How long tired after surgery


why can you feel groggy days after an operation?

Thursday, May 18, 2017, 01:58 AM | Source: The Conversation

Kate Leslie, Megan Allen

Feeling tired or being unable to concentrate is common even days after surgery. But there are simple ways to help speed up your recovery. Jason Jones/Flickr, CC BY

You have a small operation under general anaesthesia and go home the same day. Two days later you’re back at work, but you can’t concentrate and have a desperate desire to take a nap. Why does this happen and how can you prevent it?

General anaesthesia is a reversible drug-induced coma, during which you are unconscious, don’t feel pain and don’t remember anything. This is precisely what you want when you’re having an invasive or painful procedure.

However, some people suffer lingering effects in the days after anaesthesia. These include drowsiness, slowed reaction times, and difficulty concentrating, remembering new information and finishing complex tasks.

Thankfully, these unwanted effects usually wear off by the next day, but sometimes they last for a few more days or even weeks. Then they can really disrupt your ability to work or get anything done at home.

It’s easy to blame the anaesthetics

The effects of general anaesthesia may appear to linger for days after surgery for many reasons. Tiredness after a procedure is commonly attributed to anaesthetics. But modern anaesthetics wear off completely in a couple of hours, so the real picture is usually more complicated.

The surgical condition for which you had the procedure may have stopped you leading a full and active life for some time, resulting in lack of fitness and less reserve for recovery.

The surgery itself causes tissue injury. After surgery, your body undergoes repair and recovery, which drives a higher baseline metabolic rate and draws on your nutrient stores. So it isn’t surprising such intense activity at a cellular level results in feeling tired after surgery.

If you ignored your doctor’s advice to take it easy before or after surgery, that could also explain why you’re feeling tired.

Then there’s pain treatment before and after the procedure, which can also contribute to grogginess.

Strong painkillers you take before or after surgery, like oxycodone, can also make you feel drowsy. But side effects cease once you stop taking them. from www.shutterstock.com

For instance, opioids (such as oxycodone) and gabapentinoids (such as pregabalin) are strong pain medicines often prescribed after surgery. They are important in ensuring a comfortable recovery and rapid return to normal life, but may result in grogginess and confusion, especially in higher doses.

Opioids are usually needed for only a few days after surgery and these side effects stop when you stop taking them.

Finally, general anaesthetics interfere with your body clock. This could be because anaesthetics interfere with brain hormones, such as melatonin, and messenger chemicals called neurotransmitters.

While melatonin tablets can treat jet lag, which is also a disruption of the body clock, there is no good evidence to use melatonin for anaesthesia-induced body-clock disruption in humans.

Can you prevent grogginess?

An operation is a major life event. Make sure you get adequate rest and have enough support at work and home before your surgery.

A bit of anxiety is normal before surgery and can also be exhausting. You can reduce your anxiety by asking for clear explanations of what to expect, and by maintaining a warm, comfortable and calm waiting environment.

If you are very anxious, your anaesthetist can give you a sedative “pre-med” before you go to theatre. But the use of sedatives is a balancing act, as the calming effect before the procedure is desirable but not the “hangover” drowsiness afterwards, which may last for several hours.

Your anaesthetist is the medically trained specialist who can not only give you a “pre-med” but will look after you during your operation and plan your recovery. He or she will develop an individualised anaesthetic plan based on short-acting anaesthetics and a combination of pain-killings drugs.

Your anaesthetist will also advise you how to best control your pain after surgery and when you return home. This will often involve using simple pain medicines, such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as opioids, which you will need to treat strong pain. Using simple pain medicines will help to reduce the doses of opioids that you need, and help you to avoid the nausea, constipation and grogginess that goes with them.

Get back into good sleep habits

After a procedure, you can combat the disruption to your body clock by practising good “sleep hygiene”. This involves maximising cues to the body that it is time to sleep in the evening. These could include avoiding stimulants like caffeine and alcohol, going to bed at a similar time each night, being in a dimly lit room and engaging in calming or restful activities before sleep, like reading.

Making sure you are exposed to bright sunshine during the day and avoiding back-lit screens on technology devices in the evening can also help.

