Recovering from a coronary artery bypass graft procedure takes time and everyone recovers at slightly different speeds. Generally, you should be able to sit in a chair after 1 day, walk after 3 days, and walk up and down stairs after 5 or 6 days.Most people make a full recovery within 12 weeks of the operation. But if you experience complications during or after surgery, your recovery time is likely to be longer.You should have a follow-up appointment, typically about 6 to 8 weeks after your operation after a coronary artery bypass
Care At home-To ease any soreness where the cuts were made, you may need to continue taking painkillers at home for a few weeks. Wearing loose, comfortable clothing that doesn't rub on your wounds can also help.For the first 3 to 6 weeks, you'll probably feel tired a lot of the time. This is because your body is using a lot of energy to heal itself. By 6 weeks, you should be able to do most of your normal activities and by 3 months
Activities-Generally, in the first few days after you return home from hospital you can do light activities, such as:walking short distances,cooking, card and board games ,lifting light objects. After about 6 weeks, you may be well enough to do slightly more strenuous activities, such as:driving ,carrying children ,carrying heavier objects (but not very heavy objects, such as bags of compost or cement)vacuuming ,mowing the lawn ,having sex.The length of time you need off work varies from person to person. If you're recovering well and your job isn't physically strenuous, you can usually go back to work in about 6 to 8 weeks. But you'll normally need more time off if you experience any complications or your job involves a lot of standing and lifting.While recovering, it's best to try to build up your activities gradually over time and make sure you take regular rests when you feel tired.
Side effects of surgery
After you have been discharged from hospital, you may experience some side effects as a result of the operation. These can include:loss of appetite constipation swelling or pins and needles where the blood vessel graft was removed muscle pain or back pain tiredness and difficulty sleeping ;feeling upset and having mood swings It's natural to feel a bit low after having bypass surgery. You'll experience good and bad days. Your recovery will take weeks, rather than days.Side effects tend to disappear within 4 to 6 weeks of the operation. A full recovery may take about 3 months or longer, depending on your fitness, age and the severity of your condition.
Do’s and Don’t
When you have fully recovered from your operation, it's important to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce your risk of developing further heart problems in the future.
For example, you should:stop smoking if you smoke eat a healthy, balanced dietlose weight if you're overweight or obese moderate your alcohol intake exercise regularly You should also continue to take any medications you have been prescribed.