Jeff's Journal

  I'm sure that was a major scare, Jeff!
It's good you called the nurse, and got to the hospital, when you did!
I'm glad you are back home....and feeling pretty good.
Antibiotics another week is a good thing!
Praying for your continued healing!

Tammy Pilcher  Jeff, I'm so glad you're doing better! That would be a scary thing that soon after surgery. Prayers and best wishes for your recovery!

Ray Lockhart  Great decision on your part and a great heads up from the nurse. Glad that it is worked out for you without any further problems.
Ray

Kenneth Cole  I had no problems except for some afib. Your infection might explain your pain, I still have some discomfort after 6 weeks but it's minor, most of the time I don't notice it. God bless you, hope you heal good soon.

Adam Pick  Awesome Jeff!!! There is nothing better than hearing such a great, early recovery update. Thanks for sharing. Take it nice and easy! Also, be a little careful with the Oxycodone. That stuff can be a little addictive as I learned.

Summer Lane  This is great news!!!! Keep it up and take it easy. Don't over do it. Love seeing all the positive stories on here

Jennifer Miller  That's great, Jeff! I'm sure you'll be running around with your little ones sooner than the other activities, but by giving yourself enough time to heal, it's all possible. Staying on top of the pain makes a huge difference, doesn't it?! You'll see you need less pain meds if you don't push yourself too hard. Happy recovering!

Jeff Lashins  Thanks everyone! Adam - I hear you about the addicitive properties of Oxycodone. I am slowly tapering off it now actually.

Adam Pick  Good. Here's an interesting data point from a pharmacist about the frequency of addictive vicodin use post-op.  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2007/09/22/vicodin-addiction-and-heart-surgery-beware/

Kenneth Cole  Good for you Jeff. If you see my posts you can see my progress, but I'm a bit older then you so everyone heals at a different rate. Be kind to yourself for a few day's after this surgery, don't rush it my friend.

Bob Bemben  Hang in there, Jeff. I am 8 days post op and healing up a bit faster than I had anticipated. Walking has been a little easier than I expected and I am walking further than I thought I would at this stage. Even the chest soreness (which is still with me, believe me) is easing a little bit every day. I am beginning to believe that my biggest problem will be the patience required to let that big broken bone heal. Keep the faith!

Dan D.  Good to hear that you're leaving the hospital. Though I'm 10 days out of surgery, I'm also accumulating a "friend inventory" as something to distract me from the upcoming life-altering event. I'm floating between calm determination (mostly) and anxious terror (sometimes).

Wiliam Height  Looking forward always seems longer than looking backwards. Each week will give you renewed strength and at 12 weeks, you will be back to close to normal as far as active lifestyle goes.

Tim Goff  getting out was a huge plus as I felt- ok I am on to the next phase of recovery. Keep up the positive thoughts and you will progress just fine. Dont let the setbacks hang you up for long

Jennifer Miller  Great news, Jeff! Will you be able to fly home today? I can imagine how badly you must want to see your kiddos!
You're right: it'll take a LOT of hard work & frustration on your road back, but you WILL get there. Try not to compare your progress against any one else's, either: that's a sure fire way to overdue it & end up very frustrated.
Take care, Jenni

Tammy Pilcher  I think it could be meds too, if you're taking them. I didn't have anything like that after I got home, but I was only taking Tylenol by then.

Tim Goff  Wait you had hallucinations! I must not have taken the right meds! Kidding aside the adverse effects of the pain killers can be minor for some, like myself, and nasty for many others whom I feel bad for. If the pain killer causes other problems then those patients are in a tough spot. Jeff, I would say that the sooner you can get off of the pain killers and deal with just tylenol or ibuprophen the better. Once out of the hospital I was only taking 1 pill 1-2 times per day and within 10 days I was down to 1 per evening and all done by day 14. I hope it gets better for you and glad to hear the pain is subsiding. It gets better, for the most part, each and every day.

  Glad you are less sore and moving easier! General Anesthetic can have an effect on you for a while, too.
God Bless You as you recover!

Terrie Syvertsen  66 years! Congrats on being on the other side! Seriously Jeff, what you are experiencing is more than likely your brain dealing with the anesthesia leaving your system coupled with the meds you are on. I had pain pills that I couldn't tolerate and ended up on Tylenol only(which for me worked) so it is a matter of waiting it out a bit and letting the nurses know what is going on and they, will work it out with you until you are more "balanced".
I also found that the more I walked the halls In the hospital or remained seated it seemed to wear off "kinder", less pain meds needed. Take it easy and even with your first walks take your time kid. It is great that you are able to get in and out of bed easier-just don't be in a hurry! Isn't it a great feeling to be through the surgery!!! Happy for you! Happy Healing.

