Had a surprise at the end of May which was an unexpected triple bypass surgery with a added bonus of a PE but at least no heart damage ! It has been a month now and making slow progress at this point . Just thought I would ask here if anyone has had open heart surgery and how long did it take to get back to camping or traveling or if you packed it in? We have canceled all our Summer reservations and waiting on the fall plans to see how my recovery goes . All the medical people are so optimistic but they are not doing this day by day ? I am told I will be fine or better but it’s hard to see that at one month post surgery . We have been traveling or camping in one form or another for the last 22 years and have a bucket list . Oh and the other surprise was the stress test that led to all this was done on my very first day of retirement. Thanks in advance to anyone replying and sharing Thanks Mike

My experience with other types of surgery (non-heart) is that I feel awful for 6-8 weeks and then recovery proceeds more rapidly than at first. I was on the road again solo in 10-12 weeks.Your "we" implies the presence of someone else. Can that person do the driving and setting up camp? Take those physical loads off of yourself during recovery or at least lighten the load by sharing the work. Plan on shorter travel days than usual and work some resting time into the plan.Happy travels!

I had my first heart attack about 10 years ago. I had a lot of heart damage as I actually ruptured my heart. My cardiologist told me not very many folks recover from that. I also had a double bypass done. You are lucky to have your heart repaired before you have damage like me. That said, I took my wife, daughter and grand daughter camping about 2 months after my big event. I had (at the time) a 27' bumper pull trailer and towed by an F250 V10. I had lots of help setting up and leveling but driving there was fine. Your situation may be different given what you camp in. It was difficult but it was important to me in my recovery process to continue doing things I enjoyed. Some things are off limits but camping wasn't one of them. Talk to your cardiologist and get their opinion. Maybe stay closer to medical help the first few times. Solicit help from your camping partner(s). Now almost 10 years later I am still camping but in a new Class C. Sadly my wife passed 7 months ago so now it is just me and the dog. I had a second heart attack a year ago but I have recovered completely from that one. I am "Mostly Timing". That means I have an apartment but most of the time I am off somewhere in my RV. I have chosen to celebrate what I can still do, not to mourn what I can't. I wish the best for you and your recovery.

Never had heart surgery, but I suppose it's similar to any other type of human body mechanical repair. Only you can really answer your own question. When you feel confident that the repair was successful and you no longer feel a dependency upon your neighborhood "mechanic" in the event of power failure, then you will be free to travel again. I had total knee replacement surgery about 2 years ago. Everyone told me to "take it easy". The doctor told me to do anything I felt like I could do. My body would tell me what I could not do. And he was right.6 days after surgery we were camping again. OK, my wife drove the truck, but we went. It didn't matter where recovery took place, at a campground or at home. May I suggest you consider going camping for just a week-end within an hour of your home. If, indeed, you happen to NEED that human repair mechanic, you can easily reach him/her. If the first week-end campout is successful, next week end do it again, extend it to 3 nights instead of 2.As you gain confidence, and as you begin to feel better, you can extend the RV journeys a little longer and longer and farther and farther. Here again, if you are up-to-it, just do it. Just don't "over do it." Restart slow, restart close to home. Let your own body be your guide. But if it were me, I'd be somewhere, not sitting at home the day the stitches came out!

If haven’t already, have your cardiologist sign you up for Cardiac Rehab, covered by most if not all insurance policies. The actual number of sessions will vary by company. . They put you through a series of exercises to strengthen your heart, about 1/3 the way through the sessions you will feel great and be chomping at the bit to get out there and do what you need/want. Had quad in ‘97. Since then two of the bypasses need stents, one of them has closed. Went back into rehab in ‘17 and have continued going on my own since.

a lot will depend upon how fit you were before the surgery and what your expectations are. Husband had 5 bypasses done at 54 years old and was back to everything he was doing before surgery at 90 days after surgery. He was pretty fit to start with though.

How long to return to camping after open heart surgery

dpgllg
Explorer
Jun 30, 2019
Having multiple heart attacks 5 vessel bypass and two strokes I am still able to get out and go.

Talk to your doctor about expectations. I felt terrible when I came home but after 3 months I was doing much better. I have had to have several stents since as two of the vessels closed.

Cardiac Rehab is also a great thing. Make sure you talk to the staff and let them know how your feeling. These people deal with this day in and out. They also can help with setting goals and managing expectations.

The most lingering thing I have encountered is a loss of appetite. Not always a bad thing if you want to lose weight.

I wish you well in your recovery and hope that you are ready to hit the road again soon.

