A New Beginning 2012-7 - UHSM

Your follow up
• By General Practitioner
You will be given a discharge summary with details of your operation and discharge medication.
You should inform your GP practice when you arrive home and give them a copy of the discharge
summary. The information of your operation, recovery and the medication you are on will also be
faxed to your GP after discharge.
You should contact your GP if you feel unwell or if you have any worries about your recovery.
• Surgical out-patient appointment
About 6 - 8 weeks after you go home from hospital you will see your surgeon for a check up at
either the centre where you had your operation or at your local hospital. If you have not
received your appointment by six weeks, please contact your surgeon’s secretary.
Advice about financial matters
Having heart surgery can lead to concerns about managing financial matters. There are agencies
who offer free, confidential and independent advice on benefits, rent or mortgage arrears and
possible rebates. Please inform the nursing staff as soon as possible if you would like to see the
Welfare Rights Adviser whilst you are on the ward.
Additionally there are people known as money advisers who offer advice on problems paying
debts and negotiating repayments. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will have the number of
your local Welfare Rights Adviser and money advisers.
Household tasks and gardening
Everyone will progress at a different rate. It can depend upon your level of fitness and severity
of your illness before your surgery, the nature of your surgery and your age. During activities it
is important to take regular rest breaks, even when you do not feel tired.
Activities should be restricted for approximately six weeks after your operation to allow time for
the breastbone (sternum) to knit together and become stronger.
Up to six weeks after your operation avoid activities which require pulling, pushing or a sudden
burst of energy. Avoid carrying heavy shopping bags, pushing supermarket trolleys or lifting
babies/toddlers. Do not lift anything heavier than about 5lbs (2.3 kg) in weight.
Some people will see caring for the household and the family as mainly their responsibility. This
can lead to them starting heavier household tasks sooner than they should. It is important not to
feel guilty about leaving the housework for a while and letting others help.
Remember the following information should only be used as a guide for returning to normal daily
activities.
Up to 2 weeks Take things gently. Read, listen to music or watch television.
Make yourself a light snack.
Week 3 Begin light activities, i.e. dusting, set the table, prepare
simple meals, washing and drying dishes and tending indoor plants.
Week 4 Increase activities to include light hand washing, ironing small items,
changing the bed linen (do not pull the bed out).
Begin activities outside (seated), such as light cutting and weeding.
Begin light social activities i.e. visiting friends or going out for a meal
when you feel ready.
Week 5 Increase activities to include machine washing, cooking and ironing.
Week 6 - 7 Increase activities to include sweeping, vacuuming, mopping floors, food
shopping with trolley.
Weeks 8 - 10 Wash and polish car, cleaning windows with regular rest breaks.
Gardening may include digging, hoeing, raking leaves, mowing the lawn
(powered mower). If possible, use a hose, rather than a watering can.
Week 12 D.I.Y. – decorating, painting with regular rest breaks. Carpentry, moving
furniture, trimming a hedge.
Limit the amount of sustained work that you do with your arms above shoulder height as this can
increase the workload of the heart.
In the long term, certain activities including lifting or pushing heavy weights require a degree of
caution. If you are keen to undertake these activities you can discuss this when you attend your
cardiac rehabilitation programme.
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