Home time

[Buddiesmine]

Bringing my husband home next day or two after triple bypass...any hints or tips for supporting his recovery. He is a very fit 53 y/o healthy lifestyle - (genetics...eh!)

[Chappychap]

This is the document given to all heart patients going home from Guy's Hospital, it's also the basis for similar leaflets used in other hospitals. If you're husband wasn't given a discharge leaflet then this one is well worth reading,

guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/reso...

One of the most important things in the first six or eight weeks is breathing exercises and increasing amounts of brisk walking (building up to at least 30 minutes a day after six weeks).

It's not widely appreciated but the lungs take a terrible beating during open heart surgery. Lungs have no muscles, so as soon as the chest cavity is opened or punctured the lungs collapse. Reflating the lungs takes many weeks, and small areas of micro collapse may persist for months. The solution is breathing exercises and brisk walking. In the early days this may be uncomfortable or even moderately painful, but within reason it's worth gritting your teeth and pushing through. The recover of the lungs pretty much dictates how the patient believes their general recovery is progressing.

Good luck!

[Buddiesmine in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks will give this a read, he's not been discharged yet just getting myself prepared...

[Nic25 in reply to Buddiesmine]

Hi Buddiesmine. Just to agree there with Chappychap's advice. Spot on. The whole body takes a battering and so it can take time to recover so don't rush things. For me (AVR age 50 December) fatigue was a big issue for about the first six weeks but it does lift. So he'll need to be a patient patient! If it hasn't been mentioned yet roll up and tie a small towel that he can hold to his chest for when/if he coughs/sneezes or laughs. As Wendy says a small maternity/wedge cushion is a good idea too. He may be cold if he's had any blood transfusions; he may also be emotional after everything - the build-up and aftermath - I howled my first night back home. But you may also find he's more "able" than you expected and he's quite quickly able to get out and start walking (short distances first obvs) and building up stamina. Oh yes, I found sleeping hard at first - the scar and discomfort, the fact I had to sleep on back or side, stiff shoulders and neck and just "stuff" whirling in my head. So that can happen. But hopefully all will go smoothly for and he (and you - as you have been through the wringer too I expect) will be on the road to recovery quickly. Good luck! Nic x

[Fredders]

Hi, apart from making sure he does the breathing exercises, as already mentioned, make sure he takes the painkillers. They don’t prescribe them for nothing! If he’s in pain he won’t do the exercise he needs to do, so the first few weeks at home are not the time for heroics. I cut down the ones during the day after a while, but had to take the morning ones, to get moving, and the nighttime ones, to get some sleep, for several more weeks.

His appetite will probably be affected, I had small meals and lots of snacks until I got my appetite back, my taste buds also changed and I now don’t like things I used to love - particularly biscuits.

He may find sleeping difficult at first, sleeping slightly propped up helps, either using a v-shaped cushion or a rolled up duvet, plus take naps when needed.

Don’t overdo the visitors to start with - surprising how exhausting it is, I found half an hour and I was wilting!

All the best, hope his recovery goes well.

Wendy

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Lots of good advice by others particularly re breathing exercises and pain killers. Make sure he comes out with appropriate painkillers. About a day before discharge I went from morphine to paracetamol. The paracetamol was no more effective than red smarties! I was taking a gradually reducing dose till the end of week four. Being in pain is not being a hard man but actually slows recovery. Also I found an adjustable backrest useful as it was some weeks before I could lie flat.

[Shar28]

Hi, my husband found having a stool to sit on in the shower for the first few days at home after his AVR helpful.

All the best. X

[Buddiesmine in reply to Shar28]

I am on that...getting him one tomorrow he's home Monday...

[Ray80]

I am mirroring all what has been said but may I add that I had the veins harvested from the legs and I found that after the removal of the surgical socks that soft top, non elasticatid ones helped, as others bit into the leg and became painful. I also resorted to thick woollen ones as my feet then and now are often very cold.

[Buddiesmine in reply to Ray80]

Thank u...

[wiltsgirl]

I echo all that has been said. I wasn't prepared for the emotions and crying happened at the drop of a hat. Also make sure he doesn't lift anything at all for probably the first 6 - 8 weeks. Not even a kettle. Makes sure you have a separate towel for the wound for when he showers to stop any infection. He won't be able to stretch without pain so make sure everything is to hand. I made an appointment with my GP for soon after I was discharged and then with the nurse to look at the wounds. Maybe get these booked in if you have trouble getting an appointment. My wounds healed well but some had small bits of thread at the end that had to be snipped off by the nurse and then dressed again, especially my drain wounds. I am sure he will be ok and it looks like he has such support that is important. Best of luck xx

[Buddiesmine in reply to wiltsgirl]

Thank you

[Buddiesmine]

Thank you everyone for your info...I will take this all on board to make recovery as smooth as possible.

[Phil-52]

I was 51 when i had my quad bypass. I'm also massively independent and preferred to do most things for myself. I found simple things like making a cup of tea a challenge at first as the sternum was the weak point. Half filling the kettle sorted out that problem. I found walking was a great release, giving me time to ponder the meaning of life and appreciate just what I've got. The first few weeks of sleeping on my back took its toll at first but a couple of "V" shaped pillows helped.

Good luck on his recovery

Phil

[jimmyq]

If you are picking him up in a car, take a cushion for him to put between his chest and the seatbelt. I remember my wife driving me home from hospital, I was in agony with every little jolt.

