Surgery Recovery

[Tramp]

Hey folks, I just went through a triple bypass surgery, and was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, and could give me an idea of how long it'll be before I'm able to get back on the bike comfortably?

Thanks!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I haven't ... but one of my friends did ... he had a quadruple bypass and it took him between 5 and six months ... he started riding his Honda trike in 5 ... but really wasn't comfortable until like 6 months.

Listen to your doc, I'm sure like my friend, the doc will restrict you from driving and tell you when you can.

Get well ... get strong ... prayers sent your way.

[paws]

Everyone will be different given their physical history and current condition.

LISTEN. TO. YOUR. DOC. And your body!!!!!!!

BE SURE you do the required physical therapy at the very least!!!!

My husband had a quadruple bypass + a heart valve replacement in the same surgery. He was off work 8 weeks with limited work return for another couple of weeks (was teaching aviation mechanics at the time), then told to get back on the bike as he felt like it. We walked and walked and walked to help get his legs strong again - as well as keep the blood circulating. The surgery was on a December 8 and he was back on his 2-wheeler by May - although in limited excursions. He was 72 at the time.

[LadyonaMission]

A friend had quadruple bypass surgery several years ago. He was riding his trike around the subdivision exactly three months later.

I did get it out of the garage and pointed in the direction he was going several times because it had to be backed out. He gradually increased the distance he rode each day until he felt confident that he could leave the subdivision.

Good luck with your recovery.

[Rollin Thunder]

TOM...

Hope you feel better soon my friend.

Like they said LISTEN to your doctor and your guarding Angel

Hope you have smooth recovery and many miles ahead of you.

Rick

[ol' school]

Tom, like everyone has said, take your time to heal, do your physical therapy and listen to your doctor. You will know when it is time! Prayers for a speedy recovery!

[Zammy]

Tom, everyone has already said it, slow and steady is the word. Recovery depends on so many different factors, age, weight, level of physical activity before surgery so listen to the Docs and I hope you have a good recovery.

[rhino 2]

Tom.......Pay attention to what the Doctor says......But just as important and maybe more so' Also pay attention to what your Body is telling you.....And you'll be fine...

[Jack Klarich]

Take it slow and follow your Dr

A prayer will help

[hogcowboy]

Sorry to read you had to go thru this but hope you have a speedy recovery. It all depends on how quickly you can do what you physical therapist has for your target. So it's really up to you and how much you push. As above pointed out though, if you can ride your rig around the neighborhood, I'd do it and look at it as just more physical therapy. Then at one of your doctor visits you can tell him/her you are ready to hit the road and see what is suggested then. But everyone is different and the time they state is just the average. Which means some take longer and some shorter. You are the one in control. Doing more physical therapy at home will show much improved when you go to the therapist. So hit the gym.

[consitter]

Hey folks, I just went through a triple bypass surgery, and was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, and could give me an idea of how long it'll be before I'm able to get back on the bike comfortably?

Thanks!

Here's something that will help you get on and off your bike with ease. I bought one so my special needs daughter, who has mobility issues could ride with me. It makes it SO much easier for not just her, but me, to get on and off the trike.

http://trikemidstep.com/#

[Tramp]

Thank you everyone for the kind words, prayers, and encouragement. Carla, thank you for sharing your husbands experiences. That is inspirational. I'm very glad no one came back with any game over comments! Guess with any luck at all, I might get some saddle time before the snow flies.

my sincere thanks,

Tom

[desertclassic]

I can speak from experience. This is an encouragement message. 3 times, if you count 2 times in 1 day. I am an agent orange heart guy. Therapy is the key. That scar will heal on the outside but the interior takes a long time. The cartilage will never totally grow back, but the lacing will for sure do it’s job. The biggest concern for the docs is chest impact. I was home, up and about within 3 days. Lots of walking and moving around. I did a cardio rehab program under supervision each time, greatest thing to do. You will have to get the meds figured out and know when to rest. You understand your body and pay attention to that. I had my first surgery when I was 46, second and third surgery 7 years later, more than 10 stents now. I haven’t quit moving forward. I am now 71 and doing pretty much what I want to do. I no longer ride, sold trike last year, not due to heart condition.

You have this under control just don’t get in a hurry.

[Tramp]

Jim,

thanks for sharing your story. Twice in one day... Obviously something went wrong... You mentioned you never really heal internally, do you hear/feel the bone crack or move when using your upper body strength? Such as pushing handlebars into a corner at speed? Or, pushing the machine around the garage? I'd rather hear it now than be surprised later.

Thank you sir,

Tom

[desertclassic]

Sorry for the late response. You can still do all those things. You will know your limits, just have to adjust. As fast as feeling movement, not really. Picking up heavy stuff, playing with the grandchildren and catching an unexpected elbow or something that hits the chest, leaning into things, and that far stretch is what gets me. Pushing never was an issue. I rode 2 wheels until 2015, ultra classic, then switched to a triglide. Never an issue. Pay attention to your body and you will be just fine.

2 times in one day was from a leak. Took a long time to recover from that. Never had a heart attack, I know when something is not right and I just go give the cardiologist a new wing on his house and then I get a new bandaid and back to life.

I would also say, get a cardio doc that you feel comfortable with. I fired one because he said I would not improve and made his treatment plan around that. I went to the current doc in 1996 and have been with him. He knows me inside out and if I tell him something is happening he listens and acts.

Be positive, you have this. Jim