How long to return to camping after open heart surgery

[Devocamper]

Had a surprise at the end of May which was an unexpected triple bypass surgery with a added bonus of a PE but at least no heart damage ! It has been a month now and making slow progress at this point . Just thought I would ask here if anyone has had open heart surgery and how long did it take to get back to camping or traveling or if you packed it in? We have canceled all our Summer reservations and waiting on the fall plans to see how my recovery goes . All the medical people are so optimistic but they are not doing this day by day ? I am told I will be fine or better but it’s hard to see that at one month post surgery . We have been traveling or camping in one form or another for the last 22 years and have a bucket list . Oh and the other surprise was the stress test that led to all this was done on my very first day of retirement. Thanks in advance to anyone replying and sharing
Thanks Mike

[thomasmnile]

Glad to hear you'll be on the road again and getting the best therapy of all. Be well and enjoy!

[smarty]

I believe this is a question only you can answer

[Devocamper]

Hello and thanks again too all of you that replied to this post . I just wanted post a bit of an update in case anyone was following this post . I went on my first camping outing this weekend which was 10 weeks since my triple bypass and PE and all went well . I was fortunate to have my family and wife to do the lifting and helping out with things I felt I wasn’t ready for but I was active and involved and drove the truck to the campground! As for me other than getting tired with six whiny tired grandkids (in the campground but not staying with us lol) it went pretty well and I am now looking forward to our next previously Planed weekend trip! And hope I am ready for our yearly 2 week vacation in September which is not a travel vacation its a stay at one campground vacation ! Thank you all for the advise and encouragement as well as the personal stories some of you shared with me, it was all greatly appreciated and surly helped my recovery , at least my state of mind during a difficult time in my life.
Thanks
Mike

[miltvill]

I had 5 blocked arteries when I got my surgery. The doctor told me it would be three months before he would release me back to work as a LEO. But then I tore my heart and I never went beck to work. If you go to cardio rehab and exercise in three or four months you should be good for camping. Make sure you have your blood pressure under control and camp close to hospitals for a few more months.

[Scottiemom]

Mike, Terry's first cardiologist thought we should move to across the street from the hospital "in case something would happen." That was 21 years ago. When we asked about going to Alaska (driving up) we didn't tell him, but told his secondary cardio-electrophysiologist. His comment was: Go. If something happens, it happens. If you stay home something could happen. We took a satellite phone, had our MASA and a spot locator to facilitate something getting to us in an emergency.

Everything went without a hitch and we had a great time. The nurse told me too that I myself could get killed crossing a street. . . so no need to think the only problem that might exist is with DH. I want you to know that I always double check now though when crossing the street.LOL And I am very pro-active with my health so that I am strong enough and healthy enough to handle what comes our way.


Dale

[Devocamper]

Thank you Dale your story is an inspiration not only for the rv living part of things but in general thank you for sharing your story
Mike

[Scottiemom]

wildtoad wrote:
If haven’t already, have your cardiologist sign you up for Cardiac Rehab, covered by most if not all insurance policies. The actual number of sessions will vary by company. . They put you through a series of exercises to strengthen your heart, about 1/3 the way through the sessions you will feel great and be chomping at the bit to get out there and do what you need/want.

Had quad in ‘97. Since then two of the bypasses need stents, one of them has closed. Went back into rehab in ‘17 and have continued going on my own since.

Best advice. My DH had 3 heart attacks in 98 following a botched heart cath. 1/3 of the heart is dead, what is there pumps 50% what it should. Did cardiac rehab and 7 years later we went full time. He went on total disability has lived well for 20 years. Got sick one winter and has had trouble since. New cardios as the old ones retired or moved on. Just got off the Entresto experiment. The cardio decided he was a good fit. He felt better for a couple weeks till his kidneys shut down. Whoops. One of those little known and rarely mentioned side effects. Gained 31 pounds water weight. Back off the Entresto and back on old meds. Had to add more diuretics, but the weight is coming off and he's getting back to his normal. He's feeling much better and the problems he had that prompted the med change have not returned, so the Entresto may have done some good or perhaps it was the boost in diuretics.

I worry about him constantly, but I am just so happy he is still here. We still full time in our 40' Phaeton DP (15 years now) and I do all the driving. Have since 2009. He has doctored in Houston and Indy where his docs are based, but that will probably change as we look at a more permanent place in Florida. Our son lives there and wants to see his dad more. We sit more when he isn't feeling well, but the rest of the time we are on the move and sightseeing this wonderful country. He has always been able to maintain the "blue" jobs and most people that meet him have no idea of his problems. He does pretty much what he wants, except lifting is a problem sometimes. We share work and responsibilities and we go when we can. Did Alaska in 2013 and had a great time! And fulltiming allows us to stay in warm places year round, which is what he requires.

