bypass for women

[Montana77]

How do you manage the getting up and down out of bed and chair with the scar on the chest. I had a csection many years ago and had a pillow on my stomach when i got up and down from bed and chair. So how will it work with the chest since it is a bone and not a muscle this time? also, how will I know it is the bone hurting and not my heart hurting? My surgery in first week of october

[Hidden]

Hello

Many will have different suggestions but what they taught me when I was in Hospital was to shuffle to the end of the chair I was sat in or wiggle then hold the arms of the chair and rock back and forth think it would take me 3 times and then stand and you do and t did not hurt much at all

In bed I would get my legs out slowly ease myself up till I was sat on the edge of the ned and rock again and stand

I was quite surprised as I always get the worst of everything but the the pain from the scar was not to bad for me

Also when you are going to cough or sneeze or traveling in a car get a rolled up towel or cushion and hold it to your chest helps a lot with the pain you might feel when you do those things like after you did with your C section

After your op you will get all different kinds of aches and pains they have just had you open for hours but you know it is a different feeling altogether from when it was your heart try not to think to far ahead and when you are in Hospital the Nurses are fantastic ask these questions and they will really reassure you

You will get lots more suggestions but I hope you are lucky and do not have many issues with it

Not long to wait now and good luck even though I know you will be fine and look forward to reading your post when you are on the road to recovery x

[Montana77 in reply to Hidden]

thank you so much for the information. so the breasts did not hurt either. How do you compensate for bra .. they said wear bra that opens from the font. will the extra breast weight be harder on the scar. I was afraid it would make it hurt more thank you for the information

[Hidden in reply to Montana77]

Hello

Yes the breasts hurt and are very tender even over a year now if I touch I can still feel some tenderness but normal as all the little nerves have to settle down and it can take a while but it is not a pain at all you cannot cope with or gets in the way as such well it has not been for me

As for a bra we ladies all can be different on ths one

I was more comfortable without one , alot choose the open fastening bras and Marks and Spencer they recommend do good ones and others depending on what size you are but for smaller ladies found the material sports bra comfortable

After you will soon work out what feels more comfortable for you and at first you will need pain relief when you get hoe paracetamol but honestly it is nothing you won't cope with x

[Seal59]

My husband had bypass surgery in Canada, so I don’t know if it is the same here, but he was taught how to get out of bed and chairs without using his arms, and he was given a little heart pillow. Everything was step by step so it didn’t seem too daunting. Good luck with your surgery and recovery.

[LadyPumpkinseed]

Hello Montana77, I bought an excellent bra from Recoheart.com which was front fastening and adjustable. It does have tiny hook and eyes, as did another post surgical bra, so I had to put my glasses on when fitting! surprisingly, I found a very stretchy vest which I could step into the easiest and most comfortable. I’d lost weight during my hospital stay so didn’t need quite the support I thought I might, but as you say, support is important for healthy healing. My breasts weren’t tender post surgery, just smaller! All the very best for next week and let us know how you are getting on.

[Montana77 in reply to LadyPumpkinseed]

How was your energy when you got home from hospital? I have two corgies that will need walked.

[Cornishbeach]

Hi Montana77,

I had a mitral valve repair via OHS in late February. In the first few days you will have the use of the hospital bed controls to raise the head of the bed to a sitting position before swinging your legs round. Just take it slow and take the pain relief offered. Getting into bed was worse for me. Keep the bed head up and shuffle round and definitely bend your knees up before lying down - I was told that on day 2 and it was invaluable advice. You won’t be able to lie flat for a good few weeks (about 5/6 for me). Lots of pillows into an armchair and a wedge pillow really helped when I got home. A couple of pillows under your knees keeps you from slipping down the bed. I was up and walking with physio on day 2 and home day 5. I took 6 hourly paracetamol and added codeine at night for several weeks but then found I could tail it off during the day.

I found a soft night bra (Asda do these in multipacks) the most comfortable and easy to put on and off. I wore them 24/7 in the first few weeks as nothing rubbed on the scar or drain sites. I moved to a non wired front fastening bra after that. I am a 34e so needed support and the breast ache was more uncomfortable than the sternum so support was needed. It all depends on your shape and size. You have been stretched / pulled around a bit so it’s not surprising I suppose, but it was a surprise to me as no one had really mentioned it was normal before the op - thank goodness for this forum - it has been so supportive and great advice.

You really do feel better every day. Do your deep breathing exercises post op and build up your walking by 5 minutes a day when home.

Your surgeon / doctor will have told you how well the op has gone and I had an echocardiogram and chest xray before leaving hospital which confirms this. This should give you confidence that your heart is good and better than before 😀 6 months on and I am feeling great. Best thing I could have done - you will get through and feel fantastic again!

Those first weeks are a bit of a blur but I did post questions on here including getting comfortable post op (for someone who wanted to be better now!) so check my older posts out to.

PS my scar is fading fast and not nearly as awful as I imagined. Bio oil twice daily after one month (if healed).

[devonian186]

As has been suggested you will be taught to shuffle. but rather than use a pillow which easily slips out especially if in a car or walking can I suggest a very well padded Gilet?

These cushion you very well but don't restrict movement. They can be worn inside or out and might be that extra bit of warmth needed inside if heating will be restricted. Having said that after an operation it is essential to keep warm and comfortable when in your home, especially when sitting down and inactive

[Silvertail]

After his bypass, my husband found tying a rope to the end of the bed helped him as he could pull himself up by that.

[XmasEve24]

Hello I had emergency bypass surgery so I was totally unprepared for my post surgery recovery. I am quite a busty woman and set my sister the task of sourcing me some H cup front fastening bras. Initially we had to adapt a cotton bra with a friends heavy duty sewing machine and Velcro ( This was an Anita Comfort bra) before the more substantial bras arrived ordered over the internet. For months afterwards I continued to wear a cotton bra a size up in bed, as my boobs would drag my scar to the side when I could eventually sleep on back/ side again. With regard to getting up from chairs and bed - I was shown how to do this in hospital with the use of a rolled up towel being held to my chest and a rocking movement to standing. I’m so pleased I didn’t have to worry about all this prior to my surgery. I am now 7 years post surgery this week and fit as a fiddle, albeit I tire a bit quicker these days. Good luck 😊

[Letsallhope1]

what I was doing when I had my open heart surgery, always kept a towel on my bed and hold it while getting up or travelling by car/sneezing/coughing.

Luckily you will see that this pain won’t last too long.

Wish you a prompt recovery.

[Montana77 in reply to Letsallhope1]

How long was the recovery with the chest pain