Life doesn't end after bypass surgery

Going through a major surgery like bypass surgery can be tough on the patient. Dr Aashish Contractor sheds some light on the process.

Imagine that you or your loved one just underwent bypass surgery. There are a million questions in your mind, 'What should he or she eat?', 'Should they exercise?', 'How long should they rest?' or 'When will they be back to normal?' Thankfully you don't have to worry anymore because preventive cardiologist Dr Aashish Contractor tells us exactly what to expect and do after a bypass surgery:

First and foremost, you need to understand that a bypass surgery is a major operation in which a healthy blood vessel is used to form a bypass or another route for the heart to pump blood to the other body parts to make up for a blockage in a coronary (heart artery). This new blood vessel is called a graft and the proper name for the procedure is 'coronary artery bypass graft surgery'. It's one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures and everyone should know what to do afterwards.

Life post surgery

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Typically, you will spend two days in the ICU. This is the average time when the surgery is done on a 'beating heart'. After the stay in the ICU, the patient typically spends 5-6 days in the hospital ward.

After leaving the hospital

The crucial part begins after you return home. During the first week, it's important to remember that even a small amount of activity can make the patient tired and feel out of breath. Don't worry, this is completely normal. When you do feel tired, take a short rest before resuming any activity but don't give in to the urge to just keep lying down all day.

Also, you should know that during surgery, your chest bone (known as the sternum) was cut open and is stitched close after it. It's quite common to experience an itch or soreness in that area. You may also have some pain in the shoulder or back. Consult your doctor if the pain becomes unbearable. It usually takes about 6 weeks for the complete healing of the sternum. In the past, people would wear a thick belt around the chest for support. However, new research has shown that this is not necessary and does not offer any additional protection.

A hint of the blues

During the first week at home, you might feel sad, anxious or depressed. This is perfectly natural after a major operation like this, and these feelings will usually go away within four weeks. However, if these emotions are causing too much anxiety, you should consult a doctor, who may give you some medication. Your progress will be gradual and you should be back to normal within 4-6 weeks.

The importance of rest

I can't stress enough how important it is to get adequate rest after a major procedure like this. At times, you may feel like you're full of energy and want to do a lot more than what your doctor suggests. While activity and exercise is important, there's a fine line between the right amount of activity and excessive amount of activity. It's vital to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night and a short nap in the afternoon if you feel the need.

Should you exercise?

During a patient's stay at the hospital, we usually start a walking programme. Exercise is important because it improves your strength after surgery and also helps increase your cardiac capacity and reduces risk of future heart disease. It's important to warm-up before beginning any programme. Below is a sample-walking programme. There are always individual differences and you need to adjust your programme depending on 'how you feel'. Do not worry if you are unable to follow the programme exactly.

Avoid exercising outdoors in extreme temperature situations especially when it's hot. Remember not to exercise within two hours of eating a meal. Wear supportive walking shoes and comfortable clothing. (Read: Should you exercise after suffering a heart attack?)

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Cardiac rehab programme

I also recommend that you enrol in a cardiac rehabilitation programme at a hospital (most big hospitals have them) to accelerate the recovery process and to learn more about heart health. This will help you reduce the risk for future heart-related complications and heart attacks.

Precautions to keep in mind

Do not exercise or stop exercising if you notice any of the following:

Excessive fatigue that lasts more than an hour after you finish exercising.
Chest, neck, jaw, teeth, shoulder or arm pain that is unusual. Remember you may experience some discomfort in the chest due to the fact that your breast bone (sternum) was cut during surgery and requires 6-8 weeks to heal completely.
Excessive shortness of breath.
Dizziness or nausea.
Ankle swelling or increase in weight.
Heart rate too much over target.
Skipped beats that appear more frequently than usual.
Joint, muscle, or ligament pain/problems.

Some other tips:

Your physiotherapist will teach you some breathing exercises which you should continue to do after being discharged as coughing and deep breathing help prevent infection in your lungs.

Don't lift objects heavier than 3-4 kg for the first six weeks. Heavy lifting can cause the bone in your chest to separate and prevents it from healing. The surgeon will tell you at your follow-up appointment when you can start lifting heavier objects.

If you don't live in the city where your operation has been carried out and need to travel home, consult your doctor on when you will be able to do so. It's usually advisable to wait for at least two weeks after being discharged before travelling. The decision will also depend on other variables like the length of the travel as well as the mode of transportation.

This article is a part of our Heart Health Month initiative.

Know your heart, love your heart

More and more Indians are falling prey to heart disease. There are various reasons for this including a sedentary lifestyle, genetic predisposition, pollution, smoking, drinking, a fatty diet and a general ignorance about what causes heart ailments. However, we at www.thehealthsite.com intend to fight that by covering every aspect of cardiovascular health including diet, expert advice, exercise, natural remedies, diagnosis and treatment, specific heart advice for women and more this month.

Check out ourHeart Health Pagefor more.

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