Open heart surgery scheduled soon; questions

Oh yeah - I forgot to note that I’ve been told full recovery can take up to a complete year. I’m aware of that, but know the first 12 weeks or so will be the hardest.

Thnx

Hey there @bradycardia , I don't know if you have had a chance to read a post I did last year, but here is link to it:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-i-learned-from-my-open-heart-surgery-part-1/
here is part 2:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1257983/
You have gone through so many challenges and it sounds like you have the best attitude about what you face now.
You are right...nobody (in their right mind) would look forward to open heart surgery!
I know what it is like, so I can understand some of your fears. I was terrified! I planned my affairs in case I didn't survive. It's not a simple procedure.
I hope that what I posted is useful and helpful. Take some time (because I am a wordy person) and read the two posts. There is a lot of information, including the recliner comment.
May I ask where your surgery is being performed?
Do you have a good support person to help afterwards?
You mentioned going up stairs, do you live in a two-story house and have to go upstairs to your bedroom?

Hello, and welcome. I have no experience or self-teaching on your circumstances, but I have had two procedures after which I experienced some insomnia. It was falling asleep that was the problem, not staying asleep, and it was somewhat due to what is called 'sleep onset central apnea' where, just as one is drifting off, one stops breathing for 10-20 seconds, and the brain alerts and wakes one up and you gasp and breathe deeply five or six times until your CO2 levels drop. And admittedly, I didn't get six hours, maybe five. After three nights like that, I asked my GP for help. He prescribed, with obvious but gentle reluctance, three (3) 7.5 mg tablets of Zopiclone. It's a controlled substance, as you would imagine. My pharmacist, when I went to pick up the prescription, leaned over and quietly asked, 'Does your doctor know you have obstructive sleep apnea?' I replied that he does, whereupon the pharmacist screwed up his face and said, 'I don't see prescriptions like this for people with your condition (severe OSA). Would you consider taking only half a tablet and see how that works?' I agreed, and it worked swimmingly. Great sleep. And because those tablets lasted over twice as long as the prescription suggested, when I asked my GP for several more, he issued me with 14. He knew I was being responsible and careful.

I'm not a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist. My specialty was industrial/organization psych. But I do know that depression is a mood disorder that can be brought on, and sustained, by several factors, be they endocrine, brain chemistry, or external stressors, especially is they are intractable and enduring. I have not experienced this condition, but I am a personality that must understand and know all that can reasonably be obtained AND integrated into my range of knowledge. I do extensive reading, watch YouTube videos made by specialists who discuss and who teach about the various conditions and their management/remediation. When I first meet with a consulting specialist, I have obviously done my homework because I have two or thee pointed questions that demonstrate my interest in my own welfare, but also in their specialty. I need them comfortable with me and with agreeing to apply their skills and learning to my case. The best way to do that, in the way of ingratiating myself, is to be educated and resolute. They know I'm serious.

Happily, in doing the above, I also find that I have more control and can afford to worry less. This higher level of autonomy helps 'me' to be more calm, more reassured, and better able to control my anxiety and emotions. It will never be full or perfect, but it definitely helps.* So, apart from something like Zopiclone or Ativan, I work my butt off, and spend a lot of time, learning of various remedies and what the pros and cons are of each. When I meet with an electrophysiologist about my atrial fibrillation, he soon relaxes because he sees that I'm not about to waste his time.

*In case it's of further interest to you, please google, 'Rotter, Locus of Control' The late Julian Rotter was a psychologist who proposed a model of motivation and autonomy that, although dated now, and not without some room for improvement, has a lot of 'face validity' in that it is easily understood by lay people.

@karukgirl
Hi Debra- thanks so much for the link to those earlier posts. I hadn't seen them and don't think I would have looked under that thread.

They had exactly the kind of info I was looking for. And your so-called "wordiness"? It was perfect. I also appreciated your sense of humor. Something I'm trying to keep during this process.

Before I forget, let me answer your questions first:
The surgery is being performed at Massachusetts General Brigham in Boston. And I've already had all (at least, I think "all") of the preliminary testing, including catheterization and angiogram, done. So at least I no longer have to worry about that. Gee, I just have to go in and have my sternum sliced by a sawzall, get cracked open like a crab, have tubes and pumps substituted for my heart beating, and have fingers fiddling around inside my heart. I aorta tell you, I'm not looking forward to all that.

I have a fantastic support person in my life partner. She has been with me through several of my surgeries and given me great care during my recuperative periods. She's also a great coach to keep me on my post-op therapies.

Yes, I do live in a two-story house with the bedroom upstairs. However, for the first several weeks, I'll be staying at my partner's ranch house that's all on one floor.

When I had my rotator cuff rebuilt about two years ago, I rented the kind of recliner that can also be used to assist you in standing up. I will probably do so again for the first month after surgery. It was well worth the money for the comfort it provided.

As to what to pack, I think I'll skip the mules and the bra. 😉 I'll pass on the mani/pedi, too. But I do appreciate the reminder about cleaning the house and changing the sheets before I leave.

Heartfelt thanks!

