Triple Bypass

rachelhen

How long should I book off work to care for my husband when he comes home after a triple bypass?
Grateful for anyone who has experienced caring for someone?

GlasweJen

I understand full recovery can take months but I suppose it depends on his job. If its manual then budget for him being out of work for at least 4 or 5 months, desk jobs can be back after 2 or 3.

Aside from this one I've never had more than 6 weeks off work following heart surgery.

GlasweJen

http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/how-we-help/support/heart-helpline.aspx

The heart helpline can give you both support through this, you can also get "heart matters" magazine free from the British heart foundation, full of lifestyle tips, advice and some pretty good competitions too.

rachelhen

What I am wondering is whether I need toboo ktime off to care for him when he comes home?

CH27

I would say you would need a least a week off.
My dad had a quadruple bypass a few years ago & we made sure someone was around all the time for the first week he was home & then made sure he wasn't alone all day for about another 3 weeks.

luxor4t

My DH had to pass the 'stairs' test before he was discharged from the hospital after his double bypass, ie he had to show that he could climb a flight without undue stress.
The team said that if he could do that he was safe enough to potter about at home without constant supervision. This was just as well as Idid try for time off but was unable to be with him (fixed holidays). Fortunately I was working part-time then.
I suggest you ask the relevant doctor for advice on what to do.

Oldernotwiser

My aunt, who lived alone, had a quadruple bypass in her 70s. She went to a convalescent home for a week and then returned to her upstairs flat, where a couple of us helped with shopping and housework for a while.

I would think that a week (two at the very most) would be ample.

pinkshoes

My dad had a quadruple heart bypass, and me and my Grandma spent 2 weeks looking after him, as he wasn't well enough to do much for himself. By the 3rd week, he was relatively "fine" so long as we left meals out etc..., although I always nipped home in my school lunch break to check he wasn't trying to do anything too strenuous.

Some people will bounce back quickly, others will take much longer. I'd book 1 week off, and see if you can provisionally book a 2nd week off.

margaretclare

A lot depends on the kind of person he is, how determined he is to get back to normal, what kind of house you live in, stairs, bathroom etc.

I'm completely out of date with the techniques for this type of surgery. When my first husband had coronary bypass in 1975 - single not triple! - it was completely ground-breaking. I do recall that because of the surgical trauma to his sternum and ribs, he couldn't use his arms very well, could only pick up very light things e.g. a cup of tea. He was encouraged to walk though, a little further each day 'to the next lamp-post'. However, you should be given detailed information and he should be able to ask all the questions he needs to.

And of course, recalling your earlier thread before Christmas, for this type of major surgery smoking is an absolute no-no for the rest of his life, not only for him but for anyone around him. Three blocked arteries, not just one. He's lucky to be alive and should take that on board.

If you are able to book some time off, to get him over the initial period at home, the start of readjustment to normal life after hospital environment, it would be good. I don't think anyone could say just how long. So much depends on the individual concerned and their individual circumstances.

Pollycat

Rachel
What date is the surgery?

Which hospital is it?

I ask because almost 3 years ago my Mum had a valve replacement (I think it's similar invasive surgery to a bypass) and the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield were very good.

They ran pre-op seminars for patients and family/friends and gave lots of information.
I believe there were 3 separate sessions covering different aspects.

They had a guy who'd had heart surgery previously in to give a talk about his experience and recovery.
They explained the difference between tissue and mechanical valves, about dealing with stairs etc.

Might be worth emquiring about this.

Old_Joe

A lot depends on the kind of person he is, how determined he is to get back to normal, what kind of house you live in, stairs, bathroom etc.

Quite!
Aged 64, sixteen, coming up seventeen years ago I had a quad procedure on a Tuesday and was discharged on the Sunday.
My wife worked nights and I convinced her I'd sleep on the settee with reach of the phone. All was well.
In those days they didn't have physical classes like today.
Up to five years ago we went white water rafting, walking under water with helmets (supervised) and zooming 40 metres on a the high wire among the forest canopy.

I've never been a sporty sort of person, the secret is just thinking positively.