incentive spirometer after bypass surgery?

[Di1967]

my surgery is next Wednesday, triple bypass , I was wondering wether buying an incentive spirometer would be helpful?

Any other ideas to help with the first few weeks ?

will I have to wear the stockings for dvt’s , can these be put on by yourself? Limited to daily help I could ask for.

when I go to hospital the night before do you just take a bag for 1-2 nights or a whole weeks worth in one go? nothing has been said about storing my belongings?

Can you have your phone in icu?

Or get someone to bring in your main bag for the remainder of the week after day 2?

I know I can ask all these questions when I arrive but will get information overload as I get pretty anxious. My op is in Southampton general so any bypass hero’s who have already been through this there would be positive personal experience appreciated…

After one cancellation at 3 pm when I thought I was going to be wheeled down, at the spire, and already another date pushed back 8 days on my second surgery booked , waiting almost seven months I’m getting to the stage of not bothering and letting nature takes its course.

thanks in advance

[Gribbin]

Sorry you're having to wait, in that sense I was lucky to be done as an emergency!... So no preparation, or anxiety. It's just over a year since my bypass surgery, so a bit vague I'm afraid.

You probably won't be in ICU long enough to use your phone... They got me out of bed and back up to the ward pretty quick.

Before going down for the op all my stuff was bagged and tagged, as they never know which bed you'll be returning to... Another reason not to have too much stuff with you... Especially valuables, as that is the last thing the nursing staff need to worry about.

Slip on pants/trousers are good... Button or zip up shirt/blouse/pyjama top/cardigan is good... Hard to put things over your head, and it's easier to access all your gubbins - I came out with multiple drains, wires etc... And then they stick on all the electrodes for the monitor too.

It can get cold.

I couldn't concentrate on reading, so would listen to a bit of music or BBC podcasts on my phone - headphones are good... Wish I had those noise cancelling ones, as wards can be noisy.... Simple crossword book kept me occupied.

Not sure about the spirometerthing thing, they'll have one if you need it.

Stockings are required afterwards, and are a pain to get on and off... I needed help for a week or so with these.

Lots of pillows... I slept fairly upright for a while when I got home... No fancy powered beds like in hospital.

Crocs are good, you can just step into them... And go in or outside in them.

It seems dramatic at the time, but I can assure you it is worth it... I am now healthier than I have ever been... Lost weight, and eating better helped too.

The nursing staff, cardio rehab and BHF staff and forum really helped me... Just ask.

All the best.

[Di1967 in reply to Gribbin]

Thanks for your reply, makes sense not to take too much in with me for the first 36 hrs, I’ve already got the ear pods noise cancelling, read on another post how noisy it can be. Thanks for taking the time to reply

[OldaYoda in reply to Gribbin]

I was sent home with a spirometer- no need to buy one.

I took a few days stuff in, but sent a lot home.

Crocs are great - my feet were a little swollen

Headphones good - I could read one page, do a puzzle, but it was hard to focus and always busy. You don’t get bored.

My stuff, including phone, was left in the admission ward and didn’t find me until I got out of ICU. I wasn’t really up to sending texts while in there and had so many tubes and wires it wouldn’t have been easy. But others may find it different.

I had button up PJs specially bought- they helped.

Socks - 4 weeks, I needed help, but my son became expert.

One unexpected annoying thing - hair growing back and catching on inside of clothes 🤣

Good luck

[Gribbin]

I have heard of some take their phone, and asking the operating staff to take some pictures of them in the op... It might be a while before you are up to opening those pictures... But now I would be fascinated to see what was done...

[Mancunian1]

hi. The very best of luck, my double was 6 weeks today. To answer your first two questions I bought a spirometer in advance simply to gauge where I was as a benchmark for improvements later. Hospital did give me one but the gauge was slightly different so not a direct comparison but eventually I managed to get them both to the top. Main thing is to use it often through the day especially initially to keep the lungs open and avoid infections, and don’t forget the coughing. It really is important and helped me a lot.

Regarding stockings I had them on for 4 weeks and my wife had to put them on as apart from the tightness of them you really shouldn’t be putting that pressure through your sternum so seek assistance if possible. I was told they needed to me on 23.5 hours per day…

If I can help with anything else just ask

[fatbarry]

Mine wasn't a bypass but still OHS. I did buy a cheap incentive spirometer from Amazon and found it useful.

Lots of useful tips above, but also - get a soft, front fastening bra for post surgery. I eventually got a couple from Next but wished I'd had them earlier - my op was a surprise, less than a week after diagnosis and they didn't let me out of their sight once diagnosed! Expect to be swollen after the op, when I went home I could only just fit into the loose fitting dress I'd worn at the time of diagnosis ten days earlier! Good luck!