Wellness

[Eileen in Virginia]

In addition to taking care of him during his recovery, plan a little “down time” for yourself. If possible, get someone to sit with him while you take a short break. It could be as simple as taking a walk or going to a nearby park for a little while. This gives you a chance to recharge and lets friends visit with him. I hope all goes well.

[Krimpette]

Some years ago, I helped a dear friend through open heart surgery.  He was a military vet, so all his care was with what was them 
Walter Reed Medical Center.  We met with the surgeon Thanksgiving morning of the year prior to his surgery.  Despite the holiday, he patiently walked us through the whole procedure and allowed us to go through my litany of questions.  The surgery was the following late February.  I was provided a private waiting room while he was in surgery.  When complete, the surgeon came and spoke with me.  My friend was in ICU for no more than a day or two, but was recovering as good as could be expected.  After a few days he was back home and recuperating very well,.  While he had limitations, mainly weight limits, etc., he recovered remarkably,   While he lived for several more years after the surgery, it would have been longer had he followed an appropriae diet and exercise program.  Sadly, he chose to "do his own thing".  I find it to be remarkable surgery.  I wish your husband well.

[tansy]

Good wishes for a speedy recovery for your husband Chip, @jeanlake.  The hospital may have a support group for patients and their families.

[patbz]

DH had a long history of heart issues, beginning with stent at 36 and a quadruple at 50 and an aortic aneurysm at 57.  He followed Doctors orders, gets his check up quarterly and is still with us at 67.  Follow Doctors orders! And Good Luck!

[HLP]

Hi, I had open heart surgery 7 years ago at the age of 77. My husband had it also years ago. You don't have to do anything, he will do what he can, and it will take him a while to get back his strength. My husband you hardly knew it bothered him, on the other hand I was in a lot of pain, meaning I didn't dare cough or sneeze. As with any surgery, you heal and take your time doing things. I have found and so have other people that you get more emotional about things,but I guess that's to be expected, after all it's a surgery.  He will soon live a life he did before the surgery, I never think about it, till I put a pretty necklace on and there is that little scar staring at me. and even that doesn't bother me. Good luck and you will see he'll be fine.

[software]

Since he's active and very pro-active about his health in general, all he'll need is your encouragement to follow doctors orders.    

Best wishes for a full recovery

[hckynut]

Hi @jeanlake,

I won't say sorry about your husband for this reason. If he has a planned and scheduled heart procedure, it generally means a patient has not had a heart attack, and that in itself is a good thing. Heart attacks destroy the muscle and it can never become whole again. Preventing that damage is always a positive.

The number of stents, usually, is not the deciding factor, it is where the blockages occur in the arteries. A good friend of my wife's just had a triple bypass surgery yesterday, she is 65, and all went well for her. Although she is healthy otherwise, she is not diabetic and she is not what I consider, an "exerciser" per se'.

Your husband because of his fitness should do just fine with his recovery. From the way your describe him, he won't need a whole lot of help from you, most of his recovery will be up to him and what he does. Sure, he won't be able to do a whole lot with his upper body(lifting/pushing/pulling etc) for maybe 6 weeks or more, and may need help with a few things.

From my experiences of spending months around heart patients, here is what many need that those that are helping the are usually not aware. That is their mental needs. Many, especially males, let their minds spend too much time about the physical parts of what "they think" they will no longer be able to do, and that is not a positive. Mental understanding and support is can be a very big factor.

Gotta cut this short, for me anyways, as I have to get my things ready to go ice skating. If I can help in any way, I would be more than happy to add to this if you would like. Active physically fit patients can usually recover more quickly, physically, but the mental aspect of this can take it's toll on any patient, so be aware of some changes you may see in that respect, from your husband Chip.

My best to both of you getting through this procedure and recovery. Fit heart patients can do more than many thing, and much sooner. Their problems many times are restraining themselves from doing too much too soon.

hckynut(john)

[BeccaLou]

---

@jeanlakewrote:

Hello community. My active, positive, husband with healthy habits, 64, is scheduled for open heart surgery in early April. His Type 2 Diabetes is catching up with him, although he has done a good job monitoring it. Instead of giving him 3 stents, they're going to do surgery. He'll be off work for at least a month. Any advice you can give me on caring for him? Thank you for your kindness. Please keep Chip in your prayers and positive thoughts. We're still in shock.  

---

Really try to get some help to aid your help in his recovery, this could be alot of work for you alone, and you have to make sure you don't hurt yourself and your health by trying to do it by yourself. You both are in my prayers.

[chlema]

@hckynut You hit it right on the mark when you mentioned mental needs.  In 2001 my husband was scheduled for a procedure to determine if he had blockages.  Almost immediately they informed us that they were taking him to the OR for by-pass surgery.  He had 6 blockages that needed attention,  one of which the surgeon called the "widow-maker"

Physically he mended well but for the first 7 days or so his personality changed for the worse.  He refused to do the leg excercises and tossed the hospital chaplain and the heart recovery spokesman out of the room.  He was just so angry.  Fortunately that soon passed when he came home and he was back to the same nice guy we all knew and loved.  The surgeon told me at that time he had another 5 years or so and here we are 17 years later.

So yes, the mental part has to be addressed in additional to the physical changes.

[jeanlake]

Many thanks for your 'golden' advice and kind words. This morning husband said he had accepted this news and we're staying positive. Husband's lifestyle is healthier than mine -- so it's encouraged me to get on board the health train. Like the nurse told him -- it's in the genes. Again, you are kind to reply to my post.