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What I Learned From My Open Heart Surgery
Don't Be Scared...It's Just Open Heart Surgery!
If you are reading this because you have learned open heart surgery is in your future, for any number of reasons, not just HOCM, I wish to put your mind at ease.
Of course you are scared!
Any normal person would be, so rest assured, it would be abnormal to not be afraid.
Having gone through and survived my own open heart surgery, I want to reassure you that most likely, the thoughts you have conjured up in your mind are far worse than the actual operation and the ensuing post operative period. I had a wild imagination and practically tortured myself with thoughts of doom.
The good news is you are completely asleep through the entire event and will not feel a thing. You are made comfortable before they even begin, and the only pain before surgery is most likely caused by the IV they place pre-op.
It goes without saying that any surgery will have pain associated with it, so my advice is to get comfortable with being uncomfortable for a while. Each person has their own unique and individual response to pain, stress, and things unknown.
Having something you can turn to that brings you peace or comfort, whether it be God, meditation, a hobby or craft you love, will help you immensely as you prepare for your own open heart surgery. As difficult as it may be, try and focus on doing things that make you happy. Do not let fear take over your thoughts. Your thoughts are yours and you can control them!
I'd like to share my story, offer some helpful tips and maybe provide a guide to getting through this. And to gather insights, tips and stories of other members too, because no two experiences are alike.
What I was Not Expecting:
I was not expecting that the day before my surgery, after my angiogram/heart cath, I would not be able to walk. This made me very unhappy! If they had used the radial artery, instead of the femoral artery, I would have been able to walk. This totally set me aback! My plans to leisurely stroll the neighborhoods around St Mary's that evening, thoughtfully pondering my open heart surgery in the morning were blown up! Instead I was confined to a wheelchair and had to be pushed around to the lobby for my last supper.
On Connect people talked about back pain after surgery. I just glanced at those statements. They did not register.
Wow. It was a real thing for me. Not the first day in ICU, but the next day and each day after that for over a year! I do not want to scare anyone, but this back pain is real and I wish I had paid attention so I could be prepared. It's from all the torque in the front going to the spine. It was relentless and persistent. I gives you a different place to focus where your pain is coming from. All directions! I have worked in hospitals for over 42 years. I worked remotely and figured with a desk job I would be able to go back to work pretty quick...like 6 to 8 weeks. I was so wrong. The back pain was so disabling I could not sit. Who knew! A desk job and you can't sit!
I can't say it enough, each person is different. This surgery will affect each person in different ways. Most all open heart surgeries have common post-op conditions. I won't call them complications, because they are so common. Anemia from blood loss. Pleural effusions (fluid around the lungs). Atelectasis (collapse of lung). Sometimes pneumonia. Wonky labs. Be prepared and don't be scared, these are again, common.
I was not expecting my sternum to look like it did after the wound vac came off. It was gnarly looking at the top. A big, huge twisted knot looking alien on my chest. I was reassured by the nurses it would heal and look normal. They promised. They were correct. It took several weeks to settle down and the alien to disappear.
I was not expecting the Lovenox shots in my stomach every day.
I was not expecting to only get Tylenol for pain. It did basically nothing for me. I wish I had done a bit more advocating for pain control. They don't want you getting addicted to pain pills, but there is a time and place for them...and this would be one. There is some new non-opioid on the market now, Journavx (suzetrigine) I wonder if they can use it for better pain control in the hospital? Ask!
I was not expecting that I could not wear nail polish. Seriously? At least not at the Mayo! This fact set me back a step or two because I was totally planning on pampering myself for a rare mani/pedi before open heart surgery. Dang! No pretty toes post op for me.
What I Wished I Had Known:
I wish I would have believed I was stronger than I thought I was. I made this a HUGE deal in my mind that loomed over me the months and weeks ahead of my operation. It was not as terrible as my thoughts made it out to be.
Will I be able to fly? Yes. With lifting restrictions.
Will I be able to walk around? Yes. You must walk around. As much as possible. Right after surgery and every day after.