Lingering grogginess after general anaesthesia is hardly ever sinister. But if it is persistent, getting worse rather than better, or is associated with confusion, weakness or numbness, then you must see your doctor.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Megan Allen Critical Care

Kate Leslie Critical Care

Postoperative fatigue - PubMed

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Review

. 1993 Mar-Apr;17(2):220-5.

doi: 10.1007/BF01658930.

T Christensen  1 , H Kehlet

Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • PMID: 8511917
  • DOI: 10.1007/BF01658930

Review

T Christensen et al. World J Surg. 1993 Mar-Apr.

. 1993 Mar-Apr;17(2):220-5.

doi: 10. 1007/BF01658930.

Authors

T Christensen  1 , H Kehlet

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • PMID: 8511917
  • DOI: 10.1007/BF01658930

Abstract

Uncomplicated major surgery is followed by a pronounced increased feeling of fatigue extending throughout the first month in about one-third of patients. Postoperative fatigue correlates with the degree of surgical trauma but is not related to duration of general anesthesia and surgery or to preoperative nutritional status, age, or sex. Fatigue also correlates with postoperative deterioration in nutritional parameters and impaired adaptability of heart rate during exercise. Furthermore, a postoperative decrease in muscle force and endurance is related to postoperative fatigue, whereas psychological factors are of minor importance. These findings suggest postoperative fatigue to be mediated by the endocrine-metabolic response to surgery, impaired nutritional intake, or immobilization, but the relative role of these factors remains to be established. Until then, therapeutic measures against the development of postoperative fatigue should aim at reducing the surgical stress response, effective treatment of pain to facilitate mobilization, and exercise to increase postoperative nutritional intake.

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References

    1. Ugeskr Laeger. 1978 Jun 19;140(25):1469-73 - PubMed
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from 2 to 6 months. In the process of recovery, there may be periods of improvement and deterioration, which are expected and should not alarm the patient. For those whose operation was performed using minimally invasive technologies, this period is much shorter.

Here are typical instructions:

- pain relief
- return to physical activity
- sports and housework
- diet, sleep, emotional background
- follow-up after surgery

Take care of the suture

Before you are discharged, you will be told how to take care of the suture. In most cases, the patient is discharged after the sutures and/or staples are removed. In some cases, the removal of sutures is not required - the sutures dissolve on their own after 2 months. There may be sensations of loss of sensitivity, itching and pain at the surgical site that pass over time.

The following is very important

  • Keep the seam area clean and dry.
  • Use only soap and water to wash this area.
  • Do not use ointments, oils, rubbing or compresses unless you are specifically told to do so.
  • Eat healthy food to speed up recovery.

How to shower

If your stitch is healing and dry, you can take a "quick" shower (no longer than 10 minutes). If you have unremoved stitches on your chest, stand with your back to the shower.

If you don't have a shower, you can take a sitz bath without submerging the seam. And do not get wet in the bathroom, but wash yourself.

The water must be warm - not hot or cold. Too hot or too cold water can lead to fainting.

How to wash the seam area

  • Use regular soap, not perfume soap or gel. Don't use a new brand of soap during your recovery - use a proven one.
  • Wet your hand or washcloth with soapy water and gently wash the seam area up and down. Do not scrub the incision area with a washcloth until all scabs have come off and the incision has completely healed.

Call a doctor if there are signs of infection

  • Increased discharge from the wound
  • The edges of the wound parted
  • There is redness and swelling in the suture area.
  • Increased body temperature (above 38 degrees Celsius)
  • If you have diabetes and your sugar levels are much higher than normal.

Pain Relief

At first you will experience discomfort in the chest muscles, in the suture area and in the chest as a whole with active movement. Itching, feeling of stiffness in the area of ​​the seam, or impaired sensitivity are normal phenomena after surgery. You should not have chest pain similar to what you experienced before the operation. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories will be recommended to you before discharge.

If you had CABG, in addition to pain in your chest, you will have pain in your leg (where the vein for the bypass was taken from). Daily walks, moderate activity and time will help you cope with the discomfort in your foot.

Be sure to see your doctor if you experience any movement in your sternum or a clicking sound in your sternum when you move.

