Stair climbing

[Johng]

Hi All, this is my first post. I am one month out of bilateral hr with Dr DeSmet. Can't say enough about the quality of patient centred care.  Wondering how soon I can do stairs without crutches. I am feeling pretty balanced and strong. I am a lot more tired than I expected I would be. Wondering if this is normal. This site helped me get my bearings. Want to say thanks!

[blinky]

I am also bilat. I was doing stairs using one crutch and the rail from the start, but going up with one one leg leading, the other joining it on the same step, then repeating. (can't use the good leg up to heaven rule when you don't have a good leg; maybe the better leg up to heaven?). When I was about where you are, four weeks, I was going up without crutches, just using the rail, but still going up with one leg leading and the other catching up.


At six weeks I was allowed to walk upstairs like a normal person, with legs alternating. I used the rail for balance.


Going down was easier for me. The crutch was a nuisance. I followed the same rule of not alternating legs until six weeks, though.


The fatigue. Hmm. Did you lose much blood? Could you be anemic? If yes, think about iron supplements or at least eating more iron rich foods.