How long is recovery after open heart surgery?

Please give your experiences regarding recovery from any type of open heart surgery?

• My husband is 65. In May he had a valve replacement and an ascending aortic aneurysm repair. Although he is of course under the care of doctors, we just would like to know what the experience of others is in their recovery. He still has pain in his chest, which they say is normal, along with feelings of numbness which is also, apparently normal. He feels very anxious about what he can and can't do. Also, he has trouble finding a comfortable position to sleep.

• Answer:

  I'm 57. I had a quadruple-bypass on April 10 this year. It was done on an emergency basis. I had one artery blocked at 80% & one at 100%. I also have the continued numbness and almost constant pain in my chest. I have a hard time getting comfortable at night and have a lot of difficulty sleeping. I wake up on and off throughout the night. At my next appointment, I'm going to ask for a referral to a pain clinic. I can certainly relate to how rotten your husband is feeling. He has my sympathy. As far as knowing what he can & can't do, he should just listen to his doctor. I asked mine at my last visit. I was told that now I can pretty much do as I did before the surgery. I was also told that I might feel worse after any strenuous work. Will your husband be doing cardiac rehabilitation? That is what my doctors are encouraging me to do. Tell him I sympathize. He's lucky to have you! I'm going through this alone. Best wishes to your husband for his continued improvement.