Swelling

You will return home with some swelling in your legs and feet, especially if you had a vein taken for bypasses. If you noted puffiness:

  • Try to keep your leg(s) elevated while resting. The easiest way to do this is to lie down on a sofa or bed and rest your feet on some pillows. Or lie down on the floor and put your feet on the couch. Do this three times a day for an hour and swelling will noticeably decrease. (Important: just lying on your back, you do not raise your legs enough).
  • Do not cross your legs when sitting
  • Walk daily, even if your feet are swollen
  • Use compression stockings or elastic bandages
  • It is necessary to bandage the operated leg within 6 weeks from the date of surgery
  • The leg should be bandaged up to the knee. It is not necessary to bandage above the knee, even if the postoperative suture continues above it.
  • Bandages should be removed at night. This time can be used to wash them for reuse.

Seek medical attention if your legs become swollen and painful, especially if accompanied by shortness of breath on movement.

Medications

You will need medication after your surgery. Your doctor will tell you how long you will need to take the drugs - either for the first time or for life. Make sure you understand the names of the drugs, what they are for, and how often you should take them. Take only those drugs that have been prescribed to you. Discuss with your doctor the need for any medications you were taking before surgery. Do NOT take new medications (food supplements, pain relievers, cold medications) or increase the dosages of old ones without consulting your doctor.

Driving

Your doctor will tell you when you can return to driving. This is possible after your sternum begins to grow together and reflexes are fully restored. This usually takes up to 9 weeks after surgery. Until then, you can be a passenger for as long as you want. If you decide to take a long trip in the first nine weeks after surgery, stop every hour and walk for 5-10 minutes.

Back to work

You need time to recover. It usually takes 6-9 weeks. Your doctor will tell you when you can return to work. If it is possible to apply a flexible work schedule, then it will be easier for you to return to a normal work rhythm. If possible, increase the load gradually.

Activity

For the first 6-9 weeks:

  • Gradually increase the load. You can do light housework, but don't stand in one place for more than 15 minutes.
  • It is important to observe the symmetry of the loads on the shoulder girdle - for example, always lean with both hands when getting up from the chair, thereby eliminating distorting loads on the sternum.
  • Do not lift objects heavier than 5 kg (if necessary, this figure can be changed by your doctor). Also, do not pull or push heavy objects.
  • You can easily perform exercises with your arms above shoulder level - reach for something, comb your hair. But don't keep your hands up for long periods of time.
  • Some items may be removed or added, but only by your doctor. Don't forget to rest when you get a little tired. Do not walk up and down the stairs several times a day, even if it seems easy to you, and especially on your first visit home. It is much better to plan your day so that you go down the stairs in the morning and go up in the evening.
  • Do not overexert yourself - distribute the load evenly throughout the day. If you are tired, take a rest and transfer the unfulfilled exercises to another time.
  • Walk daily. Your doctor or rehabilitation instructor will explain to you in detail how and how much to walk correctly when you return home.
  • Try to get enough sleep. If you feel tired, go to bed earlier. Do not take naps during the day, otherwise you will find it difficult to fall asleep.

Sex

Many patients and their partners worry about continuing their sex life after heart surgery. The amount of energy required to have sexual intercourse with your partner is equal to the amount of energy expended on climbing one or two flights of stairs or walking about 1 km at a fast pace. If you can not afford such a load without the appearance of fatigue and shortness of breath, please do not rush to return to your previous sexual life, wait for recovery. For the first 6-9weeks, choose positions with the least load on the sternum, arms and chest.

  • Remember that sexual relations have two sides - physical and emotional
  • Talk openly with your partner
  • Gradually pick up the pace in sexual relations
  • Have sex only when you feel rested and physically comfortable
  • Set realistic goals - You will need time to return to an active sex life
  • Maintain honesty and love in relationships

And soon you and your partner will return to mutually satisfying emotional and physical relationships. Anxiety on the part of one of the partners can serve as an obstacle to sexual satisfaction. Discuss any problems you have with your doctor.

Sports

Any sports activity, with the exception of walking, can only be allowed after consultation with a cardiologist or family doctor. You should increase physical activity gradually, moving from easy exercises to more complex ones.

Walking is recommended in the morning and evening, in good weather, preferably on level ground, without significant inclines.

Lifting weights

Lifting weights over 5 kg should be avoided. Within 3-4 months after the operation (this is necessary for the complete healing of the sternum).

Housework

In the first stage, you will only be able to do light housework, such as vacuuming and helping with cooking. Gradually it will be possible to increase the amount of homework. Work that requires physical effort should be avoided.