[Handel]

Hi Buddiesmine. I can only tell you how my hubby found coming home after a quad bypass!

Make sure (if you're bringing him home by car), that you have a small pillow or rolled up towel to protect the chest from the seatbelt. Try not to go down too many potholes (good luck with that!) and take care over speed humps!!

I got my husband a V shaped pillow which was great on the settee for supporting the neck and shoulders and worked well as a support pillow in bed.

Sleep wasn't easy so cat naps in the day will help. Take painkillers every 4 hours as prescribed and keep those flipping support socks on for 4 weeks. I hope they'll show you how to put on and take these off. I was really struggling!!

They'll show your man breathing exercises and how to cough and sneeze without too much trouble (arms crossed in front of the chest).

He'll be tired so he shouldn't expect to be running marathons immediately. Exercise is important - walking and increasing the distance and speed each week.

Chappychap's advice is brilliant. Both he and MichaelJH helped me through several crises!!!

People do tend to forget what we, as partners, go through. Stiff upper lip and all that.

I used to drive the 60 mile round trip to hospital every day and usually sobbed on the way home (relief - that's all)! We have amazing lads who supported me.

Make sure you take care of yourself. xxxxx

[Buddiesmine in reply to Handel]

Thanks you

[not2worry]

The one thing I learned was not to make my hubby feel like he’s an invalid. It’s so easy to want to do everything for him. Be sure he takes his meds. He will likely be groggy and still on some sort of pain reliever. Be sure he uses the breathing contraption he brings home with him. During bypass surgery your lungs are literally collapsed and you are on a breathing machine. His exercise and progress will be to blow enough into the tube to get the little ball to go upwards. Encourage him and praise his accomplishments on his recovery. The lungs support our vital organs with oxygen and the more oxygen we deliver to our brain, our heart and every other part of our body speeds our recovery and Just makes us feel better. Have a pillow at his side for holding against his chest when he coughs. It’s critical to use the pillow to hug against the bypass incision-and the first sneeze he has will take him by surprise when it happens - it’s down right painful...and never surprises a sneeze. usually hospital gives him a pillow right after surgery. Look at the incision in the morning and before bed to make sure it’s healing properly. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Water is more important than food right now. Again, usually the hospital provides a large plastic cup with a drinking straw. Bring it home and you can gauge the amount of water he drinks. If hospital doesn’t provide one you can but on Amazon for about $20. Be sure to clean the cup and straw and keep it filled with fresh water. Have a thermometer handy just in case he says he feels warm and worried about fever. A quick check can be assuring to both of you. Keep meals simple and nutritious. Start your new lifestyle now not later. Soft foods are better tolerated. Some folks can’t stand the smell of food when they are recovering. I thought I would make a great pot of chicken stew-the smell drove my hubby mad. Don’t get mad yourself! Sometimes it takes weeks for the anesthesia to leave the body and brain. Remember he was in surgery for hours with his lungs deflated, his heart stopped and his ribs cut and wired back together. Nightmares, weird dreams and confusion can happen. Assure him if it does occur it’s only normal. Don’t tell him about these potential side affects because he will only worry and they may never occur. Your hubby will need help getting up out of bed. Ask him what works best for him and how you can help. I found an item on Amazon that really worked for my husband it’s called Able Life Bedside Extend-A-Rail. About $80 but really helped my husband feel more independent and gave us both comfort that he would not fall out of bed. Don’t let your hubby stay in bed all day. He needs daily, progressive exercise. Just walking around the house helps and short walks outside are invigorating but don’t over due. There is always the day they will think they are Superman regardless of your comments - the next day they will be listless and then admit they overdid. It’s a process and a learning experience. Keep your own notes on concerns you have or things you notice your husband may be struggling with so that you can discuss with the doctor. Take your husbands complaints seriously (the body complaints) and don’t hesitate to call the doctor or nurse. Things do go wrong.

You will have a list of dos and donts as you are discharged. I read them every morning - they are so easy to forget and your and your husband are in a new and sometimes stressful situation. Stock up on an extra load of patience, tolerance and forgiveness. Your husband is right now likely feels scared, helpless and sometimes hopeless. You are his rock and his lifeline. Most of all take care of yourself. He will sleep a lot which is good medicine for both of you. Rest, make time for friend and family. Enjoy a hobby or watch a “girls” movie. Have your hair done, make yourself a special dinner or treat yourself to a favorite treat. In a couple of months your hubby will be ready for cardiac rehab. Be sure he enrolls and goes!! It will be the best thing that ever happens for both of you. Second Chances aren’t given to everyone. Make the best of it with Love. My husband had his HA and ByPass 20 years ago and there is so much for you and your husband to look forward to-this is just a bump in the road along the way.

All the Best From Across The Pond

[whistler]

to cough, hug a pillow, it really helps.

[Candlewax]

Good advice by Jimmyq Better still get him to sit behind the driver, the seat belt goes over the right shoulder. Also if there is a knock in the car the air bags in the front could inflate and this may cause problems to him.

[Harleychick1957]

I echo what everyone else has said, my husband had a triple bypass 18 months ago, take care to look after yourself too, for the first week we both struggled to sleep in bed, he couldn’t get comfortable and I woke every time he moved worried something was wrong, we worked it out he was more comfortable sleeping in a recliner and I got some sleep, expect down days, these are normal, small steps become long strides, my husband had more pain in his leg wound than chest, wishing a good recovery x