@gloaming Thanks, gloaming. Good advice. I've become pretty well-versed in what the whole process is going to be medically and surgically (as well as about my valve diseases overall), so most of my questions posed here are more on the pedestrian and practical side; what does it feel like as the patient. I've been using sleep meds on and off for years, and try to avoid them now (especially now that I'm older) but like any tool, they have their place.

Thanks for the reply and advice.

I had CABG in 2023 at age 71. It's scary, but they know what they're doing. I did not have sternum pain. I had back pain and a muscle relaxer pill helped. A friend loaned me her recliner with electric controls (electric controls are a MUST). I slept in it for at least 6 weeks. Much easier for me than my bed, since you can't push yourself up with your arms. Walk as much as you can, now and afterwards, even short walks. Also, use the incentive spirometer. I loved cardiac rehab. You will feel better than you do now. Best wishes!!

@bradycardia I am so happy that I could help, even a little.
I think most of those going through this would say the pre-op thoughts are worse in our heads versus reality.
Is it fun? Goodness NO! But it's not as horrible as we make it out to be. I practically tortured myself with thoughts of impending doom.
Your funny sense of humor will come in handy during this process.
The nurses will appreciate it. They are your angels...you will love them.
I'm glad you have support for afterwards. You won't be able to drive for at least a month so you are dependent on people to help you.
The recovery time is unique for each of us, so listen to your body.
If you are tired, take a nap.
Don't push yourself, but do make yourself walk every day. Do easy moves with your arms at first. No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for awhile. That sternum needs time to heal properly.
Increase walks and activities in increments.

You will look back on this and consider yourself a warrior! And you will have the scar to prove it.
I think being prepared for coming home is important, so getting this all in order before you go is a load off your mind.
Thank goodness you are asleep for all the lovely details you mentioned...you won't remember a thing. I was nervous and when I get nervous I get chatty.
I was super chatty being wheeled into the operating room...talking about how hot it is back home, how many hiking trails we have, thanked them all for being there so early in the morning, told them if I don't get a chance to say thank you, that I thank them now...blah blah blah...the anesthesiologist came and stood by me and said "I'm gonna give you something to relax..." and I said "Oh...I must be talking too much..." and then I woke up in ICU.
Come back anytime, and I hope you come back and share your post op adventure. You never know who you will be helping.
I wish you the best from the bottom of my hypertrophic heart to your under the hood "valve job" , Debra

@wlb2

Thank you! I have complete trust in the surgeon I have chosen so I feel I’m in good hands, literally.

Having been through one knee replacement, two hip replacements, a partial colonectomy, a bladder diverticulectomy, and a hypophysectomy among other surgeries, I’ve gotten used to the post-op restrictions. However, it’s always good to hear these reinforcing pieces of advice.

Thanks! And good luck to you. Hope you are totally recovered.

@bradycardia A few more comments: based on another chat group, I know some people prefer to sleep in their bed, but I think you should rent a recliner just in case. You can always return it. Most people are more comfortable sleeping in a semi sitting up position, which is why I found a recliner preferable to the bed with pillows (you know that commercial for a medical alert button "Help me, I've fallen, and I can't get up"? Well, once in bed, I experienced "help me, I'm lying down on my bed, and I can't get up." (I eventually managed to get up without depending on my arms.) Also, my experience was, and I think this is very common, that after open heart surgery, patients' sleep patterns are off (we nap a lot for one thing), but also, we tend to be awake part of the time during the night, which I did considered normal, not insomnia, and it doesn't last forever. Just expect that to be the case. BTW, the chat group I found helpful was "Life after CABG heart bypass support group" on Facebook. Yes, some people have scary stories, but others have encouraging stories, and it helped me know what supplies to get ahead of time and other advice. My take is that younger people (and it's shocking how young some CABG patients are) bounce back more quickly, but on the other hand, they developed serious heart disease decades before I did, which isn't great for them. You sound very prepared, and you have a lot of lead time to get prepared. Best wishes!

Hi, I haven't had heart surgery, but know of others who have. I did have a 6-hr. spine surgery in March 2026 and have since learned that major surgery of any kind can lead to depression. I went through a period of loneliness and isolation because no one I know has gone through any surgery of this magnitude. There were other factors that contributed to the depression pre- and post-surgery (sudden death of a favorite sister, mother moving into memory care facility, impending death of another sister, family issues). Thoughts of my own mortality, and permanent mobility limitations after surgery, created fear and anxiety that were difficult to overcome. A doctor prescribed medication but reading the side effects scared the crap outta me and I didn't want to go that route. So, I met with a therapist a few times and then an aunt began talking with me on a daily basis. She helped me regain perspective about health, spirituality, life, and lifted me out of the mental funk. I feel like myself again, adapting to mobility issues, and spending time in the outdoors on a daily basis. I don't think the medical profession does enough to guide or warn patients about the mental and emotional toll that occurs after major surgery. There really ought to be more patient education about this--and not just about the physical/medical aspects of post-surgery recovery. Best wishes to you on your open heart surgery and recovery.