Stairs and slopes

Climbing stairs requires more effort than walking on level ground. You should go up and down the stairs with stops for rest. Climbing an incline requires the most effort. You should climb gradually with stops for rest.

Receiving guests

During the initial period of your stay at home, it is advisable to ask relatives and friends to reduce visits, which are very tiring.

It is desirable to reduce visits to young children who may be carriers of various viral infections.

Posture

After surgery, there may be changes in posture: the shoulders are tilted forward, the back is hunched due to weakness and pain.

You should constantly try to straighten your back and straighten your shoulders.

Traveling abroad

Before planning a flight or trip abroad, it is worth consulting with your doctor.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

For many people with coronary artery disease, a cardiac rehabilitation program provides an excellent opportunity to learn a set of essential exercises, learn more about heart disease, and make lifestyle changes to prevent further progression of the disease.

Your family doctor can give you information about similar programs in your area of ​​residence (the system of cardiological sanatoriums is administered by the Social Insurance Fund).

Diet

You should eat healthy food and it will help you recover faster. Your doctor will tell you if you need a special diet. It is normal if your appetite is reduced after surgery. This is another reason to eat more often, but in smaller portions. Your appetite will return in a few weeks. If this does not happen, consult a doctor.

Sleep

It is very important to get enough rest to avoid overwork. Unfortunately, sleep is disturbed for many patients after surgery. Normal sleep patterns will return in a few weeks. Contact your doctor if lack of sleep affects your behavior or normal sleep patterns are not restored in any way.

Emotions

It's okay if you feel upset or depressed after being discharged. These emotions may be due to the fact that you do not know what to expect or what might happen, or as a result of fatigue from a small load. Temporary mood swings are normal and will gradually go away as you get back into your normal life and work.

However, sometimes a depressed mood can slow you down in returning to a normal life. If the depressed mood only intensifies and is accompanied by other symptoms that accompany you every day for more than a week, you need treatment from a specialist.

To find emotional balance:

  • Dress every day
  • Walk daily
  • Get back to your hobbies
  • Share your feelings and experiences with others
  • Visit, first limit visits to 15 minutes. Then extend them depending on how you feel
  • Get enough sleep at night

Join a cardiac rehabilitation group, go to a sanatorium.

More serious reasons for a specific treatment

  • You have suicidal thoughts. Suicide is not a solution to the problem, but only hurts your relatives and friends. If you have suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor or 24/7 emergency services or go to the nearest hospital.
  • Your negative thoughts have been present for quite some time.
  • You don't have anyone you can trust. If you do not have anyone with whom you can share your thoughts and experiences, it is difficult to appreciate the reality of your fears.

Without treatment, depression will only get worse. For "cores" depression can result in the development of a heart attack. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist to determine the treatment you need.

Mental health and heart surgery

Many patients become upset because they experience a deterioration in memory and sometimes a decrease in intelligence after the operation. These cognitive changes are normal after heart surgery. The entire body, including the brain, is under severe stress during surgery, especially if the operation requires cardiac arrest and the use of a heart-lung machine. Over time, as a rule, normal cognitive function is restored. The patient should avoid getting upset about this side effect of the surgery. You should not force yourself to solve more and more difficult tasks for the brain, and avoid (at first) mental overstrain.

Follow-up after surgery

All information about the examinations performed with us, the operation and the post-operative course is sent to your cardiologist/therapist at the place of residence. You should contact him as soon as you get home. You should visit your cardiologist/physician periodically, even if you are not worried, in order for the specialist to monitor the progress of your recovery and, if necessary, make adjustments to the therapy you receive. And finally, it is he who will determine for you the time when you can get to work and return to driving. Your doctor will tell you how often you should visit him. It is also important to have regular follow-up at our Center (on the basis of the advisory department). As a rule, this happens once a year. Don't forget to make an appointment with your doctor beforehand.

Follow your doctor's instructions for risk factors for the progression of your disease: watch your cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and smoking. Your doctor may periodically review the development of your disease, the rate of recovery. To do this, try, if necessary (if you were called by a doctor), to appear at the clinic for an examination.

If you have had heart valve surgery, you need to prevent any kind of infection in order to prevent infective endocarditis. This includes taking antibiotics before you have any invasive procedure, dental procedure or surgery. Your doctor will explain to you in more detail how to reduce the risk of complications.

