Post Open Heart Surgery Tips!

[PeriwinkleTwinkle]

Hi everyone!

I'll be having open heart surgery in just under 3 weeks and I'm looking for any tips and tricks for afterwards. I will be having a patch repair for multiple ASDs (holes in the heart) in case it is helpful to know ☺️

This can be anything from clothing recommendations, any aids you found helpful, tips to avoid constipation or just any other helpful knacks to make everyday activities and recovery a little bit easier.

I have been searching through previous posts to start gathering know how and making a little list when I thought this might be an easier way to go about it.

Thanks in advance to all you lovely people. Wishing you all well on your own heart journeys ❤️‍🩹🤞

[Ageingfast]

Dear Twinkle

I had OHS for a replacement aortic valve, five years ago.

I was terrified beforehand, but once I got to hospital it was all pretty fabulous. Staff were so well trained and everything went well.

I paid to get an ambulance to take me home. Then I had my wife to look after me.

As soon as I could leave my hospital bed, I started to do gentle exercise. Once home I walked and talked a few yards then increased the walkie talkie each day. The nurses gave me written notes of a few gentle daily exercises.

It worked for me. The recovery was very long, about four months but youngsters such as you should probably take much less time.

I think it was essential to have someone at home to look after me. If no one, then I would book in to a care home.

I sat up in bed to sleep. I used five pillows in a semicircle plus another pillow (teddy) under my knees to stop me sliding down.

I liked to have a light on all night.

I also used a tinnitus relaxer to help me get to sleep. Highly recommended. About £35.

You are having your op at an ideal time of the year. The days are getting longer and warmer.

I loved my cat being around. He seemed to understand that I couldn’t feed him etc but he just went to my wife instead.

It was covid time, so no rehab.

Above all, it was the most brilliant experience, ending with a golden day when I realized I could do most things again.

Five years on and no heart problems at all.

Thanks to the fantastic medics.

Sooty

[PadThaiNoodles]

Practice "moving within the tube" before surgery. You'll still forget at least once and push yourself out of bed with a straight arm, but the less you do this the less it will hurt.

Don't worry that your emotions are all over the place for a while afterwards. It happens to everyone.

Good luck with it!