Open Heart Surgery/Bypass Success Stories

Marionnette · Feb 9, 2016

The Mystery Machine said:
They booted out my dh after 4 days. So unless there are complications no chance of staying a week.

Every patient is different, as is their surgical procedure. You can expect to spend 1-2 days in CCU and then a another day or two in the telemetry step down unit. However, so much will depend on how invasive the procedure was and the overall health of the patient prior to surgery.

OP, my husband had open heart to replace a defective valve and repair an aneurysm. The day of the operation is the hardest for the family. The recovery period is the hard part for the patient. I cannot praise the visiting nurses and the folks in cardiac rehab enough. The healing process is slow, arduous, demanding and frustrating. Your mother's feisty attitude will go a long way in helping her feeling "normal" again. Best of luck to her!

And don't forget to take care of yourself. Taking care of my husband during the first week at home was exhausting!

IndyRnRfan · Feb 9, 2016

Sorry to hear about your mom but they caught it early and you know what can happen if they don't. My wife is a cardiac nurse and has seen hundreds of successful heart surgeries. I don't like speaking for her but if you have any questions or concerns I can always ask her. However, she will be the first to say, you need to be prepared with questions for the doctor(s) and nurse(s). IF they are good at their jobs, they will explain everything crystal clear and be willing to answer any questions you have. Don't take anything for granted. Make sure you know everything and your mom knows everything from when meds are to be taken, to how and when you are suppose to clean the surgical site, to how often she is suppose to get up and move. Sitting and laying around is the biggest mistake a heart surgery patient can do. Just from what I've heard my wife and her coworkers talk about this is the biggest reason they have to be readmitted along with infection. Good luck and I know everything will be fine. You seem to be prepared and are preparing. Let us know how everything goes.

Marionnette · Feb 9, 2016

And a couple of things that you might consider for your mom when she comes home:

A chair for the shower. Preferably one that has a seat that turns so that she can get in and out easier.
A shower wand instead of a shower head. It makes it easier to bathe if you can sit down without the water hitting you in the face.
Our stair case has a landing before it turns and continues to the second floor. We put a folding chair on that landing so my husband could stop and rest when he went upstairs each night.
Button-down shirts are easier to get on and off in the beginning. My husband had a pacemaker put in a couple of days after the surgery. He was not allowed to raise his arms above his head for a few weeks. Make sure that she has warm shirts to wear - even if they are your father's flannels - because patients tend to feel cold easily. I'm not sure why, since their hearts are pumping more efficiently after surgery. It might be from the blood thinners that they take.

Lisa loves Pooh · Feb 9, 2016

My FIL had triple bypass about 10 years ago maybe? I don't recall exactly. He was in his 60s at the time. I know very little about his recovery except that he did recover and he pursued a healthy lifestyle. Lots of exercise and he looked great.

He now has things non-heart related that are slowing him down. But he had great success with his heart surgery.

Well wishes to your mom!

StitchesGr8Fan · Feb 9, 2016

Great idea to write down questions on her care for afterwards! Thank you! Luckily they live in a ranch with a shower that has a bench and a wand. As long as depression doesn't get her I think there is more concern about her moving too much rather than not enough.

I saw her today and she is as feisty as ever. This is screwing up her plans for the week.

Her surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. I'm thinking positive that this is going to give me my mom for several more years. I will keep you all updated. Your well wishes, stories, and tips are well appreciated.

Dis703 · Feb 9, 2016

My uncle just had a quadruple bypass about a month ago. It was done as emergency surgery one day after having had a heart attack in a restaurant where they had to use the paddles to bring him back.

I did some reading at the time and despite how scary it sounds complications are rare anymore. There are of course additional risk factors. Having had a heart attack already is one of them so it's great that she hasn't. My uncle also had diabetes which is an issue for healing. He has apparently suffered some small strokes since surgery but is now on medication to help prevent that from happening again and is recovering quite well. I believe his having diabetes increased the chances of that happening as well, but it's a risk factor with pretty much all surgeries.

He was in the hospital for about a week. I've heard from others they were out earlier. That may have been because of how he went in and that it was done on an emergency basis though. They had him up and moving around pretty quickly while in the hospital.

Overall, he's doing quite well now about a month post surgery.

Good luck, I hope things go very smoothly for your mom.

Claire&TheBoys · Feb 9, 2016

My mom had valve repair done 6 years ago next month. She was 75 at the time. It was a tough surgery, I won't lie. But she has recovered pretty well and still does most of what she wants to do at 81. She drives, she says she "has" to get out of the house every day so she goes somewhere to shop or walk every day. She still cooks big family dinners for all of us a couple of times a month. She gets around a little more carefully now since she broke her hip and had to have that replaced 2 years ago last month.

Two friends about my age (early 40s) just went through their dads having bypass or valve surgery. Both went home within a week or so and are getting around well. The one that had quad bypass was out walking multiple miles within a week of getting home from the hospital. He's in his 70s.

I hope your mom's surgery is successful and she has a speedy recovery.