Affairs are all in order and we have MASA to help us in the event one of us needs medical services anywhere in the world.


Dale

[Devocamper]

Mexicowanderer thanks for your thoughts it has been a slow process for me with a PE and the heart meds screwing up my thyroid but making progress slowly . I wish the best for your upcoming surgery and I hope you have full recovery.
Mike

[MEXICOWANDERER]

If the only over-the-counter medicine doctors recommend is aspirin why isn't aspirin mentioned in pre-op instructions? NSAIDS like Motrin and Celebrex is highlighted while aspirin is absent.

I had been Rx'd Isosorbid for chest pain. A dangerous medication.

It tuned out that healthy iron rich blood eliminated the chest pain 100%. The blood carried significantly more oxygen to my heart. In the DOZENS of full "labs" I had gone through not one hint of anemia was aired.

The nurse said "You have a reading of 9. If it reaches 8 we do a transfusion."

Talented specialists are a world apart from ordinary MD's.

I am now taking Gingko Biloba for memory enhancement. 99% fewer senior moments. I asked the clerk why the bottle had absolutely minimal writing on it.

"Well Gingko was double blind tested against a pharmaceutical product that was to cost fourteen dollars a capsule. gingko beat the living snot out of the Medicare ripper-offer" The medical industry went after the Gingko industry and threatened them with a mountain of lawsuits. Now gingko comes in a plain jar.

I have caught doctors in too many major screw ups to blindly follow instructions They don't even try to minimize blood thinners. No tests. That to me is a major malfunction. They wanted ME on rat poison. I told them if anything I was a border hemophiliac. I scraped a small scab off my forearm. The blood dripped down onto the exam room floor.

"Hey!" the doctor yelled "What the hell are you doing?"

"Staying alive" I retorted. "Have a nice life" I walked out.

[Devocamper]

Mexicowanderer thanks for your thoughts it has been a slow process for me with a PE and the heart meds screwing up my thyroid but making progress slowly . I wish the best for your upcoming surgery and I hope you have full recovery.
Mike

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Moral support is absolutely post surgery therapy support. is this permanent? is a gut wrencher.

For me I found that morning doses of vitamin C help speed up healing of incisions. I don't screw-around, one gram every day. An RN helped me most. She came in with a sheath of papers and announced "You are severely anemic"

Iron pills and folic acid returned me from the near dead

When I explained to a hospital ER doctor that I hadn't taken my Rx of magnesium in several months and that caused my AFIB attack.

"Can't be! Magnesium is the most abundant element on earth (VERBATIM)"

"Gimme the ************** test"

That's been 11 years ago and THAT episode was distanced 9 years after I found a magnesium shortage was causing the weekly AFIB attacks, he walked back into the ER grasping an Rx for magnesium. "I just don't understand this (labs)"

Obey your cardiologist but do your homework about getting your body what it needs to heal itself.

I am due for neurosurgery in late August. I have lost the ability to walk.

[Edd505]

chuckbear wrote:
I think that your cardiologist is the best source for an answer to that question and not folks on an RV forum. Everyone recovers differently, has different procedures and potential complications. So you won't get your answer here. You will from your doctors, so ask them. I have had 3 heart procedures in the last 4 years, none of them bypass. My recovery was quick. But that was me. Chuck

This and how YOU feel, and only you know how your doing. I was back in a class 8 6 months after open heart.

[Devocamper]

Thanks for the reply’s they are very much appreciated, I have a will continue to go by what my doctors say but they are not campers or have rv ‘s ! In posting my question here I was just looking for comments from real people that have been through the recovery and got back to a somewhat normal life including camping and travel , I understand we are all different and heal differently. Thanks again for all who have taken the time to reply to my post and also the private messages of support.
Thank you
Mike

[thomasmnile]

chuckbear wrote:
I think that your cardiologist is the best source for an answer to that question and not folks on an RV forum. Everyone recovers differently, has different procedures and potential complications. So you won't get your answer here. You will from your doctors, so ask them. I have had 3 heart procedures in the last 4 years, none of them bypass. My recovery was quick. But that was me. Chuck

Absolutely the best answer. Additionally, OP states he underwent triple bypass, so I'm thinking he's under care of a doc that cut him open and a cardiologist. Both would weigh in I would think. In any event, I wish the OP a speedy and complete recovery. That stress test likely saved his life.