Kenneth's Posts

Congratulations Kenneth! You have motivated me! I've always been active and walk alot but never actively measured steps or distance. Can you or anyone recommend a good and "user friendly" place for me to start - maybe a fitbit or Iphone app? I want to have it ready to go by the time I am discharged.....

Why wait to you are discharged? Use the app when you walk the halls of the hospital! I use the Nike Run Club app - it is free. The attached is a good up to date list of apps that are really good: https://www.verywell.com/best-walking-app-p2-3434995 - number 7 - Virtual Walk is really cool since it pretends you are walking in a virtual location (parks, mountains, etc) with historic refereces along the way. Also FitBit offers an app that does not require a Fitbit. It is also good to sign up with a club or to invite others into your app so that they can keep you motivated.

Oh my gosh....I just tried out #7 and did a virtual walk around Venice with my 88 yr old dad who was actually born and raised in Italy:) It was pretty entertaining and well worth the $2.99. I was the only one of us out of breath today but after surgery... I intend to do some exploring. Thank you so much!

Kenneth - Yesterday I bought a fit bit. Today is my first day measuring steps and distance. Can you tell me how I find out what an average amount of steps might be to be considered "active" or if it is similar to golf and I am merely trying to improve my own stats? Obviously, since I am pre-op I am not trying to break any records but would like to have a goal in mind for post-op...

Hi Steve - the picture taken four days after surgery is the only proof I can offer that illustrates my OHS. There are seven ports on my right chest that are stitched up - five for the robotic probes and two ports underneath the breast for the tube drainage. It took me about a month to find a surgeon but I did a lot of research on the website for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons which was invaluable. Some of the YouTube videos they posted were very informative. STS site: https://www.sts.org/

A week before surgery, Dr. Guy requested a CAT scan which he uses as a template - a three dimensional model prior to inserting the robotic probes so that each incision is minimal. He said the robotic arm ports would be about the size of a pencil with the exception of one primary port - which is a good analogy.

Your scars look great- hardly noticeable. I had robotic MV Repair in Feb 2017 at age 60. I did 12 weeks of cardiac rehab to ensure I would regain my breathing necessary for running. It was a rough go in rehab bc the auxiliarybrestbing muscles were working so hard I got significant Pain- neck and shoulder area. Pushed through it and just hiked a 14,000 mountain in CO a few days ago! Good luck in your marathon training!

Hi Tina - the photo looks like a tube but it is a clump of tape. The hospital nurses took the two drainage tubes out about three hours before I was released from the hospital. They will take one tube out at a time and x-ray your chest after each tube is removed. In the picture there are 5-6 gauze pads and a large pad covering the drainage tube sites which will leak for awhile during your recovery. Ask the hospital if you can come home with a protective mat (it's about a 3'x3' quilted mat that they place under you in the ICU) and plenty of 4x4 gauze pads and tape since they will come in handy to control the leakage. I also found that a 6" wide Ace bandage wrapped around your chest came in handy to keep pressure on the tube sites to reduce the leakage.