Advice - Open heart surgery - Page 3

webbgarner1 · ‎06-13-2017

@jeanlake When it is a planned open heart surgery rather than an emergent one, normally there is a great deal of time spent with the patient priot to surgery date concerning education, what to expect, how his hospital stay will progress, and before discharge will have a lot of information given to hom concerning diet, cardiac rehab, any lifestyle changes, things to be aware of after discharge such as weight gain, chest pain, pain control, what to look for as infestion and how to increase his activity level post op.

Good luck to both of you. I had open heart surgery in 2002, and have since had 3 stents and 1 angioplasty. Been a type 1 diabetic for 50 years. Hang in there, he can do it. Prayers for you.

CAcableGirl2 · ‎06-03-2010

@jeanlake Prayers for your husband. My Dad had open heart surgery many, many years ago in his early 50's. He is now close to 85 years young. Open heart surgery has some a long way in the past 30 years and now it seems like a lifetime ago that he was in the hospital having the surgery.

I will keep him in my prayers.

......You look like I need a drink.....

ginirn · ‎04-30-2010

Any reputable hospital offering open heart surgery will have a cardiac rehab program for patients and families. Ask about it. Rehab will be tailored to your husbands specific type of surgery and recovery.

twinkies · ‎03-11-2010

I will certainly say some prayers. Best of luck and health to your husband.

cathy from ma

jeanlake · ‎03-10-2010

Surgery over -- recovery time. Spent the last two days in ICU after husband's open-heart surgery. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts and prayers and good advice. Setback with lung collapse but he's on the mend. Always amazed at medical staff skills and compassion. My 30 year old daughter was no longer a 'kid' to me, but a compassionate, generous, capable young woman, stepping up and helping to care for her dad.

Heartwrenching to see family crisis in the waiting room. Thank you again for praying for someone you don't know.

"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@jeanlake

Sounds like the surgery went well, except of course the lung issue. Did the Surgeon say why his lung collapsed? The many other open heart patients I have spoken with over many years, don't remember any of them mentioning a collapsed lung. Just curious!

Most of the Open Heart patients, when I spent weeks on the Heart Floor, spent 2 days in Post ICU(those that had no complications), and went home after 4 days. Those in my 72 Cardiac Rehab Classes pretty much told me the same thing.

Pretty restricted on what they could do with their upper body. In the Classes, the Cardiac Nurses would not let them use any of the exercise machines that primarily use the upper body. They did treadmill/recumbent bikes/NuStep, and some specific leg exercises. This was for 6-8 weeks, depending on the patient's recovery.

Wishing both Chip and yourself well. Chip, being an active person, will probably be chomping at the bit, till he is able to use his whole body. It takes time to heal, and my best friends during my 2 heart attack recoveries, were Optimism and Patience. If I can help, please let me know. Thank you for Chip's update.

hckynut(john)

jeanlake · ‎03-10-2010

@hckynut Thank you for your words. Surgeon and Respiratory Therapist was confused about lung collapse -- husband is non-smoker, no asthma and no sleep apnea. Active guy. Perplexing but on the mend.

"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@jeanlake Prayers for continued recovery! Please let your friends help out if they offer. It will be good for them and you two. Let them bring you a meal and share it maybe, so a load of laundry, things like that! They can give you a break and cheer both of you up.