After Heart Valve Surgery: At Home

Your healthcare provider performed surgery to repair or replace one or more of your heart valves. These valves make sure that blood flows through your heart the right way. You had heart valve surgery to improve the flow of blood through your heart. It should also decrease or stop the symptoms you have been having. Your healthcare providers will go over how to care for yourself at home.  Here are some things to keep in mind: 

Home care

• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Do not skip doses.
• Avoid using very hot water while showering. It can affect your circulation and make you dizzy.
• Clean your incision every day with soap and water. Gently pat dry the area of the incision. Do not use any powders, lotions, antibiotic creams, or oils on your incision until it is well healed. Healing takes several weeks.
• Weigh yourself every day, at the same time of day, and in the same kind of clothes.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you feel depressed, have trouble sleeping, or have a persistent decrease in appetite. These are common problems after surgery, but they can slow your recovery. It is important to seek help.
• Your healthcare provider may tell you to take antibiotics before having any dental work. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about any special instructions for dental cleanings or procedures.

Activity

• Discuss with your healthcare provider what you can and cannot do as you recover. You will have good and bad days. This is normal.
• Do not drive until cleared by your surgeon. Let others drive you wherever you need to go for at least the first 3 to 6 weeks after your surgery or until your providers tells you otherwise. When travelling as a passenger, sit in the back seat (in case of air bag deployment) and wear your safety belt.   Ask someone to stand nearby while you shower or do other activities, just in case you need help.
• Do not lift anything heavier than 5 pounds. Your healthcare provider may give you a specific weight restriction. 
• Until approved by your healthcare provider, avoid mowing the lawn, vacuuming, or other activities that could strain your breastbone.
• Ask your healthcare provider when you can expect to return to work.

Lifestyle changes

• A walking program will be started in the hospital with a physical therapist before you go home.  You should continue this program at home and gradually increase the walking as much as you can tolerate:
• • Begin with short walks 4 times a day and go a little longer each day.
  • Choose a safe place with a level surface, such as a local park or mall.
  • Wear supportive shoes to prevent injury to your knees and ankles.
  • If possible, walk with someone. It is more fun and helps you stay with it.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Get help to lose any extra pounds.
• Cut back on salt.
• • Limit canned, dried, packaged, and fast foods.
  • Do not add salt to your food at the table.
  • Season foods with herbs instead of salt when you cook.
• Break the smoking habit. If you smoke, enroll in a stop-smoking program to improve your chances of success.

Follow-up

After your surgery, follow-up appointments will be made for you before you leave the hospital. You will have appointments with all members of your healthcare team including your surgeon and cardiologist (heart doctor). It is very important to keep these appointments as scheduled to ensure a healthy recovery. You may need to take medicines to thin your blood after having your heart valve replaced. You may also need blood tests to check how these medicines are working. Make sure you understand the instructions for these.

You may need to take antibiotics before having any dental work or medical procedures. This is common for people who had heart valve surgery. Ask your healthcare provider for instructions before dental cleanings or medical procedures.

© The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. This information has been modified by your health care provider with permission from the publisher.