Hi all as some people know and it says in my bio I'm waiting on full open heart surgery to close an ASD I have had since birth. I'm on the waiting list but can have it done before 12th of next month as still on blood thinners after having 2 stents fitted in November and was just looking for help and tips for recovery when I get home. I.e sleeping, bathing getting back on the road to fitness
Kindest regards mark 🙂
Hi Mark, this guide to heart surgery should give you a good start:- bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Thanks Michael I already have this booklet. It was given to me after my failed attempt closing the hole with the trans catheter 🙂
Hi Markyboy
I had my valves repaired, heart remodelled ,atrial appendage clamped and a mini maze carried out. I would suggest you allow 10 weeks for your breastbone to heal while you put in place a steady recovery process along the lines of walk a bit, walk a bit more, walk to the next drive and so on. I got to know all my neighbours quite well,. at the end of this time I took part in a recovery course organised by the local hospital/leisure centre which went well.
After returning home get yourself a V shaped pillow , which you will need for a little while to stop yourself turning over - your breastbone will still be a bit sore and will let you know that it doesn't like it otherwise. The nurses will advise you to get a rolled up towel to keep close by, to hold tightly against your chest if you cough. You will need it as well if you sneeze.
Eat easily digested food is essential, you don't need to have digestive problems, Get some good books, plan on keeping your feet up for about ten days, with short breaks for simple exercise. As the time goes by you will gather strength and slowly but surely get fitter and more active.
Finally get some easy loose clothes that you can slip into without lifting your arms over your head to wear initially, and a nice warm dressing gown to take into hospital with you. They will make sure you can shower before you leave and climb3 or 4 stairs. They will also have you walking around the wards before you come out. I came out of hospital, got into a taxi to Paddington station and caught the next train to Cardiff.
So Best wishes and keep a diary to look back on this event, it is quite a major event.
Thank you 🙂🙂🙂 that's brilliant advice and very much appreciated 👍
Hi Mark
I had open heart surgery in Nov 2018 for a mitral valve replacement.
All of the advises from Ian are very good and I could tell you the same.
It can be hard at times but remember that the pain can be very well managed by the painkillers that they will be given to you. So don't be hesitant to ask them if needed.
Don't expect much support from the hospital team, I had to figure out most of it on my own. This, of course depends on were you are going for your surgery.
But I strongly reccomend that you try to get up as soon as you are told to and do a lot of breathing excercises and walking even around the ward. Slowly try to increase your pace as this will activate your lungs too.
The breathing exercise is A MUST as there will be some fluids left in your lungs after the surgery.
Breath in deeply to expand your lungs even if it will be painful to start with and keep your breath in for at least 5 seconds and then breath out.
The reason I am telling you that is that I didn't do many breathing excercise and I ended up with chest infection and pleural effusion.
I felt very emotional at the beginning ... many people do after heart surgery.
So don't feel down and recognise the feelings as part of the process.
Even though it is a though surgery remember that only few weeks down the line you will start to feel better and you will start a new life in every way.
Stay positive ...and breath deeply 😉
If you need to ask any questions I am here to help
Best wishes
Rosanna
Thanks Rosanna that's brilliant 🙂 yeah I have a cardiac nurse who I've been dealing with after my stents surgery and she will continue after my full OHS. This is great advice and very much appreciated 🙂🙂🙂
Hi - thanks for advice. How was your first cough and how did you cope with it.
Hello Whitbyreds,
Welcome to the forum, the question about your first cough, well I had a rolled up baby blanket that I used for my breathing and coughing exercises that I was given in hospital by the physios. These I did as well when I got home and found them so beneficial. Remember our lungs collapse when we are put on bypass so they need a bit of help to get all those little pockets filled out again.
That rolled up blanket went everywhere with me so if I needed to cough or sneeze the blanket was held against my chest. I even slept with my arms wrapped around it. It really became my security blanket 😂.
Hope that’s helped a little, again welcome to the Hearties family.
Best wishes Pauline
Thanks Pauline that is very handy to know and really appreciate your reply 👍
That s great if you have a cardiac nurse that will keep an eye on you...we ahave almost same age and believe me in no time you will be up and running .
Keep us updated on your progress
I will thank you again 🙂
Hi Mark, aswell as the excellent advice above, use your time between now and your op in strengthening your leg muscles, so that after your op you can get up from your chair/settee without using your arms - you don’t want to put any pressure on your arms cos it hurts like hell! I speak from experience 😜. Also, especially in the early days, take the painkillers and don’t be afraid to ask for more if needed. Once you start feeling better you can reduce them, but in the beginning you need them to help you get moving, because if you’re in pain you won’t want to move. After a couple of weeks at home I had reduced mine to first thing in the morning and at bedtime, to help me get to sleep.
You probably won’t sleep very well to start with, as Ian has suggested, get a v shaped pillow or use a rolled up duvet. Have naps during the day if you need them. It takes quite a lot of time for the anaesthetic to get out of your system, so it’s normal to get wiped out even by simple things like having a visitor for an hour. You may also find your appetite isn’t as it was, I found eating little and often was the best way, but you may also find that your sense of taste has changed - I still can’t eat some biscuits that I used to love!
Most importantly, don’t overdo it - something that is very easy to do. You’re not in a race, take things steadily and listen to your body. You will have good and bad days, it’s part and parcel of the recovery process.
I’m sure you’ll be up and about in no time. Keep us posted.
Wendy x
Hi Wendy yeah the v shape pillow seems to be a must I remember my wife Fe having to use one sleeping upright after having a c section with our son. Again this is all great advice and taking everything on board 🙂 Thank you x
Hi Markyboy. I wish I'd asked the same questions before my surgery last May. I only came across this site today, 9 months on. The advice above is spot on.
I wanted to emphasise that you'll get zero or very little NHS support after you've been released from hospital. My main needs were exercises / physio to help me recover fitness and movement, which I eventually found on YouTube - NHS post cardio op exercises, and psychological support which I unfortunately never found. I think this site would have helped me wonders in finding out answers to my worries and concerns so use it to talk to those who've been through the same or similar thing.
Best wishes for the op Markyboy.
Hi Adrian I'm sorry to hear you didn't have any support where do you stay? I'm in Fife Scotland and have a cardiac nurse who I have been in constant contact with after I had 2 stents fitted in November and will see after my surgery. Plus we have a NHS cardiac exercise program that I'm down for post op. I know not everywhere has there resources. Yeah I'm taking everyone's advice and as you say it's great advice. Got a v pillow and bought t-shirts and a hoodie so I don't need to stretch post op with clothes.
Have my pre op next Tuesday so hopefully will be in asap 🤞🙏
Hi Markyboy. I am similarly waiting for the op, but not sure about using t shirts. Getting them on and off might cause problems? I am planning to use brushed cotton shirts, maybe leaving a button open at the scar.Hope all goes well with your op; see you on the other side.😀
What great advice all. I had my aortic valve replaced 5th September in Barts. Wish I'd known about pre OP instructions beforehand, mind you my planned operation was 26 hours after I saw the surgeon.
I'm slightly disgruntled at the apparent lack if support on release.
I want to take this opportunity to get both heart and whole body fit
Three weeks after open heart surgery
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Third open heart surgery 
Open heart surgery recovery
