How to Understand the Recovery Time After Open-Heart Surgery

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Have you recently undergone open-heart surgery? Are you planning to have this major heart operation? If so, you’re probably wondering how much time the recovery will take. Your doctor is the best person to help answer this important question, as the condition of patients varies. However, you can get the basic information about the minimum recovery period. Read on.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Note the open-heart surgery date and time.
Step 2

Ask the heart surgeon what precautions you need to take before and after the heart surgery.
Step 3

Collect as much information possible from the doctor so that you will be able to understand the condition of your heart.
Step 4

Inquire from the cardiologist how many days are needed for recovery.
Step 5

Note that generally a heart patient is required to stay for up to 2 weeks in the hospital after the surgery.
Step 6

Know that usually patients take 6 to 8 weeks to recover. This period can vary depending upon the patient’s healing process after the operation.
Step 7

The total recovery time after open-heart surgery is approximately 3 months. The recovery may be partial or complete and allow the patient to resume normal activities to a large extent.

Tips & Warnings

Always consult your cardiologist about the activities you can do.
Discontinue the activity if you are short of breath, dizzy, drowsy, your heartbeat increases or you have chest pain.
Never try to overstrain or ignore physical discomfort.

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Comments

jallen0347 said

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on 9/21/2008 My mom had open heart surgery on Thursday 9/18/08... She had two valves and four arteries fixed. They took viens from both legs to repair the arteries... She has type two diabeties.... she is still on the bypass machiune and the ventilator. Her coloring is getting better, she was ice cold yesterday morning, today she is warmer.... They said she is improving daily, but she could be in ICU another week and in the hospital another 7-12 weeks... I am asking if this sounds like they expect her recoyery time could take 3 months in the hospital...