Had my thymectomy Friday! Felt amazing Saturday but since then its been pretty hard...asumming the meds and all that are not working well with my body and I'm trying to get them under control. My duble vision seems worst but again too soon to tell could be the meds but over all pretty tough surgery. I had a full sternotomy. Any suggestions on best ways to recover. I have my coughing mouse...this big stuffed animal they gave me to help when I cough and boy do I need that...
Hope everyone else is doing okay. I hope that I can just get better from here on out :{ kinda overwhelmed with a down feeling right now...sure I'm just tired!

I had the same surgery in 2005 and it was rough for the first week - after that things got a little easier! I took 8 weeks off from work and found I needed all of that time. I was feeling pretty good the last couple of weeks before I returned to work, but found that work really did tire me out for a while (office work).

Hang in there - it will get better!

Wow, I guess I didn't realize you were going in so quickly. I have no experience with a thymectomy. Get as much sleep as you can, so you can heal. This sounds silly but eating fish or having omega 3's will help you heal both the skin and the inflammation that goes with surgery. Sublingual vitamin B12 will help heal any nerves that were messed up by surgery too (5 mg. twice a day).

You just have to take it very easy to heal as well as you can. I've had other surgeries and the first week or so, like Juanitad said, is the hardest. Make sure you stay in touch with your doctor (internist or neuro) if anything odd comes up.

Do you have a recliner? Sometimes that can make it easier to sleep. That is so cute that they gave you a stuffed animal. How nice is that?

I hope you will continue to recover. Take it easy.

Annie

Glad you've had your thymectomy. I remember just resting all the time, with little short, and I mean short walks, my physio said I had to walk to help with the recovery process. I walked around mum and dads small pool, starting out at one lap and building up as I felt better. I agree with Annie, sleeping slightly upright would have been better.

Mostly lost of resting, listen to your body, mine said sleep lots, so I did. Keep us informed as to how you are recovering.
take care
Kate

I was uncomfortable sleeping in a bed when I got home because my chest was so sore. The hospital sent me home with an air mattress. I slept on that on top of a futon for about a week and I was propped up on pillows and had pillows beside me to lean into.

As far as healing goes dont underestimate getting some sun or other ways to keep and get your Vitamin D levels up. For me and many others I have talked to (and research supported too) it is a key in healing. I am trying to get my surgeries going here as I am in the finaly days of getting sun outside before the colder end of fall sets in. I drop right away in my D levels. I havent had enough in me for long enough since being deficient for a few years to store it like some people do. I wish you well..........

Annie59

I had my thymectomy four weeks ago today, and I have to say I am doing very well. Was extremely excited that I could finally see again after suffering with double vision for almost 3 months. I am having a little problem now though with my vision, as it would appear sometimes like my eyes are not working together. Have an appointment tomorrow with a neurologist ophthalmologist to see what might be going on. I posted another thread regarding this new development and am anxious to hear what folks have to say as I work through this new part of my medical journey.