pains and holding water and he went back and he was told it was his bodys way of reacting to the foreign that had been put inand he would have some adjustment with his meds it has gotten better he has a pain once in awhile.
Please take care of yourself sweetie
huggs

thanks guys!
i really appreciate the thoughts and prayers...
Christie...lemme know the next time you're in the Howard co. vicinity and we will try to work something out!!! Would be GREAT to meet ya IRL!
Melissa....i'm already a step ahead of ya...my BFF of 36 yrs is a DON and has been a nurse for 15 years...welp...she came out tonite @ 10pm and gave me an assessment and looked over everything....she even brought and left her scales...better than mine i think she thinks LOL!!!
Lisa...thanks for the info...i appreciate it...its good to "talk" to other ppl that have been thru it....
thanks again guys
hugs and mucho love
p

Hugsss Pam, hope you get to feeling better really soon!!

Jeannie

Good Lord Pam! Peggy is going to be awful lonesome if you dont get to show up when she does for the premire at St V Carmel in July! Heres hoping for better days ahead for you. DONT GIVE UP>>>>>your time will be there on the losers bench..

K

[[[HUGGGS]]] Pam!!!  I'm sorry that you are going through so much. It would be very scary. I'd imagine with what you've gone through your body has taken a lot and its just a matter of having the doctor adjust some things and get that fluid moving out of your system. Just think, in another year... you will be done with your rehab from this  procedure and also be done with your WLS and probably be a skinny lil hussy!!
I just don't know how you could be any sassier than you already are girlfriend.

Take care of you and keep us informed

Ok, Sister..lol  replied to the email before I read the post, so I am up to date now..lol  I want to say I agree with the RN above me that oral Lasix doesn't always get the job done and you may need some IV.  And like I told you, as an ER nurse I would much rather see you and get you checked out and then send you home over waiting to see you when you had gotten into trouble.  If you dont start increasing your output in a major way after no more than two doses, get yourself to the hospital to get it checked out.........Pretty please.     I just made a new friend and I want her to get healthy and feel better...lol  
(((((big hugs)))))