Will I be able to do anything but just sit around? Yes. Little chores that don't require big arm movements or heavy lifting. Like light cooking. Or folding your clean washcloths. Your stamina will be low for awhile. Some days a shower and walk to the mailbox was all I wanted to do.
Will I be able to drive? No. Not for at least four weeks. Prepare to count on others to drive you where you need to go.
Will I be able to cook? Yes! Just don't reach too high or lift more than your restrictions.
Let your pain be your guide. Listen to your body. You know you better than anyone else.
If you are tired. Take a nap.
Eat healthy. Drink water. Your body is healing from a BIG surgery and needs good nutrition and water.
I drank a glass of wine the night I got out of the hospital!
Was it fun? Oh goodness no! There were nights alone in the hospital I thought would never end.
The bed was hard. The pillows like a rocks. The food was blah. Sleep is elusive. Tubes and wires and machines surround your bed. People show up at the weirdest times to do vitals or take blood for tests.
But slowly, each day, another tube comes out. Another line is taken out. Another machine goes away. You sit in the chair more. You thank God for His blessings.
I brought a book to read...but I was so tired I could not even hold it. My significant other read to me. I had my iPhone with me, but the first few days were too hard to talk to anyone.
In the End, it was Worth it!
I share my story with the hope that something will help you pack better, be prepared better, and know more than you did before you read this!
Knowledge is power. Know before you go!
This is my story. What's yours?
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It's so nice to read that you are doing well! Yes, yes and yes, going in with the best physical condition possible does go a very long way in your recovering ability. I was told that my leg and core were extremely strong and as you stated, made the post-surgery physical movements seem almost like business as usual. Please do not overdo it, I chuckled when Debra wrote "like a man." It's interesting to read how each of us reports different accounts on our experiences. By the time there was room for me in cardio rehab, I had been going to my gym, the two owners worked in cardio rehab before becoming gym owners and had me do many things. By the time I did go 6 weeks post op, I did not need it - walking 3.1 mph easily, almost back to before surgery weights, etc. My two complications began a couple of weeks after, so be sure to listen to your body, today, tomorrow and forever.
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2 ReactionsThats great to hear how your healing went and how active you became so fast! My wife continues to tell me im pushing to hard and doing too much:) Not so sure if thats a man thing i been told its my stubborn will:)
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1 ReactionHi @lesterholland,
Were you able to learn any information from the links that @colleenyoung provided?
It must be frustrating to hear the same thing twice. May I ask if your second opinion was from a Center of Excellence (COE) like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, or Cedar-Sinai? Or another COE?
I ended up having four total cardiologists input.
My local (who missed my diagnosis totally)
An outside Dr affiliated with the hospital I worked for and 5 hours from home
Cedar-Sinai in CA
Mayo Clinic in MN
I just mention this to let you know that sometimes we have to be persistent and push for more.
You have done your own research, which is great, but now what do you do with it?
Keep going! Did you contact the Mayo? Or have you seen a Dr at a COE?
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2 ReactionsKaruk,
Thanks for your interest and your comments. I've come to understand that while the heart is supremely important to our living, it is really a fairly simple pump that has been the subject of intense and long study by brilliant minds. Peripheral improvments like the Watchman and pacemakers and stents and targeted medications will continue to improve the functions of our hearts and thereby improve and lengthen our lives. My uneducated opinion is that the next great breakthrough will be a chemical that will dissolve the plaque now resident in my arteries. It is a race, and I'm hoping to stay in it until the good guys win.
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1 ReactionThanks......the first rerport was from Universty Hospital in Cleveland. Second opinion was from Cleveland Clinic. Third was from a youngish (perhaps 53) Cardiologist in Cincinnati. All three agree that of current available options, medical treatment of symptoms is the best option. One mentioned that if I reach desperation, I might look into a procedure called CHIP, NOT recommended at this point.
