As a rule, it is the aim of heart surgery to return you to full fitness. This means that you will be able to carry out all activities in the same way as before the operation, although it is not always possible to restore the full resilience of the heart.
Personalized exercise program
No matter which group you belong to, you ought to determine together with your physician the intensity with which you can exercise and draw up a personal fitness program. An endurance sport such as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming or cross-country skiing is particularly suitable. While exercising, the effort involved should not exceed the level permitting you to still hold a normal conversation.
No overloading of the sternum
The sternum takes three to four months to heal after heart surgery. During this period, no excessive stress should be placed on the sternum e.g. by carrying heavy shopping bags or power training. This might lead to the two sternum halves not growing together to form a stable unit.
Like all post-operative scars, your scar may be hypersensitive or relatively numb for some time following the operation. These discomforts will subside with time. You should consult your physician immediately in the case of discharge of fluid from the scar, swelling or redness of the scar.
Showering after seven days
You can take a shower as soon as your surgical wounds have healed. As a rule, a shower can be taken seven days after the operation. However, you should not expose your fresh scar to moisture for any prolonged period.
Surgical stockings to prevent edema
Wearing surgical stockings during the first few weeks after the operation promotes the drainage of blood from your legs. Particularly in the case where a vein has been taken from the leg, surgical stockings prevent the leg from swelling by accumulating fluid (edema).
Alcohol consumption in moderation, if at all
The effect of some drugs is intensified by drinking alcohol. This is true above all of sleeping pills, pain killers and sedatives. However, alcohol in moderation, such as one glass of red wine in the evening, causes no harm and has a favorable effect on the cardiovascular system. Excessive alcohol consumption, however, has the opposite effect.
Traveling requires good preparation
Basically, there is no reason why you should not travel. It is best to discuss the planned trip with your physician. Obviously, there is less risk in countries with good and rapidly accessible health care than in those where adequate assistance is not available everywhere.
It is important that you take a sufficient amount of all the medication you require for the duration of the trip. A document with your diagnosis in the language of the country of your travel destination or in English facilitates communication, if necessary, and leads to assistance being provided more rapidly in an emergency.
Sex with your partner
Following a bypass operation, the resilience of the heart is usually restored and you can be confident that sexual activities within reason will not overtax you.
If you are able to climb stairs consisting of 14 stair treads within 10-15 seconds while your pulse rate rises to 110-130 per minute you need not restrict your sexual activities any longer. Such exercise corresponds approximately to the exertion during intercourse with your partner.
Driving a car after two months
It is advisable to refrain from driving for approximately two months following heart surgery. So as not to endanger yourself or others, you should be able to climb the stairs of at least two stories without major effort before you put yourself behind the wheel of a car.
Also, you should not be suffering any arrhythmia affecting your circulation as a result of an irregular heartbeat to such an extent that it leads to major blood pressure fluctuations. Initially, you ought to avoid lengthy and taxing car journeys.