Dave
Gjac
Explorer III
Jul 11, 2019
Hi Mike I see we are neighbors. I would try some local camping like Housatonic Meadows or Austin Hawes CG in American Legion Forrest for a couple of days and see how you do. I think you have a TC from looking at your profile, it should be fairly easy enough to set up. I have only camped once this year myself do to family, Drs appointments and home repairs. So I will try to go up to the Austin Hawes CG and do some trout fishing next week myself. Good luck on your recovery.
chuckbear
Explorer
Jul 11, 2019
I think that your cardiologist is the best source for an answer to that question and not folks on an RV forum. Everyone recovers differently, has different procedures and potential complications. So you won't get your answer here. You will from your doctors, so ask them. I have had 3 heart procedures in the last 4 years, none of them bypass. My recovery was quick. But that was me. Chuck
thomasmnile
Explorer
Jul 11, 2019
chuckbear wrote:
I think that your cardiologist is the best source for an answer to that question and not folks on an RV forum. Everyone recovers differently, has different procedures and potential complications. So you won't get your answer here. You will from your doctors, so ask them. I have had 3 heart procedures in the last 4 years, none of them bypass. My recovery was quick. But that was me. Chuck

Absolutely the best answer. Additionally, OP states he underwent triple bypass, so I'm thinking he's under care of a doc that cut him open and a cardiologist. Both would weigh in I would think. In any event, I wish the OP a speedy and complete recovery. That stress test likely saved his life.
Devocamper
Explorer
Jul 12, 2019
Thanks for the reply’s they are very much appreciated, I have a will continue to go by what my doctors say but they are not campers or have rv ‘s ! In posting my question here I was just looking for comments from real people that have been through the recovery and got back to a somewhat normal life including camping and travel , I understand we are all different and heal differently. Thanks again for all who have taken the time to reply to my post and also the private messages of support.
Thank you
Mike
Edd505
Explorer
Jul 13, 2019
chuckbear wrote:
I think that your cardiologist is the best source for an answer to that question and not folks on an RV forum. Everyone recovers differently, has different procedures and potential complications. So you won't get your answer here. You will from your doctors, so ask them. I have had 3 heart procedures in the last 4 years, none of them bypass. My recovery was quick. But that was me. Chuck

This and how YOU feel, and only you know how your doing. I was back in a class 8 6 months after open heart.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 18, 2019
Moral support is absolutely post surgery therapy support. is this permanent? is a gut wrencher.

For me I found that morning doses of vitamin C help speed up healing of incisions. I don't screw-around, one gram every day. An RN helped me most. She came in with a sheath of papers and announced "You are severely anemic"

Iron pills and folic acid returned me from the near dead

When I explained to a hospital ER doctor that I hadn't taken my Rx of magnesium in several months and that caused my AFIB attack.

"Can't be! Magnesium is the most abundant element on earth (VERBATIM)"

"Gimme the ************** test"

That's been 11 years ago and THAT episode was distanced 9 years after I found a magnesium shortage was causing the weekly AFIB attacks, he walked back into the ER grasping an Rx for magnesium. "I just don't understand this (labs)"

Obey your cardiologist but do your homework about getting your body what it needs to heal itself.

I am due for neurosurgery in late August. I have lost the ability to walk.
Devocamper
Explorer
Jul 18, 2019
Mexicowanderer thanks for your thoughts it has been a slow process for me with a PE and the heart meds screwing up my thyroid but making progress slowly . I wish the best for your upcoming surgery and I hope you have full recovery.
Mike
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 19, 2019
If the only over-the-counter medicine doctors recommend is aspirin why isn't aspirin mentioned in pre-op instructions? NSAIDS like Motrin and Celebrex is highlighted while aspirin is absent.

I had been Rx'd Isosorbid for chest pain. A dangerous medication.

It tuned out that healthy iron rich blood eliminated the chest pain 100%. The blood carried significantly more oxygen to my heart. In the DOZENS of full "labs" I had gone through not one hint of anemia was aired.

The nurse said "You have a reading of 9. If it reaches 8 we do a transfusion."

Talented specialists are a world apart from ordinary MD's.

I am now taking Gingko Biloba for memory enhancement. 99% fewer senior moments. I asked the clerk why the bottle had absolutely minimal writing on it.

"Well Gingko was double blind tested against a pharmaceutical product that was to cost fourteen dollars a capsule. gingko beat the living snot out of the Medicare ripper-offer" The medical industry went after the Gingko industry and threatened them with a mountain of lawsuits. Now gingko comes in a plain jar.

I have caught doctors in too many major screw ups to blindly follow instructions They don't even try to minimize blood thinners. No tests. That to me is a major malfunction. They wanted ME on rat poison. I told them if anything I was a border hemophiliac. I scraped a small scab off my forearm. The blood dripped down onto the exam room floor.

"Hey!" the doctor yelled "What the hell are you doing?"

"Staying alive" I retorted. "Have a nice life" I walked out.
Devocamper
Explorer
Jul 19, 2019
Mexicowanderer thanks for your thoughts it has been a slow process for me with a PE and the heart meds screwing up my thyroid but making progress slowly . I wish the best for your upcoming surgery and I hope you have full recovery.
Mike