how long does it take to recver fm heart bypass surgery?

Answer 1

I myself has undergone CABG on 2nd October, 2006, and it is now over 3 months. I am feeling great, but yet not as great as before the symptoms of Angina initiated. Anyhow teh quality of life has improved viz a viz during Angina period.
The following is a guideline for a open heart surgery patient:

General Guidelines for the First Six to Eight Weeks

Your strength and energy will gradually return if you gradually increase your activity and exercise and follow a well-balanced diet. Remember to stop and rest when you get tired.

Avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures and windy weather
Avoid exercise that requires extreme exertion or encourages breath holding such as pushing or pulling heavy objects (shoveling snow, lawn mowing, vacuuming) and exercise bikes with tension
Avoid constipation
Avoid lifting or carrying packages over 5 Kg (groceries, laundry, furniture)
Avoid exercising for one hour after a heavy meal
Use a regular exercise routine. Select an exercise program that is suitable for you and choose activities you enjoy.

Specific Guidelines for the First Week at Home

Stair climbing as tolerated
Rise at your usual time in the morning, dress and be up most of the day
Carry on the same activity level reached in the hospital and rest when tired
Walk 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times a day

Specific Guidelines for the Second Week at Home

Assist in light duties around the house – dusting, dishes, folding laundry
Increase exercise/walking to 20 minutes one or two times a day
Outdoor walking is good. If available, walk in a shopping mall.
It is appropriate to resume sexual activity when you feel ready. A good guideline to use is when you are able to climb two flights of stairs without stopping.

Specific Guidelines for the Third Through the Sixth Week at Home

Increase your walking and/or exercise time to 30 minutes one or two times a day
Driving a car may be resumed after about four weeks, unless otherwise advised
Continue resting after meals
Consult Your Physician About the Following

Resumption of work, part-time or full-time
Participating in sports, social activities like golfing, bowling, curling, etc.
An exercise program for body conditioning, if you are not already participating in one.

Diet

It is very important to follow a well-balanced diet. Refer to the diet instructions you were given before you were discharged from the hospital (Low fat/ Low Cholesterol/Low Salt). Discuss your diet with your physician. Your appetite may take a while to come back to what it was before your surgery.

Personal Hygiene

Shower or sponge bath and avoid extremes in water temperature. It you have a leg incision, showering for a few weeks is safer and easier than getting out of a tub. Keep your incisions clean with mild unscented soap. If there is any increase in redness, swelling or tenderness notifies your doctor.


Smoking

Smoking is extremely dangerous to your heart and lungs. It should NEVER be resumed. To resume smoking increases the chances of your heart disease progressing. Nicotine causes your heart rate and blood pressure to rise, increasing the workload on your heart and stress on your lungs.


Many questions arise as to what you should do or should not do after discharge. The following are answers to the most common concerns and questions.

While the sternum (breastbone) is healing, avoid lifting greater than % Kg, or Pushing/ pulling activities with your arms. The breastbone takes about 6-8 weeks to heal generally.
Showers are permitted but tub baths are discouraged for 4-6 weeks or until your incisions are healed. Avoid extremely hot water which may cause you to feel dizzy or weak. You may gently wash (don't rub) your incision with soap. Do not use creams or lotions on incisions until they are healed.
Avoid driving a car for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Your reaction time will be delayed due to weakness, fatigue, and/or medication. You do not want to risk hitting the steering wheel and re-injuring the sternum. When riding in a car for long distances, stop every 1-2 hours to stretch your legs. This will improve circulation in your legs and help prevent swelling.
Do not cross your legs while lying in bed or sitting. This puts pressure on the veins under the knees and slows blood flow. If your legs or feet swell, you should put them on a chair or stool while sitting.
Sleep the number of hours that you normally slept before your surgery. Do not stay up very late one night and try to "catch-up" the next. However, if you do plan to stay up late, take a nap beforehand.
Avoid isometrics: straining to move your bowels, pushing/pulling heavy objects, or working with your arms overhead. These activities disproportionately elevate blood pressure and put an added strain on a healing heart.
It is important to space and pace your activities to minimize fatigue. If you feel tired, Stop, and rest for a while. Don't push yourself to finish a task.
A rest period should be taken at least once a day for a few weeks and, initially, preferably twice, morning and afternoon. Napping is not necessary, but resting is. Be sure to dress daily in street clothes. You are on your way to recovery!
Stair climbing is not discouraged. Avoid pulling yourself up with a handrail, and go slowly.
Use your elastic stockings during the day and remove them at night. You should wear the stockings for at least 2 weeks after discharge or more if your ankles are still swollen. The stockings aid blood flow and help reduce swelling in the legs. It is easiest to put the stockings on before you get out of bed in the morning for the day, however most people put them on after a morning shower. They should fit snugly.
Your may notice a swelling or lump at the top of your chest incision which could take several months to disappear.
Most patients experience incisional discomfort in the sternum. This discomfort will decrease in time, but may reoccur when there is as an adverse change in the weather or when you overextend yourself. Do not hesitate to use pain relieving medication as you need it.
It is important to distinguish incision discomfort from chest pain (angina) you may have experienced prior to surgery. Contact your physician if you are experiencing chest pain.
If your chest or leg incisions do not appear to be healing (i.e., redness, drainage, swelling, or tenderness is present), notify your physician.
Take your temperature every morning for one week after discharge. Notify your physician if your temperature stays above 100 degrees F for more than a day.
Check your weight every morning for the first two weeks. If you notice a sudden weight gain, notify your physician.
When you are upset, your heart works harder. It is best to anticipate and avoid situations, people, or topics of conversation that make you tense or angry.
Remember that your diet, medications, and exercise are prescribed specifically for you. Do not expect your friend or neighbor who has a heart condition to have the same prescriptions.
Keep a record of your medications and medical history with you when traveling.
Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you have had CABG. They may prescribe antibiotics before procedures, especially dental work, to prevent an infection from settling in your heart.

