Getting back to normal life after heart surgery

Speak to the doctor or nurse about whether you can drink alcohol as it should be avoided when taking certain painkillers.

We recommend you keep well within the national recommended limits of alcohol (maximum of 14 units per week).

14 units is about the same as 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.

Legally you should not drive a car for 4 weeks following surgery. We recommend that you wait at least 6 weeks to allow time for your concentration to improve and your breastbone to heal.

Before you start driving again, you should be assessed by your GP or at your 6 week follow up appointment with the consultant in our clinic.

Avoid driving until you are free of pain and feel comfortable to carry out an emergency stop quickly and safely. Check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered to start driving again.

You only need to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you hold an HGV or PSV licence, or if you have ongoing heart problems. If you are not sure, you can check on the gov.uk website 

You can read more about driving with a heart or circulatory condition on the British Heart Foundation website 

Hobbies

In general, you can take up your hobbies as soon as possible after your surgery as this can benefit your recovery.

Activities

Speak to your doctor, or wait until your review at the cardiac rehabilitation assessment clinic, before returning to or starting any activities other than walking on the flat or upstairs, or using a stationary exercise bike at a gentle pace.

For the first 6 to 8 weeks. Do not do anything that causes you significant pain or involves heavy lifting.

For the first 12 weeks. To give your breastbone time to heal, do not do any strenuous exercise which involves twisting the body. For example:

• golf
• tennis
• squash
• road cycling
• fishing
• weight lifting

Many people with heart problems experience sexual problems and may have done so for some time before their surgery.

3 out of 5 men can have problems with an erection. This can be caused by a combination of furring up of the arteries that supply the penis, and also sometimes by emotional pressure or worry. Some women also suffer sexual problems.

Sex is no more stressful on the heart than 15 minutes of brisk walking, light housework or gardening. As soon as you can do these things without symptoms, you can feel confident to resume sexual activity.

It is normal to feel anxious about general tiredness and your wound, so it is important to find a comfortable position that protects your wound.

If you are worried you can contact your cardiac rehabilitation nurse or your GP. Or you can contact:

Cardiac Specialist Nurse for Sexual Dysfunction. Phone: 020 7188 0727

Sexual Dysfunction Association. Phone: 0870 7743571

You may start to get out and about as long as you feel up to it. If you are travelling by car, bus or train, make sure you allow plenty of time so that you are not rushing. We recommend that you travel with a companion.

Avoid travelling by air until you have been seen in our follow up clinic and we are sure that you are well enough to fly.  

We recommend that you do not to take a long-haul flight for 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery. This is because there is a higher risk of developing a DVT (deep vein thrombosis, also known as a blood clot).

If you decide to take a holiday in the first few months after your surgery, choose a destination where there are good medical provisions in case you need medical help.

Remember to pace yourself.

We recommend that you take 8 to 12 weeks off work. You might need to take longer time off if your work involves heavy lifting, manual labour, prolonged standing, or driving. You can talk to your doctor about this.

If possible, have a gradual return to work with lighter duties or reduced hours.

As you will be off work for more than 7 days, you can ask a hospital doctor for a fit note to give to your employer.

Read more about a fit note.