You should not expect to resume total responsibility for household duties until 6 weeks after you are discharged from hospital. Do not lift anything heavy ( especially, more than 3 kgs). Do not try to open jammed doors, windows or push heavy furniture. Avoid leaning forward.

If you have any special hobby, which you would like to resume during your convalescence at home , please enquire with your Doctor as to when you may begin.

You may climb stairs at home provided you take your own time and go slowly. Climbing stairs does require more energy than walking. If you become tired, short of breath or dizzy, sit down on the stairs, and rest a while.

A few weeks after surgery your surgery your incision  will look better. Tingling sensation, numbness, itching and redness near incision sites are normally experienced after open – heart surgery. This will gradually decrease with time. If there is excessive swelling , tenderness or drainage, let your doctor know.

This is used to improve the circulation of leg and to prevent leg swelling. You are advised to wear this for a period of six months.

Weight

Weigh yourself daily if you have a problem with fluid retention. Keep a daily record of your weight.

Avoid driving a car or scooter for approximately 8 to 12 weeks after surgery, since your reaction time will be sluggish due to weakness, fatigue and medication. It takes 8-12 weeks for the breastbone to completely heal. While traveling by car, stop every 1 to 2 hours and walk around. This will improve circulation of blood and prevent swelling of legs. Air travel as well as journey by train is safe and can be undertaken two weeks after surgery. Carrying things like suitcases, brief cases and children should be avoided for 8 to 12 weeks.

Visitors mean well. They want to see how you are doing. However too much visiting can be exhausting and can interfere with your recovery. Discourage visit from your relatives and friends; let them know that rest is an important part of your recovery.

Bed rest can cause low back pain, shoulder pain, stiffness and depression. Walking can help you get rid of these feelings improving blood circulation. Walking should be done daily with gradual increase in distance ad speed. Everyday about 45 min walking at a stretch with reasonable speed is what is recommended. However it may have to be adopted gradually.

During initial recovery period you need more rest. Try to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. Space your activities and rest periods to avoid extreme fatigue. The need for mental rest after a heart attack is often over- looked. It often happens that the attack recurs during mental stress and physical exhaustion.

This decision depends upon the type of work and your level of physical fitness. Usually this decision is made after a 4-6 weeks review.

It is normal for your appetite to be poor after surgery. It will pick up as you begin to recover. The Dietician and the nurse will help you to understand your dietary plan. Each day you should eat a combination of vegetables, whole grain, bread, and meat and daily products. Balanced eating quickens healing and lessens fatigue. Body weight is important in reducing the work on your heart. Avoid food containing large amounts of fat, sugar and salt. Avoid large heavy meals. Avoid rushing through meals. Remember your heart must increase its work after meals in order to digest the food. So after meals, plan on some walking (not rigorous exercise).

For some people, caffeine, tea, chocolate and cola type beverages causes the heart to beat faster and sometimes irregularly. If you experience this, change to a brand of caffeine – free beverages. You may drink these as you would normally drink any type of regular coffee, tea, chocolate or cola.

Strengthening and toning of your muscles is necessary.

By exercising twice a day, you’ll find it easier to carry out your day –to – day activities.

Important
If you feel severe pain when performing any of these exercises , stop immediately. If pain persists, notify your doctor. Never force or over-stretch a muscle, as you may cause further damage.

Your physical therapist will give you a exercise- regime at the time of discharge, to help in your mobilization and in performing your day–to–day activities; which mainly will include stretching and progressive walking programs.

The patient’s happiness and successful re-entry into family life depends upon his / her sexual adjustments to make after cardiac surgery, as the demands placed on your heart during sexual relations are equal to walking briskly on the street or climbing one or two fights of stairs. Therefore, it is advisable that you resume sexual relations slowly as you have your other activities.

See your local physician / cardiologists when you get home. An appointment may be made to see surgeon or cardiologists in 6 weeks. If any symptoms return that concern you, call your local physician or your doctor.