Preparing for cardiac surgery can be daunting and overwhelming, especially when considering how to recover at home. Whether you or a loved one is due to have open-heart or keyhole cardiac surgery, knowing what to expect in the coming weeks and months is essential.
In today’s guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about postoperative care after being discharged from hospital, including what to expect, lifestyle changes and how a professional carer can help.
What to Expect After Cardiac Surgery
Everyone’s experience with cardiac surgery differs depending on factors such as their health, age and lifestyle. However, general advice can help you feel more prepared and confident as you wait for your follow-up appointment. Here’s what to expect:
In the First Days
Most hospitals advise you to have an adult stay with you for the first week after cardiac surgery. They can help with daily living tasks, mobility support, cooking and housework. You should take things easy with plenty of rest to avoid overexerting yourself.
It’s normal for you to feel tired and emotional when you first return home. You might be in pain, concerned about symptoms and complications, or worried about loss of independence.
In the First Few Weeks
You should be able to return to your normal routine in the coming weeks. However, the recovery period depends on the type of surgery you had and personal factors. Take the time to return to normal activities and try not to rush too much. You may have better days when you feel positive and energetic, but others when you feel down and emotional.
You may also notice other negative symptoms arise after a couple of weeks, such as a loss of concentration or difficulties with short-term memory. These reactions are often normal and short-term, meaning they should go away with time.
Important Things to Know About Your Recovery
Not everyone experiences cardiac surgery, so you may feel isolated and alone before and after your operation. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare beforehand and avoid certain unknowns that could slow down your recovery. Here are a few important things to know about cardiac postoperative recovery:
Your Eating Habits May Change
Some people lose their appetite after cardiac surgery or feel too tired to eat. Your appetite should return soon, but you should try to eat as normally as possible to keep your strength up and aid recovery.
We recommend eating small, frequent meals throughout the day to maintain proper nutrition and reach your calorie goal. Aim for a high-protein, low-fat diet. If you feel like you can’t eat enough throughout the day, try drinking your calories with smoothies or soups.
Sleep Issues Are Common
Many people experience sleep issues after cardiac surgery, often due to the effects of anesthesia, stress and pain from the operation and changes in their daily routine. Sleep issues often resolve themselves after a couple of weeks.
Sleep is another incredibly important component of a good recovery. Your doctor or carer might encourage you to take regular power naps (no longer than 20 minutes), use pain medication to avoid discomfort impacting your sleep, avoid caffeine and follow a bedtime routine to wind down.
Pain Management Starts With You
After any cardiac operation, pain is very likely and unavoidable. However, this can be managed in a number of ways, and medication is only one of them. Other options for pain management include:
- Warm or cold compresses to the area
- Relaxation techniques, such as meditation
- Plenty of rest
- Correct nutrition
- Completing physical exercises as and when your doctor recommends
- Attending all your follow-up appointments
Your doctor will prescribe you pain medications for the worst pain, but once your prescription runs out, the options above can be used to keep the body relaxed and comfortable.
It May Be Difficult to Keep Up With Your Emotions
Many people find cardiac surgery tough to recover from, not only physically, but also emotionally. The recovery process can come as a surprise to people who weren’t expecting the mental impact. You may experience mood swings, random bouts of crying, a lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating.
To help counter the emotional effects of your operation, it’s important to practice good self-care and give yourself a grace period. You should walk within your limits, get plenty of rest, enjoy hobbies and social activities and keep up with friends. You may not feel up to it at first, but keeping your routine as normal as possible will help keep your emotions balanced.
What Is Postoperative Care at Home?
Postoperative care at home provides assistance after hospital discharge, helping you recover as well as possible without straining yourself or slowing your recovery. A loved one or professional carer can offer postoperative care, supporting you in your journey to full recovery.
Most postoperative care is offered as a short-term solution so you can recover in the comfort of your own home. A professional carer will oversee all aspects of your recovery process, giving you expert advice and emotional support when you need it.
To learn more, download our guide to care at home after hospital discharge.
How Postoperative Care Can Help After Cardiac Surgery
There are several benefits to postoperative care that enhance your heart operation recovery, and plenty of reasons why you might choose to recover at home rather than a hospital or residential setting. These include:
- Assistance with daily tasks: A postoperative carer can help with cooking, cleaning and mobility to reduce your burden of domestic duties.
- Familiar home comforts: A live-in carer allows you to recover in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by your favourite things.
- Proximity to loved ones: Friends and family will be able to see you as and when they can, without visiting hours or long commutes.
- Prioritises independence: Live-in carers can give their clients more time and one-on-one support to foster independence and maintain dignity.
- Increased safety: A carer provides mobility support as you’re getting back on your feet, reducing the risk of falling.
- Companionship: A live-in carer offers plenty of companionship and emotional support, especially in the first few days when you might not have the energy to see loved ones.
- Immediate assistance: Should an emergency occur, a carer will provide immediate and appropriate action.
- Risk prevention and management: Postoperative patients experience improved health outcomes through risk prevention by live-in carers.
The Difference Between Live-In and Nurse-Led Care
Cardiac surgery patients often have a choice between home care and nurse-led care in a residential setting. Both have pros and cons, but most people prefer the comfort of live-in care at home. However, there are some instances where nurse-led care might be required, such as complex care requirements after discharge.
Nurse-led care provides nursing tasks, such as:
- Continence care
- Symptom and pain management
- Wound monitoring and dressing
Most cardiac surgery patients are able to return home after discharge, where a live-in carer can offer plenty of support and opportunity for rest. However, certain cases may require nurse-led care, especially if you’re at high risk for complications. Talk to your doctor before surgery to get a better understanding of the types of care available to you.
How Country Cousins Can Help
At Country Cousins, we offer bespoke short-term care to all of our clients, including postoperative support after cardiac surgery. All of our carers are fully trained in postoperative care, helping you recuperate quickly and get back to your normal routine without bumps in the road.
We’ll match you with one of our compassionate carers who can provide assistance with daily living tasks, cooking, light housekeeping, pet care and emotional support. On hand day and night, they’ll be able to keep an eye on your symptoms and offer advice should you have concerns. We aim to give you all the tools required for a smooth, quick and comfortable recovery.
Talk to Our Team Today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959, all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
