Disease Care

Weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath

After getting the go-ahead from the doctor, get moving, little by little. Encourage him or her to get dressed, take a shower and walk for 5 minutes, several times a day.

Leg swelling

This is common after surgery. Elevate the legs when sitting or lying down, and encourage movement and activity.

Care of the incision

The doctor will give specific instructions on caring for the incision. This includes: keeping the incision clean and dry, using only soap and water for cleansing, watching for drainage or oozing, ensuring the incision line doesn't open and monitoring body temperature.

Pain relief

Some muscle or incision discomfort, itching, tightness, or numbness along the incision are normal after surgery. However, the pain should not be similar to what was experienced before surgery. The person will be given a prescription for a pain medication before leaving the hospital. For bypass surgery, there may be more pain in the legs than around the chest incision if leg veins were grafted. Walking, daily activities, and time will help to lessen leg discomfort and stiffness.

Sleep problems

Minimize pain and discomfort at night. Arrange pillows to help the person find the most comfortable sleeping position. Discourage him or her from napping during the day.

Depression

It is very common for people who have had heart surgery to be depressed afterwards. Watch for warning signs, such as feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, loss of interest in life, increased or decreased appetite. Notify your doctor if the symptoms last more than a week.

Decreased mental function

A decrease in mental function is common, but usually temporary following surgery. Give the person time to recover. If symptoms persist, contact your doctor.