What to Expect When Recovering from Heart Surgery

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Heart surgery is a major operation, and while everyone heals at a different rate, most of the recovery takes place in the first six to eight weeks following surgery. If you’re planning on having heart surgery, you’re probably wondering what to expect during the recovery process and how long it will take to get back to an optimal state of health. Here’s a general guideline to help give you an idea:

Movement will be limited

You will feel tired and weak for the first week following surgery, but you’ll gradually regain strength over the next month. It’s important to rest, and it’s equally important to move around a little bit to keep your body active and aid in the healing process. You can do simple things like walking, cooking, and light cleaning, although you should wait to lift, pull, or push anything weighing more than 10 pounds until your doctor clears you for further activity. It’s also a good idea to avoid driving a car for at least four weeks after surgery.

You will be in charge of pain management

Recovering from heart surgery is not as painful as you might assume. Many patients are able to manage their pain with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Prescription pain medication can help with sleeping and taking the edge off higher pain levels immediately after surgery, but after about a week you should be able to manage without it. To address lingering pain around the surgery site, you can apply a warm cloth to the area. Relaxation techniques like meditation can also help with pain management. 

You will need to keep track of post-surgery sensations

Feelings of numbness, tingling, or hypersensitivity around the chest incision after heart surgery are a normal part of the healing process as the nerves that were severed during surgery regenerate. If veins were harvested from your lower legs for the surgery, you might feel the sensations there as well. However, if you feel exertion-related chest pain or pressure during recovery, or notice any signs of infection at the incision site, you should contact your doctor right away.

Your appetite might change

Directly following heart surgery, you might be either too tired to eat or your appetite will diminish. This is normal and no cause for concern, but it is important to maintain nutrition levels during your recovery period. Eating small meals throughout the day is a good way to manage a limited appetite, and your doctor will probably recommend a diet that is high in protein and low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. Ideal sources of protein include eggs, dairy, beans, nuts and fish.

Sleeping could be difficult

Many heart surgery patients experience difficulty sleeping in the first few weeks of recovery due to lingering effects of anesthesia, discomfort during healing, stress, and changes to their daily routine. Until your normal sleeping patterns resume, there are several things you can try to help with post-surgery insomnia:

  • Take pain medication 30 minutes before bedtime

  • Avoid caffeine in the evening

  • Arrange pillows to minimize muscle strain

  • Take a relaxing shower or listen to soothing music before bed

  • Take plenty of rest breaks during the day

  • Limit daytime naps to 20-minute periods

  • If stressed, talk to a spouse, friend, or your doctor for peace of mind

Recovery could require emotional healing as well as physical 

While healing from heart surgery, it’s important to acknowledge that your emotions could be out of balance in the first few weeks. Many patients report mood swings, depression, anxiety, helplessness, anger, or fear. Some also experience a lack of energy or motivation, inability to concentrate, and a lower threshold for frustration, with good days mixed with bad days. In addition to talking through your feelings with friends and loved ones, it’s a good idea to also get plenty of rest, walk daily within your limits, and resume some light hobbies and social activities. You can also join a surgery recovery support group if you need more help.

You might need cardiac rehabilitation

After six to eight weeks post-surgery, your body will be about 80 percent healed, but you might still need to start a cardiac rehabilitation program in order to increase your heart’s endurance. Cardiac rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy that uses monitored exercise to gradually increase your activity level and reduce risk factors. Cardiac rehab also includes nutritional education to help keep your heart healthy in the future.

Heart surgery recovery at Bella Vista Health Center

Bella Vista Health Center offers pulmonary rehabilitation programs including cardiac rehab at our 5-Star skilled nursing facility in San Diego. Our customized treatment options are designed with the goal of getting you back to your healthy, active routine as soon as possible. We also offer post-acute rehabilitation for post-surgery patients who need additional care after being discharged from the hospital. For more information or to schedule a tour of our facility, give us a call at (619) 399-7920.