Recovery from Open Heart Surgery

This is a journal of the sequence of events and results achieved. I am sharing this for anyone who has to go through an open-heart bypass surgery. In my case, it was definitely worth the pain and long recovery process. I am not fully recovered but can walk several miles without pain or any other heart attack symptoms. Recovery is helped by the prayers and support of those who care for you.     

July 8, 2019: Due to a medical issue, I have to have a heart Cath (next week after getting lab results). I cannot travel until they find and fix my heart issue.  

July 15: Finished preregistration today for Wednesday for heart Cath procedure. I will go in at 6 am to get hydrated prior to the 11 am procedure. Based on what they find, they can do a stint the same day but anything else requires rescheduling.  

July 18 – Note from my wife: I am writing this update on behalf of Roger Lee. Roger as you all know has been experiencing Cardiac symptoms and having many tests. Wednesday (7-17), Roger had his Heart Cath and the results showed more than what the Cath could repair. Tuesday the 23rd we have an appointment with a Cardiac Surgeon to review and set up Roger's Open-Heart bypass surgery. He may have up to 3 bypasses we are not sure today.  Dr. Lucas Duvall will be doing the surgery at Methodist Willowbrook. 

July 23: My heart bypass surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, at 7:30 am. I have pre-admin testing this Friday for labs and prep instructions. He will determine if I need two or three bypasses once he is inside. Taking it easy until then.

July 29: All pre-admin testing is complete and getting ready for surgery in the morning. Gina will send a note after I get in ICU and she gets to visit.   

July 30: Note from my wife: Roger Lee is out of surgery and in ICU (normal procedure). Doctor found no surprises and expects a full recovery. Thank you all for your loyalty in praying for Roger before, now and during his physical recovery. I can tell you he is ready to get back to himself.

July31: In ICU trying to get pain under control. Many tubes and monitors connected with limited mobility to prevent removal of them. 

August 1: Note from my wife: Hello everyone. Quick Roger update. I have read all your replies to Roger and big smiles come across his face. Keep the encouragement coming they are so appreciated. 

Day two was way better. Pain was better controlled and the walking began. We moved from ICU to the surgical floor. Everyone here is like family we are truly blessed here at Methodist Willowbrook. I am referred to as a Cabbage patient for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). You get a heart shaped pillow for hold close to your chest when you move. All the doctors, nurses and staff sign it with encouragements so you can have a souvenir to remember the experience (plus you get a huge scar on your chest). My breastbone was repaired with stainless steel wire and then glued instead of the large staples that were used in the past.       

Day three: Still moving forward at record speed. Walking the full nursing floor wing well over 500 feet 4 times a day. He is truly working very hard on breathing so the chest tubes can be removed. That will be half the pain gone! You have a Voldyne breathing device that measures how much air volume you are pulling into your lungs to help displace the fluid from surgery. You have to do these four times per hour. I can only get to 500 ml without major pain. Once the chest tubes (both with about 6 inches of tubing inside your chest) were removed, I could achieve 1500 ml breathing volume without pain. Coughing, sneezing and laughing are still painful events. 

Day four:  Still have to have someone help you do everything. Sitting in chair for meals since Day 1. Walking farther each day with walker when taking IV fluids. Today walked without support but nurse following closely behind.       

August 4: Note from my wife: Quick Roger Lee update! He is home today. I’m sure he’ll be checking his emails in the next fees days. He can explain the next step in his recovery. 

August 12: Home Health portion of recovery is underway. An admin person comes first to get you signed up and processed. Then you have weekly nurse visits for vital signs and progress status. You also get physical therapy weekly visits with exercise and times tests to ensure successful progress in recovery. You are to walk three times per day and continue doing the breathing exercises with the Voldyne to measure ml inspired volume. When I successfully finish the Home Health requirements, I can start the Cardiac Rehab back at the hospital.           

August 27: Still making steady progress. End of September before released to drive. You have to wait 8-week for the breast bone to mend. Saw surgeon for last time. He said all my scars are healing properly. He said that my dizziness when standing after sitting for a while and shortness of breath when trying to talk in the evenings is normal. Walking over 3 miles per day and doing exercises from Home Health physical therapy person. I will be released from Home Health this week. Waiting to hear from the hospital before starting cardiac rehab for the rest of the month. Having numerous follow up visits with all my doctors to get meds lined out. 

September 9: I am starting my last phase of recovery. I did my first Cardiac Rehab session today at the hospital. They hook you up and monitor your heart while doing exercise on various machines. I go Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next twelve weeks. This should get me in good heart condition and healthier for the future.  

September 16: Doing the cardiac rehab at the hospital so they can monitor my heart while I exercise to make sure everything works properly under load. Today, one of the other patients on a machine next to me “coded” and they made him stop and called the Emergency Room to come get him. His heart spiked and would not come back down. A nurse got him stable but they still took him to the ER for observation. This made me appreciate the slow process that is required to get your repaired heart back to full functionality. They gradually increase your time and resistance over 12 weeks to approve you to return to normal life. 

September 22: I get to start driving this week (8 weeks after surgery to let your breast bone heal). That will be a major step for me. I am tired of riding in the back seat and being carried everywhere. I will be able to drive myself to the rest of my Cardiac Rehab sessions. It will also free up my wife to do more things she enjoys.