Open heart surgery recovery

[Esgaroth]

DH had open heart surgery on Tuesday. He's still in hospital at the moment, unable to stand up independently let alone much else. But he's obviously being cared for by professionals so not much I can do yet.

I'm wondering what he will need in terms of support when he's allowed home? Is there anything I should be getting for him or anything I should know to expect?

If you or a loved one has had open heart surgery, can you share what the recovery was like and what helped?

He's booked on sick leave for 3 months and the last month of that is full time rehab at a centre so we know that much, but I'm thinking more practical things that we might not have thought about.

I think the kind of surgery he had is called annuloplasty plus edge to edge repair, if that makes a difference. All the info we've had is not in English so that's why I'm not 100% on that, but looking it up that seems to be what was done.

https://www.healthline.com/health/heart/annuloplasty#recovery

This might be helpful

When my DH had bypass surgery, which I know is not the same, he was not allowed home until he was "downgraded" out of ICU into a more lightly-supported room was able to walk round the ward.

As is common in Australia we have downstairs bedrooms and bathroom so he was able to have a room to himself, one with proper space to get in and out of bed freely. I took off the first week he was back home. He went for daily walks in the neighbourhood, extending by increments. There was no other physical rehab but habit-changing ones, i.e. diet/exercise advice.

I think he was back at work in three months. No driving until the three-month review by a cardiologist. He was given a cushion to hold over his chest and under the seatbelt while in the car.

All the best, OP.

I wish we could have him just on the ground floor but unfortunately it won't be possible in our house. One of the boxes he has to tick before hospital release is walking up and down stairs. He seems so far away from that right now 😢

Though I could bring him food upstairs so he doesn't have to be up and down. I WFH so I'll be available for him the whole time if he needs me.

Do you think he'll be able to put normal t shirts on or would button up pyjama tops be easier?

You'll be so surprised how quickly he'll be up on his feet. My husband had full open heart for a heart valve replacement, he was born with it faulty and we were very lucky it was picked up.
He was in hospital for 10 days but they gave him a medication he didn't react well
too but it should've been 7 Max.
He was 38 at the time of surgery and he was off work for 4 months.
We bought a recliner chair and he slept a lot the first couple of months. He said it was a fully year until he felt 100% recovered.
He's back fighting fit running and playing football so all good.

Hi OP. I had open heart surgery five years ago. First thing is to look at pictures of people post op so you understand the size and type of scar. It’s quite shocking at first but you get used to it.

The meds post op are very strong and I was pretty confused and exhausted for a few days.

Agree with others about comfy chair options. I had a bunch of pillows and it took various configurations to get comfy. My husband slept on the sofa for a few weeks because sleep was hard and I was awake in the night often, so it was easier not to worry about disturbing him (or him bumping me). I had audiobooks and podcasts to keep me company.

I slept a lot!

I had back ache from, I think, hunching forward to protect the wound. Gentle massage helped.

Had very little appetite but wanted fresh fruit a lot. I ate a fair bit of mango!

Mostly I was really tired and just needed time to rest.

Button up PJs were good.

Couldn’t lean forward to do socks or laces.

Id lose concentration very easily for months. And I cried a lot. These are all normal I think.

sending best wishes to you and your family.

@MrsPerfect12 That's so good to hear, I'm glad your husband had such a good outcome.

Same with mine, it was a congenital issue and it was picked up when he started having strange symptoms during and after exercise. He's mid 40s.

He's a reasonably fit and healthy man so hopefully he'll bounce back OK. It's very hard seeing him like this but I know it's good it was caught and he's had it done.

@Saltysea2001 Thank you so much for sharing, that's all really helpful. Yes, he's quite confused still from the meds, not always sure what day it is and sleeping a lot. His incision is still bandaged so I haven't seen it yet, will check out what to expect.

We do have a spare room luckily so we can sleep separately, that's a good idea.

Right, I've got him some pyjamas. I think we've got enough pillows.

He seemed a little brighter today but still not able to stand up without help or walk further than about 10 steps.

He will feel the cold when he comes back from hospital, and not just because it's winter, and no reflection on your house. I was staggered by how utterly white my DH looked when he came back home. (He was white by ethnicity but you know what I mean). The familiar setting threw it into stark relief that wasn't apparent on the wards.

Light warm bedding layers he can easily put on and throw off are good.

All the best @Esgaroth

He's very pale at the moment (yes, beyond the normal white guy in winter pale 😄). It was the first thing I noticed about him - his hands were like a sheet of paper the first time I saw him after the surgery. He also has a low fever which is probably not helping things.

One thing I was wondering - we had been planning to go to my parents for Easter. This means an international flight. Will he likely be up to this by Easter? I haven't booked anything yet.