Update: DH has to have open heart surgery :(

So sorry…I hope it all goes well. Take care.

Wishing for the best possible outcome.

Prayers for your husband to have a quick recovery.

Cindy

Positives thoughts for his quick recovery and that your financial situation turns out better than you thought.

I hope it goes well.

I am surprised the doctor said that. My mom had to help my dad with showering, using the bathroom, getting up and down/in and out of chairs for awhile. He has to cross his arms over his heart pillow while my mom guided him down. Then had to assist with wiping or drying or whatnot. He wasn't allowed to really twist or move much due to the ribs and stitches/staples.

Also really see if you can get a reclining chair that lifts you up and out of it. Made such a huge help for my dad.

Hugs to you ... I hope everything goes well and he makes a speedy recovery!

Hugs to you. I hope everything works out and he has an easy snd quick recovery. I’m glad it sounds like you have others to help when needed as well. Hugs to you and all involved.

Heart surgery can be stressful for the whole family! Do you know if they are doing valve replacement or repair? And do you know what valves? I know there are transcatheter and catheter options for all, but not sure to what degree. My DH has had open heart surgery twice, the first to place a mechanical aortic valve after a dissection (he had a birth defect that was unknown) and the second to replace the original mechanical valve with another one because he got Strep B in his blood.

All that to say, it's scary, but you'll both do great. They will get him off the vent as soon as they can and up and walking within a few days. Make sure he is religiously using his spirometer and has his heart pillow handy. If you don't already have a shower chair, buy, borrow or rent one. My DH could shower on his own within a couple of weeks but used the shower chair because he was still weak. We just made sure someone was home when he was showering to help if needed, but after a month he was fine (although he continued to use the shower chair for another 4 - 6 weeks). When he's walking make sure his head is up and he's looking forward, not down. They tend to hunch over because of the incision, so it's a good reminder. I also bought a lot of protein drinks, as DH's appetite didn't really return for over a month and that was one thing he could tolerate. Pay special attention to the groin incision...it tends to pull with getting up and down and walking...we had a hard time getting it to heal and it became infected. And make him walk even when he doesn't want to. We started small...down the drive and back, then down the sidewalk one house and back...you get the idea. I'm sure I'm forgetting some other tips/tricks, but will post again if I think of them.

Finally, don't forget about YOU! The caregiver is as equally stressed and trying to hold it together for everyone. Don't feel guilty about having a little 'down' time. Go for a walk, go get ice cream, take a long hot bath, but do something for YOU so that you don't burn out! And accept help from friends and family!

Hang in there, you've both got this!

Hoping for the best possible outcome on everything.

Prayers for you and your family.

I had triple by-pass surgery 25 years ago, my ticker is still doing it's job. Recovery was painful for about 3 months, but it lessened each day.

Now mine was 25 years ago, I would bet the procedure is better these days and the recovery easier; pain is less if you and your support can keep a positive attitude. I wish you the best.

I had open heart in 2006 to have aortic valve replaced. Tbh I've had about a dozen surgeries and it was one of the easiest to recover from in some ways--it's nice to be able to walk after surgery and to have both hands usable..

Granted as you recover your energy is gone, and when you have it it leaves quickly. Getting up out of bed was difficult enough that I slept in recliner or on couch with a bunch of pillows for a while. Showering including washing hair was extra taxing from holding arms up for a while, I had an outdoor chair in my shower.

I came home from the hospital right back into the single mom life and really no other help except a couple people who would drive me to town as needed. But I was also only 32 so that probably helped a bunch. My kids were 12-8 years old and helped a lot with stuff such as lugging laundry around and basic house chores like vacuuming that I couldn't do.

wishing him a good and speedy recovery.