How Long Does It Take To Get Bak To Work, And To Normal, After Heart Bypass Surgery?

Question

What are the various stages?
When can steps be climbed?
When can driving resume?
When can work usually be resumed?
When do you start feeling reasonably normal again?
Any comments would be appreciated.

Meant "back" to work.

I am a Male in my fifties.
I work as a representative, driving around and calling on clients, and I do not smoke or drink.
Used to smoke, but not for last 5 years.

Answer 1

I read something about it being OK to have sex a week or two after heart surgery,er, not that Im suggesting thats what you do for a living!

Answer 2

In my case(CABG on 2nd October, 2006) I resumed all the activities as per following schedule
After 14 days I started climbing stairs and when I started climbing 30 stairs in 30 seconds, I resumed sex.
After 4 weeks I started Driving.
Same is the case I started work after 4 weeks.
Normal, well if a very precious glass item is broken, it is repaired, it is complete now, but with scars. So after 3 months you are normal, but not like, when Angina started taking a grip on you. However quality of life is much improved viz a viz during Angina.
I am 61 years old, without any other complication(BP or Diabetic). Need any further comments plz email me
[e-mail]

Answer 3

Life will be and should be different from now on. From the moment you wake up from surgery, you are in recovery, and you will need to try to do more each day to make yourself better.Each patient recovers at a different rate, so to put a time on it for you would be pointless. But with that said:
Walk every day, even if it is to the mail box and back. Do more when it feels good.

Eat only food which has nutritional value
Enjoy each day. You actually woke up so take it all in.
Smile, give back, tell someone you are happy they are in your life.
Life may not include everything it did before your surgery, but it may include more.

Answer 4

Good question you can go to work after consulting your surgeon, and ask him these questions.He will be in a better position to answer your questions, doubts and suspicions.
All I can Say " The longest Journey starts with a single step".
Advises on the net/forums holds no value.
So stop beating round the bush.
Best of luck and don't worry or take undue strain momentarily.

Answer 5

http://www.bhf.org.uk/hearthealth/index.asp?secondlevel=79&thirdlevel=456&artID=1588

Go to this link- at the bottom of the page- there is a booklet you can download and read for free. I have a copy of this from the hospital when a relative had a heart op- i think it will tell you all you need to know.

Heart surgery has got so advanced these days- it is very successful as loads of people i know will testify that have had it.

Answer 6

Weight loss surgery-like gastric bypass /lap band surgery / stomach stapling and gastrectomy have become very common and very safe now. My cousin got her Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in India. She has lost more than 65 lbs in 5 months and is very happy with the results. The price for obesity surgery is very less in India. My cousin just paid 25% of the cost she was quoted in America. She got her surgery from a company called Forerunners Healthcare.

Forerunners Healthcare is very famous in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines. I have read a lot of their patient stories also. They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as bariatric surgery and weight loss surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that your Obesity surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com
Hope this helps.

Answer 7

one should not lift, pull or push anything over 10kg for 6-8weeks. Driving should also be avoided for 6-8 weeks. A good general rule is not to return to work after you post-operative doctors appointment.

Answer 8

Speaking from personal experience (I had bypass grafts in 1978 and am due to have them redone this year) anything from two months to six months. At two months, you should only do 4 or five hours a day and build up GRADUALLY from that.

Answer 9

I returned to work as a self-employed plumber six weeks after having my double by-pass, which included driving. I was made to climb stairs before I left hopspital.

Answer 10

It will depend on your age the older you are the longer it will take your body to heal. Usually wounds should heal in 10 days if you are healthy. If you smoke healing is retarded by the lack of oxygen in your blood. It will take you about 3 months to be your old self.