Terrie Syvertsen  Forgot to say hello to Jeff's wife Sarah! Happy for you both and wanted to wish you luck while caring for your husband in the recovery phase. Hats off to all the people who step up and care for those of us who have had surgery as it is an important job and I want to say "Thanks to you all"
especially my husband Gary who is still living with a patient who is always
in a "fog"! Take care Jeff and Sarah and Happy Healing!

Pat Bluemel  Tim yes, we knew there was something up when I asked my nurse Rachael why she was wearing a dream catcher and various other feathers on her pony tail when she didn't even have a pony tail. Jeff ask your nursing team if you can try other non narc based meds like Tramadol and others and see if that helps. I couldn't even read a sentence or use my phone while on the heavy stuff. Duane, I missed all that fun stuff in school!

Jennifer Miller  My nurses all said the older the patient is having OHS, the less pain they have because nerve endings die as we age. Since you're so young, it's no surprise you may need narc pain meds longer. The haze/fog is all part of post anesthesia too. Rest, relax & stay on top of the pain--you'll heal faster!

Jason Lathrop  Fantastic news! Congrats on the great outcome. We've all been wondering how his big day went. Thanks for the update.

Janice Powell  God Is A Awesome God!!! Praised God he made it possible and he deserve all the glory Amen!!! I hope he recovered quickly Iclaim it!!! I claim it!!!!

Lewis Garlisi  There have been some recent discussions about this issue on this site. People have different opinions, but my take is that your wife could use some extra help with things like preparing meals, running to the store/pharmacy, and with watching the kids while she helps you shower. You have the benefit of being a young ohs patient and may heal quickly, but the first few days back from the hospital can be quite difficult. I had my sister stay for a while to help my wife, so i didn't need to hire anyone.

Daniel Spurgeon  My Dad stayed with us to watch my little kids. It would have been a lot to ask of my wife otherwise.

  As a wife to the patient in a few weeks coming up, I am very concerned with our house not being restful enough for my husband once he comes home. Our kids are 5 and 10. I know so many of you have done it, so it will work out one way or another! Will definitely be relying on family! I am forever grateful for all of these responses too!

Jeff Lashins  Thanks for your thoughts everyone. My parents and my in-laws both live on the other side of the country from my family. They'll be flying in at different times for coverage, but this is when it's hard not to live near relatives. :(

Jason Lathrop  Just did a mitral valve repair with a 3 and 6 year old in the house. Had moms or sisters stay with us for a couple of weeks to help out. Honestly, we really only needed it the first week. It's been tough on my wife, but she's holding up pretty well. By about a week out, I was pretty self sufficient, so as long as she takes care of the kids, I can get by.

Our local friends put together a meal train for us, so we've had lots of dinners delivered. That's been as useful as anything, not really having to cook at the end of the day (when we're exhausted and the kids are going bonkers).

Curious what you have told your kids? We gave ours the very simplified version and they have been champs about it, which surprised me. They are usually (like young kids are) impulsive and narcissistic. In this case, they've been so gentle and loving with me. I can see that my boy, the six year old, is pretty sad sometimes. Before all of this, I was super fit and a very active dad who played and wrestled with him all the time. That will be back, but it seems like forever to him.

The most frustrating part is that my three year old has all kinds of power now. I used to be able to just pick her up and move her or restrain her if I needed to, but now all I can do is talk to her. Which isn't that helpful when she's throwing a total three-year-old tantrum. Anyway, reach out to me if you have any specific questions about recovering from heart surgery with young kids! On this site or at my email jason [@] jasonlathrop.com

We are here for you. You are going to be fine.

Guy Blachman  Hi Jeff - I had MV repair surgery last December and have 3 kids under age of 3 in the house with no family help. My wife and nanny took complete care while I recovered, which took 3-4 weeks plus another few weeks to complete the "3 months no lifting" restriction. It wasn't easy but went ok.

Jeff Lashins  3 months with no lifting? Wow! I didn't realize that. When were you able to go back to work?

And 3 kids under 3. That's just plain crazy! It'll probably be a blast in a few years.

Guy Blachman  Ya apparently its around 90 days of "no lifting more than 10 lbs" to allow the sternum to fully heal. Yes, 3 little kids is a handful..sometimes a blast :-)
Planned to take 5 weeks off work, but got 'cabin fever' after 3 and went back to work early..

Jennifer Miller  The 10 lb. rule applies not only to lifting, but also pushing or pulling things, like opening heavy doors. It's tough! I imagine not being able to lift your little ones will be hardest (my "baby" is 23).