Thousands of people in the United States undergo open-heart
surgery every day that not only leaves them with a long chest incision, but
also a lengthy recovery. Everyone heals at a different rate, and the time it
takes to fully heal depends on the individual’s age and overall health, and of
course, how complex the operation was. One needs to work closely with their
doctors. Most of the healing- usually about 80 percent- happens in the first
6-8 weeks after surgery.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common of
all heart surgeries, which uses a blood vessel taken from another part of the
body to go round a blocked heart artery. Open-heart surgery is also recommended
and performed to repair or replace a faulty heart valve or to repair damaged or
abnormal areas of the ticker.
No two patient experiences will be the same, here are some
important things that you should be aware of when recovering from heart
surgery:
Changes in
eating habits- Loss of appetite or feeling too tired to eat are common for
every patient. Your appetite will soon be back to normal, until that try eating
small meals throughout the day at regular intervals since proper nutrition is
essential for your body to heal and get stronger. Experts recommend a diet high
in protein (fish, eggs, nuts, dairy and beans), and low in fat, cholesterol and
sodium. Your salt intake should be no more than 2,000 milligrams a day.
Managing
Pain- With heart surgery, the younger you are, the more pain you
may feel since the chest incision tends to be more painful in people in their
50s and 60s because of having more muscle tissue with good nerve distribution
as compared to an 80-something person with lax chest muscle.
Post-surgical pain can’t be avoided but can be managed in
various ways. Most physicians prescribe acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen,
or a two-week course of oxycodone to help ease sharper pain and help people to
fall asleep at night. For pain management, some patients may require opioids while
some may not depending on one’s condition. Talking about opioids, doctors
cannot prescribe no more than a seven-day supply to patients at the time of
their hospital discharge. Other options for pain management include oral and
topical analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Salonpas patches, and
relaxation techniques such as meditation can also play a huge role. If you are
on long-term opioids, wean down to the lowest possible dose always in
consultation with your doctor.
Sleep
Problems- After heart surgery, many individuals complain of having
trouble sleeping, which might be due to effects of anesthesia, stress from
personal concerns, discomfort related to healing, etc. Do not worry as normal
sleeping patterns typically return in 2-3 weeks.
Emotional
Health- Besides physical healing, recovering from open-heart
surgery involves emotional healing as well. You may experience mood swings
including depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear, etc., lack of energy or
motivation, inability to concentrate, get easily frustrated, feel more
sentimental than usual- in the weeks after your operation. Experts have laid
down some guidelines like getting plenty of rest, joining a support group,
resuming hobbies and social activities you enjoy, etc. for you to follow for
good self-care.
Most surgery-related sensations like numbness, tingling or
even hypersensitivity are common during the first few months after surgery.
There’s nothing to worry since these sensations are part of the normal healing
process of the small nerves that were severed during the surgery. These
symptoms imply that these nerves are regenerating.
Call your doctor right away if you notice any increased
redness, swelling, warmth, fluid discharge, or pus.
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