Answer 2

Having gone through two lots of Open Heart Surgery (and I'm only just about to turn 21) I can honestly say that it is the best thing that I could have done. Without it I might not be here now writing this. It is more dangerous than the simpler operations (e.g. tonsilectomy etc.) but with all operations no matter how small and insignificant they may seem there is always a risk. During Open Heart Surgery they stop your heart while they work and put you on a bypass machine. There is always the chance that your Heart won't start up again once you are taken off the bypass. It's normal to be scared when you are facing an operation as large as this and no matter how old you are nothing helps more than having family and friends around you. It's always best to have that shoulder to cry on when things get too tough. Don't bottle feelings up inside. Once out of surgery you are sent to the Intensive Care Unit until you are stable enough to return to the ward. Watching what type of activities you do and what you eat are probably the most important things in the healing process - no lifting heavy objects or pulling or pushing. Of course the younger you are the less time you will need to heal. Your body will begin working overtime so you MUST remember to rest it frequently in the following months. The surgeons who perform this type of surgery are usually the best and know exactly what they are doing. Put your faith in them. I hope that this has helped you.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

It really depends on the pain tolerance and attitude. The pain can be pretty sever for several weeks but you really have to work through this to keep your muscles from becoming weak. As well as your attitude. Keeping a positive mind set is crucial. My father had a quadruple bypass and was back to playing golf w/i 3 weeks. He played golf 2 weeks after having a heart transplant 5 years after the bypass. But I have know some people to take much much longer. Try to get the person to at lease walk everyday when they get home. Good luck. I am sure they will be fine.

Answer 5

It does vary from person to person. Some people seem to bounce right back without much more than a little discomfort and others take longer and/or complain of significant pain. Your general health before the surgery often dictates how quickly you will recover afterward. If you have bad lungs (COPD from smoking) and bad kidneys (from poorly controlled diabetes) and a bad heart from multiple heart attacks...well it is going to be a long road. On the other hand if you are, except for heart disease in great shape, you will be going about your normal activities in a couple weeks.

One point - the surgery involves a sternotomy (cutting through the breast bone). It takes a good 6-8 weeks for that bone to heal. Playing golf at two weeks no matter how you are feeling is a poor idea. Vigorous walking on the other hand, if you can tolerate it, is great.

In total the cardiothoracic surgeons say it takes a full year to recover fully from the surgery. Roughly 90% of the recovery comes in the first six months. I'd estimate a good 60% of the recovery comes in the first month. It is important to understand after this surgery it is unlikely that you will be immediately feeling better. It will take some time. So adjust your expectations accordingly. Its not that you will never feel better - it just may take some time.

Finally it is very common to see people depressed some weeks out, after this surgery. Often at the three to eight week point. If that is the case, discuss it with you doctors and get it treated. It is just part of the stress response that happens with such a large surgery. Having your mood and attitude improved will help you to feel better and recover faster.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

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