Dry mouth, sore throat
This is the result of the breathing tube used during your surgery. Cough drops, ice chips, and time will help.
Poor appetite
This is common after surgery. As you recover from the effects of the anaesthetic, your hospital diet will be slowly increased, from liquids only to solid food. You may benefit from a talk with the dietician about menu choices.
Bowel habits
Many patients have problems with constipation after surgery. Here are a few ways to help deal with this problem.
As you return to a diet with solids , ensure you are drinking sufficient liquids. Juice, milk and water are all good choices. Try to get lots of water especially – it is the best liquid to drink. Foods with lots of fiber will help too – whole grain breads and cereals, bran, fruits and vegetables, legumes (peas, beans and lentils). It may take a while before you feel like eating a lot of these foods, but try to start as soon as you can.
If constipation lasts more than a day or two, ask your nurse for a laxative. This will help, but try not to use laxatives often. If you get lots of fiber and fluid every day, you won’t need a laxative.
Numbness and pain
You may have some numbness and tingling in your hands. It may take a long time for this to resolve. Tingling over the breast area may also occur if a graft has been taken from the chest wall. This tingling may also last a long time. Aches and pains between your shoulders, back of neck and around the chest incision are common and may last several weeks. The physiotherapist will teach you stretches and exercises to help you reduce this discomfort.
Swelling
There may be swelling in the leg where the vein is taken. This may last a long time. Keep your leg up when sitting and wear support stocking when ordered by your doctor. Do your leg exercises as often as possible.
Up and down days
You may have mood changes while recovering from this surgery. You may feel happy and cheerful one day and cranky and down the next. This will change as you become more active.
Poor memory and bad dreams
You may notice this after your surgery. Medications are often the reason for this. In time, you will be back to yourself. It is important for you to tell the nurse how you are feeling.
Excessive sweating
During sleep excessive sweating is common following open heart surgery and may even occur after discharge from the hospital. It will decrease with time.
Rapid heart rate
It is not unusual to experience a rapid and/or irregular heart rate post op. This can be controlled with medications. Control of your heart rate with medications may take several days, and may delay your discharge.
