What to Expect After a Heart Procedure
After An Angioplasty
After an angioplasty, you'll be taken to your room in The Heart Institute. The sheath that was placed in the incision to guide the catheter will be left in place for a few hours or overnight, to prevent bleeding and so the cardiologist can check the treated artery. After the sheath is removed, you'll be asked to lie flat, without moving, and without bending the arm or leg where the catheter was inserted, for about six hours to give the incision a chance to start healing.
Your blood pressure, pulse, and incision will be checked often. There may be electrodes placed on your chest to painlessly monitor your heart.
You will probably need to urinate frequently as your body works to get rid of the x-ray dye. You probably won't be allowed to get up and go to the bathroom; resign yourself to the use of a urinal or bed pan.
You should be able to go home the day after your procedure. Some people can go home the same day as their catheterization, and some need a longer stay in the hospital, depending on their condition and treatment.
Have a friend or relative drive you home to avoid strain on the incision.
At home, do not bend over, strain, or lift heavy items for 24 hours. Drink plenty of liquids, to flush the x-ray dye out of your body and replace fluids.
If you notice bright red new blood on your dressing, call your doctor immediately, and place firm pressure on the site for 15 minutes.
Leave the bandage in place until the next day, or until your doctor or nurse tells you to remove it.
Your doctor will tell you what activities are allowed and what medications you need to take.
If everything goes well, you'll probably be back to your normal routine a few days after your procedure, feeling better than you have in a long time! This is the time to enroll in Healthy Heart Program (formerly Outpatient Cardiac Rehab). The risk factors and lifestyle that led you to the angioplasty need to be dealt with and changed. In this fitness-based program, covered by insurance, you will learn effective ways to make the lifestyle changes you need to reverse or slow the progression of coronary artery disease.
Return to Top
Making Love
Unless your doctor says otherwise, you can begin having sex as soon as you feel comfortable and can climb two flights of stairs without any shortness of breath or pain.
Return to Top
After Open Heart Surgery
After open heart surgery, you'll be taken to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). When you wake up, there will be a tube in your throat to help you breathe and smaller tubes to collect fluids from your chest. You'll have a catheter in your bladder to collect urine, and intravenous (IV) lines will provide fluid, blood, and medications. The breathing tube is usually removed within several hours to a day and intravenous lines are removed after several days.
A nurse or therapist will help you to do exercises such as deep breathing and coughing. This respiratory therapy may be uncomfortable, but it is very important in order to prevent pneumonia.
When you no longer need intensive nursing care, you'll move to a bed in the "step-down unit," where you will continue to be monitored carefully.
Your doctors will want you to get up and moving as soon as possible. Your cardiac rehabilitation therapist or nurse will help you to sit up and begin walking (inpatient therapy).
After you get home, you'll find that it takes about 4-6 weeks before you'll feel like getting back to your normal routine. Everyone heals at a different rate, but some people find that it can take as much as a year before they regain all their old energy. This is not unusual, so don't become upset if it seems to be taking a long time.
Return to Top
For the First 3-6 Weeks:
- Don't put stress on your healing breastbone.
- Let others do the driving
- Don't lift anything over five pounds
- Avoid mowing or vacuuming
- You may feel weak during your first few home showers. Ask someone to stand by in case you get dizzy—and avoid very hot water, which can cause changes in your circulation that are quite likely to make you dizzy.
When you feel strong enough, your physician will probably encourage you to sign up for a Healthy Heart Program (formerly Outpatient Cardiac Rehab). Getting your heart and lungs in shape through proper exercise, diet, and stress reduction techniques will help you to change your lifestyle and reduce your chances of future heart or stroke problems caused by coronary artery disease.
Return to Top
Making Love
- Unless your doctor says otherwise, you can begin having sex as soon as you feel comfortable.
- Avoid positions that put weight on your chest or upper arms.
As you begin to recover, you may find that you feel depressed. This is not unusual. However, if depression lasts too long or becomes severe, there are treatments that can help. Be sure to mention your depression to your physician.
Return to Top
|
Back
