Open bypass surgery is a procedure that is performed to open the arteries that are blocked with build up of plaque. This procedure helps create a separate route for the blood to flow without any disturbance. Plaque is usually the build up of calcium, cholesterol and other substances.
When the plaque builds up on the walls of the artery the passage for the blood is narrowed. When the blood flow to the heart is reduced you experience severe heart attack or angina.
Who might need to undergo open heart bypass surgery?
People with severe coronary heart diseases that may result in a heart attack are treated with heart surgery for blockage. People who have had a heart attack and have heart damage yet still have clogged arteries may be treated by a coronary bypass surgery.
If other treatments, including medication or lifestyle changes, have failed, your doctor may advise a bypass surgery. If you have severe blockages in the heart arteries that supply most of the portion of the heart muscle with blood, your doctor may advise coronary bypass surgery, especially if your heart’s ability to pump blood has already been deeply affected.
Also a coronary bypass surgery may based on several factors like:
- The location and severity of the blockages
- Experiencing extreme symptoms of coronary heart diseases
- Severe impact to the regular life
- Ineffective treatments to treat heart diseases
Coronary artery bypass surgery procedure is also performed when a person experiences a major heart attack.
Why is managing your pain after coronary bypass surgery important?
Getting a proper pain management plan can help in quicker and also a safe recovery after the surgery. Following a plan can also help in reducing the risks significantly after the procedure. Once you have the right recovery plan you can slowly begin walking and even breathing exercises.
What kind of pain you may experience after a bypass surgery?
Not every person experiences the same pain. Everyone has different levels of pain. But pain at the site of surgery is quite common especially when you start taking the first step. You may feel pain at:
- Muscle pain: You can feel pain near the neck and shoulders.
- Chest pain: The chest tubes that were inserted to drain fluid, blood, and air during heart surgery may be causing you some discomfort.
- Surgery site pain: At the site of surgery, you may experience pain and discomfort.
What are the precautions to follow after bypass surgery?
As undergoing a heart bypass surgery is a major surgery. Following a few precautions can help in getting a quicker recovery.
Take the medications as requested:
You can be offered new medication prescriptions when you get discharged from the hospital following your bypass surgery. Take each as prescribed. Take your painkillers before engaging in any physical activity and before the pain becomes too intense.
Keep incisions away from any infections:
The open wound is a potential site for microbial contamination. Patients must therefore keep the wound dry and gently clean it with an antimicrobial.
Take your physical activities slowly:
Exercise raises heart rate, which can be challenging for a person who underwent bypass surgery to control. As a result, the patient’s physical activity must be carefully observed by the patient or their family. They should not carry anything that is heavy and also stand for more than about 10 minutes initially. Talk to your chest pain doctor in Coimbatore if you are experiencing any pain after the surgery.
Do follow a healthy diet:
Diet has to be taken seriously for people who underwent heart bypass surgery. Making changes to the diet can highly help in quicker recovery. Although people may lose appetite in the early stages of recovery, yet they should be ensured to eat healthy to have a healthy heart. Cut short on heavy fat foods, sugars. It is also advised to avoid processed food during the recovery phase.
Keep your mental health in shape:
Spending hours in bed and inability to do any of the activities for a certain period can be frustrating and can affect the mental well-being. To help with the recovery process, keeping your mental health safe is important. Try mediating or even writing a journal that can help.
Driving and other activities:
Usually after about 6 or 8 weeks after the surgery you can start performing a few activities although it is not advisable to stand up for longer than about 15 minutes or even push or pull anything that is heavy. Take the steps slowly. Talk to your doctor and understand what might be right for you and also before driving or cycling get the confirmation from your doctor.
Make sure to get enough rest and sleep:
After the coronary bypass surgery procedure, many people have problems falling asleep. Within a few months, your sleeping patterns should return to normal.
Take your prescription around 30 minutes before bed if discomfort keeps you awake. Set up the pillows in a comfortable posture for you to stay.
After an exercise, you’ll undoubtedly need to rest, but try to avoid sleeping a lot during the day.
Avoid caffeine-containing products in the evening, such as chocolate, coffee, tea, and some sodas.
Establish a nighttime routine and consider listening to relaxing music. This aids in training the body to develop a routine.
If sleep issues persist or begin to impair your mood or behavior, contact your doctor right away.
Important Takeaway:
Recovery after heart bypass surgery may take about 3 to 4 months depending on the severity of the surgery. Following a complete recovery plan can help the recovery process. Even after the surgery it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle to avoid recurrence of any coronary heart diseases. If you’re looking to undergo a bypass surgery, reach out to the open heart bypass surgery in Coimbatore.
