How Do You Recover From Open Heart Surgery?
Open-heart surgery may need to be performed to replace a heart valve or do a coronary bypass. An incision is made on the chest and the sternum is cut open. Not only does the heart have to heal after surgery, but the incision and the sternum also need time to mend. The speed at which a person recovers depends on a variety of factors such as age, medical procedure performed and overall health. Get discharge instructions from your doctor. Your physician will provide you with information on what you are allowed to do immediately after discharge. She will also provide you with a timeline on when you can add additional activities such as driving and returning to work. Understand complications to watch for. Be aware of sudden weight gain, which may mean you are retaining fluid. This can be a sign of congestive heart failure. Other indications of a problem are a fever and oozing from the incision. Contact your doctor if you experience any of the above. Wear compression stockings if directed by
