Members who have had by-pass surgery.

Every body is different. Your body may not react the same way as other people's bodies.

My mother in law went through triple bypass plus they fixed a heart valve. She was never right afterward, her memory was off. After about a year she started sliding into dementia, and soon she couldn't find her way to the store or back home. Less than 2 years after the surgery she dropped dead on the living room floor from another heart attack.

Other people get more mileage out of the surgery. YMMV.

I've never had heart surgery. My dad did, twice, in his 60's. He was back to 'normal' very quickly. I don't remember the time frame but, we were impressed with the quick recovery.
He did everything he did before having heart problems.

I did have a total knee replacement. I was running my snowblower 4 weeks after the surgery.
Some people who had replacemens around the same time as me were still going to rehab 3-6 months after surgery.

rexlion is correct, everyone is different and will recover at a different rate.
I found that if you in to the surgery with a positive attitude you will be much better off.
And listen to your doctors, they probably know what they're doing. :)

Good luck, let us know when you're back.

It's really going to depend on your age and your current physical condition and your willingness to do any rehab. I was 26 years old when I had mine, was in decent shape, but things were not as good in 1980. It was a good 8 weeks for me. Drugs and procedures have come a long way and my neighbor was walking the next day(I was in ICU for 3 days) and he was back to almost normal in 4-5 weeks.
Good luck. Please keep us posted on your recovery.
I just had a knee replacement and I was NOT ready to run a snowblower at 4 weeks;)

What does your surgeon say about a time frame?

I have never had heart surgery but I have had 4 clients go through that and according to them after about 6 weeks returned to normal activities with some limits. They were all doing well when last I spoke with them. As others say everyone is different. It has to be a scary process to go through but you need to have faith in your doctor. He/she will be in the best position to guide you on your limitations. I wish a similar result for you. Please keep us posted.

Lenny

IDman wrote:
What does your surgeon say about a time frame?

He said 6 weeks before I can drive. This surgeon is new to me but its all he does at one of the best cardiac hospitals in Ga. He is in the same group as my cardiologist.

I became a member of the "zipper club" and had quadruple bypass in 2009. Doctor required 6 weeks of confinement at home. First week or so you did everything you could to not cough. A stuffed pillow was given to me to hold to my chest when I did cough, it helped. After 2 weeks I progressively got better and able to do more. I felt 99% back to normal by the end of the 6 weeks. The follow up to the at home time was 6 weeks rehab. Luckily for me since I had not had an attack previously I finished rehab early. Some of the other members of my rehab group had attacks before the surgery and took a little longer to bounce back. Everyone is different. Only continuing issue is prescription for plavix daily as a preventative. I did have a stent in 2017 in another artery. It was a piece of cake compared to the bypass.

Good Luck and prayers are with you.

Two weeks from tomorrow will be 5 years since my quadruple bypass. The widowmaker was 99% blocked. I was 60 years old, and active,but this came out of the blue. There was no heart attack,though I'm now branded with Heart Disease.
I was off work for 6 weeks and, really, I'd say it took a whole year to gradually get back to normal.
JK
PS... I was told about needing the bypass a couple hours before it happened...didn't have time to think about it!

JKJavelin wrote:

PS... I was told about needing the bypass a couple hours before it happened...didn't have time to think about it!

I heard that!! I had a stress test 4 months before the operation and passed with flying colors. After a trip to the Davis mountains, I called my cardiologist to report shortness of breath while walking. He scheduled an angiogram the next day(bad sign). Just before the procedure he said this will be quick; if we don't find anything you go home in about 2 hours. If we find anything, we will put in a stent and you go home in 5 hours. When I woke up, a doctor was standing next to me looking at a video on the monitor. He looked at me and said "Hello, I am your surgeon and we will be going to the operating room shortly. 100%, 95%, 85% 70% and two of those were in the "widow-maker" My doctor and surgeon were the best and I thank them for being proactive about the issue.
During my stay at home a very good friend of mine was visiting and when I told him this he sorta laughed and said "you know as an EMT, I have picked up patients that had heart attacks the day after passing a stress test. You were lucky." I agreed

I had quadruple bypass surgery last November 1. I spent a week in the hospital and then was restricted for another five weeks to light activity, but could walk as much as my physical ability would let me. With my six-week checkup, I was released to do whatever I wanted. The doctor's words" if it hurts, stop doing it, but otherwise do whatever you want. Chest exercises are limited for a couple more months. I now do whatever I want at nine months. It returned my ability to be active and enjoy my life!