I am just about done with first year from aortic replacement and Mitral repair, on discharge Dr. recomended no caffene for a while and limited use of alcohol..I did not smoke and his response was GOOD!!
normal activities, took a while to return,,The TRUCK hit me pretty hard, and had trouble sleeping on my back the first 2 weeks out of hospital, but started walking , slow at first, and longer after a couple weeks,,stairs were a chore too.After about a month, I was doing most of the things I normally do..but not up to maybe 50%, 3 month maybe 65% now a yr later about 90%,,still working on some strength and endurance issues,but getting better weekly..
Tell him not to be in a big hurry to try and be his old self, that is a big operation,and serious incision to recover from in the chest,LET IT HEAL,,ans as my surgeon said (being polite) nothing that is like a push up position for a while!!
Meds..I was not on that much :lasix,metoprlol,warfarin, potasium, and most of that has been reduced and about to be removed soon..depends a lot on INR if need to stay on blood thinners,BUT, alcohol does make the numbers go up, and broccoli brings them down....to hi and he will get nose bleeds, could not stop mine,till I learned to eat a head of broccoli ,, So whatever the surgeon recomends before and after I would try to listen too...
Some of the things in the hospital were different!! like when do I quit seeing bugs crwling around in my eyes or outside of my vision, when do I quit seeing people when they are not there(like going into the barhroomand not coming out)some noises that came from no place, and be patient, there might be as others have said some depresion..I could not concentrate enough toread more than 1/2 a page in a book for 3 weeks, but tried to get out doors and walk every day,and get some sun and fresh air did help me a lot..
not sure if this was helpful but my experience, hope his is even better,just don't be in a hurry to be back to normal to soon...good luck to him
and you, be patient toooo///
