Heart Surgery Recovery: What To Expect After Discharge.pdf

# What to Expect After Heart Surgery - The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

## It’s Normal to:

- Have reduced appetite and potential nausea, which usually improves over several weeks.
- Experience swelling, especially in the surgical leg, which can take time to subside. Elevate legs, do exercises, and wear compression hose as prescribed.
- Have difficulty sleeping initially due to pain or discomfort, but this will improve with healing. Taking pain medication before bed may help.
- Deal with constipation, which can be managed with stool softeners, laxatives, water intake, and increased fiber in the diet.
- Feel mood swings and sadness, but these feelings should lessen as your body recovers. Seek support if experiencing anxiety or depression.
- Notice lumps at the incision site, which are usually normal and disappear over time. Contact your surgeon if swelling, redness, or pain increases.
- Hear clicking or tightness in the chest, which is common but should diminish with time. Call your surgeon if it worsens.

## Following Discharge:

- Care for surgical leg incisions and avoid crossing legs to maintain circulation.
- Elevate the surgical leg above heart level when sitting to reduce swelling.
- Wear compression hose for at least 2 weeks after discharge, as prescribed.

## Medications:

- Understand potential side effects from medications, such as diarrhea, dizziness, confusion, or skin rash, and contact your doctor if they occur.
- Take all medications as prescribed, with meals when appropriate.
- Keep a current list of medications and dosages in your wallet for easy reference.

## Care of Incisions:

- Wash incisions daily with mild soap and warm water, avoiding vigorous scrubbing.
- Protect incisions from sunlight to prevent darkening.
- Check incisions daily for signs of infection (increased tenderness, redness, swelling, or drainage).
- Remove staples as instructed by your doctor (usually by a visiting nurse or at the surgeon’s office).