Re: recovery

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Posted by Carl Plaskett on January 07, 2003 at 19:52:14:

In Reply to: recovery posted by Pati Murdock on January 07, 2003 at 18:23:57:

Pati: My experience was that while I didn't NEED help at home, I certainly enjoyed having some in the evenings! My wife played "nurse", drove me for a few weeks, cooked all meals, and kept our business running while I did much of my work at a home computer in the afternoons. I've got to admit that I missed the attention after I started driving again.

I was released 6 days post maze and was at work for a few hours beginning on day 11. I was walking 3 miles twice a day at a fast rate (10-11minute miles) beginning on day 12. I was only slightly sore until I developed a cough from walking fast in the cold (around 50 in FL), then I was sure my full sternum incision or my heart would be ripped apart. By luck, Dr. Hammer called me about 10:30PM on day 12, just to see how I was doing. I was pretty scared of what the violent coughing might be doing to my heart, but he put me at ease and assured me that it would do no harm and probably would be helpful. What a blessing it was to receive that call, at 9:30PM Cleveland time. I might have died of fright without it.

It is important to understand that all mazers do NOT leave the hospital never to have afib again! I was one of the 70% who are so lucky. If you are having afib/aflutter, etc. post-maze, you might not feel as vigorous as I. I was in terrible shape before my maze: 55-60 lbs overweight, lung function diminished 30-40% by amiodarone, but the instant NSR and ease of exercising with a "working" heart must have created a tremendous jolt of adrenalin, for I couldn't wait to "catch up" on all I had missed for over 8 years.

If you are in fairly good shape, you will probably find it a breeze, as have so many others.

Do NOT be disappointed if you fall into the 30% who continue to have some afib, or other arrhythmia for up to several weeks, or even if you might have to go back for a "touch-up" ablation after 6-7 months to get into the 98% cured group. It will ALL be worth it!!

(I was almost 60 at the time of my maze).

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