You were spot on with your comments and advice from your own open heart surgery. My story about the back pain is much the same. I have scoliosis from the neck down and my pain focused right between my shoulders. It hurt literally to breathe in and out. I was prescribed Robaxin muscle relaxer. It did help take the edge off and the good news is after about six weeks the pain started letting up. I am currently seven weeks out from open heart. I had a mitral valve prolapse regurgitation repaired. This was supposed to have been robotically. However, when they did the heart Cath it showed I had a blockage on the widow maker. Therefore, I had to have the traditional sternum cut. I had a wonderful surgeon, but I was not at all prepared for all this surgery would require. Like you said lots of tubes, drains poking and prodding they have you up and walking very quickly. I spent two nights in ICU and was discharged the very next day! I am so very thankful my husband took good care of me. I slept in my recliner for three weeks. He spent the first few nights sleeping in the recliner across from me my sternum has healed well the big knot at the top that you were talking about does disappear like they tell you it will. The nurse recommended I get scar tape as it keeps it moisturized but don’t use it until your incision is healed. It’s good for old scars and new so important to drink water !water !water!. You may not want to because you’ll run to the bathroom a lot, but it is necessary. I was put on Lasix due to swelling and walking helps with that too. Another common occurrence with open heart surgery is some fluid buildup around the lungs. I had a small amount the bottom of each lung theLasix addressed that also.
I was told in advance that open heart surgery affects the entire body and all the systems. That is so true. I’ve been told that it would take six months to a year for having total body healing. I’m praying mine will be six months. My scar is a reminder that I am a survivor and God chose to save me. Every day you get stronger, you have to keep that in mind some days that doesn’t seem possible, but it is . Oh, just remember to add this. Another big issue for me is the extreme chest sensitivity. Men dob not experience this only women. At six weeks it’s still a problem for me. I can’t stand for clothing. Anything against it . I’ve worn loosec, button up shirts . As for a bra, that’s been a big issue. They want you to wear a bra to hold the sternum tightly so it heals well. If you have large breast, that is a bigger concern . I have bought every type coming and going, and I am still struggling. The problem isn’t so much the bra as it is the sensitivity and soreness of my breast. I put a bra on for an hour and they swell and ache and hurt . at this point, I put one on and pace myself with it. I’ll wear it for an hour and take it off put it back on and so forth the surgeon said it could take three months or so for the sensitivity and the breast issue to go away. Another issue I am having is the constant runny nose and coughing. I am curious if anyone else has had this problem? My surgeon did not know why I would be having this issue. Anyway, I enjoyed reading your post and I’m sorry if I rambled hopefully, something I said will help someone and perhaps someone out there that’s had open-heart surgery can tell me if they have had this cough and runny nose .
Bless any of you as you have this life saving and miraculoussurgery.
I should’ve read first before posting as it has many errors.
Hello @myggle1950, that was a wonderful post, thank you for sharing your story with us.
Six weeks out is still pretty fresh. It sounds like except for a couple of irritating things, overall you are doing well.
I had terrible skin sensitivity on my sternum for several weeks. I was all prepared to wear higher soft t-shirts, but ended up going to Walmart and getting some deep V neck shirts so nothing touched it!
I was in LOVE with my lounge bras from TJ Maxx.
I bought two 2-packs of soft, step in, pull up, no wires, no hooks. They were like a gentle hug and I felt comforted by their presence. I had breast reduction surgery many years ago, and got used to wearing a supportive soft bra all the time. I liked having them then and still do. But again, to each there own!
It's so weird. We are all so different and special and unique and there is only one of us. God did not make copies, only originals.
I am amazed you were discharged so quickly! I was told too, by Dr. Dearani, that it would take six months or up to a year to fully heal.
I felt awesome at six months! I had some back stepping afterwards, which was puzzling, and had a consultation online with the Mayo and some medications were adjusted. After another 4 months, Dr. Ommen took me off all the meds, and I felt great again. I think it was the beta blockers. I'm on an aspirin a day and that's it now.
You are so correct, this is an amazing, live saving miracle surgery...and we are so blessed to live in an age that has the techniques that have been perfected.
I'm so glad you are doing so well...you will get through the pesky "sensitivity phase" soon I hope.
When do you go back for a post op check?
@myggle1950, if you are the author, you can fix your boo-boos within 2 hours.
I do it all the time!
See the 3 dots at the bottom right corner of your post? ...
Click on them, and you will get a drop down screen which has the option to edit.
Make your edits, and click save and you are all fixed!
Thank you.