With regards to taking care of your incision after heart surgery, there are three important factors to remember. Firstly, make sure that you keep the incision clean and dry. Then, to make sure you take care of the first factor, use only soap and water to cleanse the area, and, finally, eat a healthy diet. If signs of infection appear, such as increased drainage or oozing from the incision, opening of the incision line, redness or warmth around the incision or an increased body temperature (greater than 38°C), consult your doctor as soon as possible. You should also seek medical advice if you think your sternum (breastbone) has moved, or if it pops or cracks with movement.
It’s normal to experience some muscle or incision discomfort, itching, tightness or numbness along the incision after heart surgery, but it will affect your wellness differently than it did beforehand, and your doctor should prescribe you pain medications. If your leg veins were grafted in a heart bypass surgery, you may experience more pain in your legs than around the chest incision, but this discomfort and stiffness will lessen with walking, daily activities and time.
When it comes to exercise, for the first six to eight weeks it’s recommended that you gradually increase activity. You can do household chores, but it’s not advisable to stand in one place for longer than 15 minutes. Also, do not lift objects that weigh more than 2.5lbs, or push or pull heavy objects. Your doctor should give you guidelines for walking daily, but try not to go up and down the stairs several times a day. Instead, arrange it so you do downstairs in the morning and upstairs when it is time for bed
Finally, it’s usual to have a poor appetite after surgery, so eating smaller, more frequent meals can be a big help. Also, it’s common to feel sad, but getting dressed every day, walking, resuming hobbies and social activities, getting a good night’s sleep and joining a support group can help. If you’re feeling depressed for longer than a few weeks, seek medical advice.