Looking for advice on helping someone recover from triple bypass open heart surgery.
My SO is 40 next month and unfortunately the 4 stents put in last year blocked due to genetics so he must have a bypass.
I know that it takes 2-3months to recover and he will be in a load of pain but just looking for advice, tips etc, anything that can help.
TIA
3 Replies
Hi! I’m in my mid 20s and had it when I was in my teens.
The hardest part was not being able to do things for myself like my hair or shaving, so being able to assist with that is huge. Sitting up was a massive pain, i really struggled getting in and out of bed and sitting down, so having seats that aren’t too low and decline easily were a key.
Offering meals and drives out when he is ready will be huge for him, I craved certain foods and was struggling from boredom. Having company was also important for my mental health :)
My husband had a bypass 10 months ago and honestly, apart from scars, you cannot even tell he had the op. First few days are hard - ICU and ward. We found as soon as he was home a week later, he improved heaps. The first week home he slept heaps but in terms of pain, after day 2 he just had panadol. He got constipated due to the meds but again, that was quickly sorted (coloxyl). He was back at work in 6 weeks on light duties.
Be prepared- some suffer depression etc but it's usually due to meds and improves dramatically.
My nana had a quadruple bypass at 65 and her heart never gave out again.
It saved her life, she died of other causes well into her 70s.
The big issue I remember is getting up and about, they want you sitting up, moving so you don’t get phlegm on the lungs.
She had to hold a pillow and cough, get everything up.
Her recovery was fine, took her a couple of months I think, but back to normal, well better than normal.