StitchesGr8Fan · Feb 9, 2016

The surgery got moved to Friday. So now we wait. But my mom got to meet the surgeon and ask him lots of questions and she feels confident because he feels confident. She's not happy about being stuck in the hospital between now and then, but she is safer that way so I told her to suck it up. :thumbsup2

Something I didn't know is that they will do something to the nerves in her sternum so she won't feel any pain on the bone for 2 days. It makes me feel better knowing she won't be in excruciating pain the first day or 2 when the healing starts. The doctor also didn't think her recovery will be a full 4 months.

The Mystery Machine · Feb 9, 2016

Marionnette said:
Every patient is different, as is their surgical procedure. You can expect to spend 1-2 days in CCU and then a another day or two in the telemetry step down unit. However, so much will depend on how invasive the procedure was and the overall health of the patient prior to surgery.

OP, my husband had open heart to replace a defective valve and repair an aneurysm. The day of the operation is the hardest for the family. The recovery period is the hard part for the patient. I cannot praise the visiting nurses and the folks in cardiac rehab enough. The healing process is slow, arduous, demanding and frustrating. Your mother's feisty attitude will go a long way in helping her feeling "normal" again. Best of luck to her!

And don't forget to take care of yourself. Taking care of my husband during the first week at home was exhausting!

My dh was in pretty bad shape going in with a heart attack and quadruple blockage.

Did they do the valve job via catheter?

Marionnette · Feb 9, 2016

The Mystery Machine said:
My dh was in pretty bad shape going in with a heart attack and quadruple blockage.

Did they do the valve job via catheter?

No. He needed to have the aortic aneurysm repaired as well. He was cut "stem to stern" and then needed the pacemaker because extensive damage was done to the AV node during the valve replacement. He was in for a week.

Marionnette · Feb 9, 2016

StitchesGr8Fan said:
The surgery got moved to Friday. So now we wait. But my mom got to meet the surgeon and ask him lots of questions and she feels confident because he feels confident. She's not happy about being stuck in the hospital between now and then, but she is safer that way so I told her to suck it up.

Something I didn't know is that they will do something to the nerves in her sternum so she won't feel any pain on the bone for 2 days. It makes me feel better knowing she won't be in excruciating pain the first day or 2 when the healing starts. The doctor also didn't think her recovery will be a full 4 months.

Aside from having to wait for the surgery, it sounds pretty encouraging. Having confidence in your surgeon is very important in easing your fears.

AnnaS · Feb 10, 2016

My dh had two heart attacks. He had his quadruple bypass in 2007 at 48. He was in the hospital about 10 days. Four months later he went back in for Pericardial Effusion (fluid around the hurt). He had gone in for an echo and could not find his heart/full of fluid. Recovery for him for some reason was not easy but he got through it. It was definitely scary and overwhelming. It has changed our lives but he is here. He is one who watches everything and panics over everything.

My mom also had a bypass five years ago at 75. She also had a valve replaced and one repaired. I will say, she was never the same again. Went in for another catherization since she could not breathe once up and moving and they diagnosed her with Pulmonary Hypertension (same thing happened with my neighbor's sister). Not sure if it had anything to do with the open heart but that was when it all started. This along with diabetes and others ailments became a routine of doctor visits, testing, etc. for her last five years. She passed in July.

Good luck. Hang in there. They are all success stories.

The Mystery Machine · Feb 10, 2016

Marionnette said:
No. He needed to have the aortic aneurysm repaired as well. He was cut "stem to stern" and then needed the pacemaker because extensive damage was done to the AV node during the valve replacement. He was in for a week.

Ah, that stunk.

I ask because cath surgery is being done commonly now and the recoveries are so different.

My dd will need a pulmonary valve eventually and that hopefully will be done via cath.

Marionnette · Feb 10, 2016

The Mystery Machine said:
Ah, that stunk.

I ask because cath surgery is being done commonly now and the recoveries are so different.

My dd will need a pulmonary valve eventually and that hopefully will be done via cath.

We were expecting the cath surgery. The whole plan went out the window once he was in the OR. The pacemaker was a complete surprise.

Just goes to show that you just never know what can happen.

apirateslifeforme · Feb 10, 2016

I don't know the specifics, but my FIL had one at age 50. He will be 80 this year and you'd never know it. For example, he can spend 10 hours walking the entirety of Epcot without assistance - no cane, no scooter, etc. Saw it with my own eyes

My grandparents died in their 70s and were far "older" than my FIL.

The Mystery Machine · Feb 10, 2016

Marionnette said:
We were expecting the cath surgery. The whole plan went out the window once he was in the OR. The pacemaker was a complete surprise.

Just goes to show that you just never know what can happen.

Yep.

I think men have a harder time due to their muscle mass in the chest area.

StitchesGr8Fan · Feb 12, 2016

Update - she's been in surgery for an hour and a half. 5 more hours projected.

anniemae · Feb 12, 2016

Hang in there OP, before you know it she will be all done and on the road to recovery. :goodvibes

AnnaS · Feb 12, 2016

Yes, hang in there and if you have not seen anyone immediately after open heart/bypass surgery - don't worry. I was overwhelmed. She will be fine.

Marionnette · Feb 12, 2016

I've been thinking about you and your mom today. I know what you're going through. I'm sure that things will go fine.

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