Conclusion

  • Each patient returns to normal activity at their own pace. You should not compare yourself with other patients who have undergone heart surgery and compete with them.
  • If you have any problems related to your surgery, do not hesitate to contact your doctor or cardiologist.
  • In a moment of fatigue, leave your guests and lie down to rest. Cut down on visiting friends.
  • Try to rest at noon.
  • For some time, pain in the area of ​​postoperative sutures will prevent you from sleeping. Listen to the radio or music to distract yourself, or get up and walk around a bit and then try to get back to sleep. Use sleeping pills only as a last resort.
  • The recovery period is characterized by frequent mood swings, which disappears over time.
  • Walking on level ground is recommended. Choose your walking route. Walking should be fun. You should not walk to the point of exhaustion. Try to rest along the way.
  • It is recommended to wear cotton or knitted clothing that does not irritate the postoperative scar.
  • It is important to tell every doctor you see that you have had open heart surgery.

Recovery after open heart surgery

Despite the possibilities of modern medicine, open heart surgery remains the most difficult. Operations such as vascular bypass or replacement of heart valves require a very responsible approach not only from the doctor during the operation, but also from the patient himself during the recovery period.

Stages of recovery after surgery

First stage. The first stage of recovery begins in the hospital, immediately after surgery. Everyone understands that there can be no talk of any loads, therefore the most important exercises that can and should be done are breathing exercises to normalize respiratory function and prevent stagnation in the lungs. These can be both exercises performed by the patient independently (breathing exercises, balloon inflation), and exercises performed with medical personnel (sternum vibration massage). Two or three days after the operation, you also need to start rolling over in bed from back to side. After a while, get up on your own. By the end of the first stage before being discharged home, the patient can already move independently, go up and down stairs, and take short walks.

Second phase. The second stage of recovery after open heart surgery begins immediately after leaving the hospital and lasts two to two and a half months. At this stage of recovery, a person must follow all the doctor's instructions regarding the rule of caring for the suture, nutrition, medication, work and rest regimen, and perform physiotherapy exercises.

Suture care after heart surgery

Before you are discharged, the doctor should tell you in detail how to care for the postoperative suture. Most patients are discharged after the stitches or staples are removed. Sometimes the stitches do not need to be removed, they dissolve themselves after a certain time. It is very important to carefully care for the seam during the recovery period:

  • The seam area must be dry and clean;
  • Wash the seam only with soap and water, never rub;
  • Do not lubricate the suture site with anything unless recommended by a doctor;
  • Eat right, focusing on protein foods.

How to take water treatments after surgery

  • If the postoperative suture heals, dry and painless, you can take a warm shower for 10 minutes;
  • If the postoperative stitch looks painful, shower with your back to it;
  • You can take a bath while sitting, while making sure that the water level does not reach the seam line;
  • Water for water procedures should be warm, no contrast! Excessively hot or cold water can cause fainting;
  • Wash the seam with ordinary soap, not shower gel. You can not rub the seam with a washcloth until the fabric is completely healed and the crusts disappear.

At the first signs of infection at the suture site (discharge, redness and swelling, body temperature above 38⁰C, high sugar in diabetics), consult a doctor immediately.

How to relieve pain after open heart surgery

In the first time after surgery, pain in the chest, muscles, itching and loss of sensation in the suture area are possible. This is fine. Listen to yourself, the main thing is that there are no pains that you felt before the operation. At discharge, the doctor recommends pain medications to be taken.

If you have had coronary artery bypass surgery, you may be experiencing pain in your leg (where the vein was taken from). This natural pain will go away with time. Taking regular walks, a little physical activity and time will help overcome the discomfort.

If the pain intensifies, there is any movement or clicking in the chest area, immediately contact the hospital.

How to get rid of puffiness during the recovery period

In the postoperative period, patients experience swelling of the extremities, especially often this happens after coronary bypass surgery. How to alleviate the situation and get rid of swelling of the legs?

  • It is necessary to take a horizontal position, placing the legs above the level of the body, thus creating an outflow of fluid. Use a sofa cushion for this, or lie on the floor and put your feet on the sofa. Do this three times a day for an hour. Just in the supine position, the swelling will not go away. Also, while you sleep, put a pillow under your feet;
  • Daily walks are also useful for swelling of the legs;
  • Do not cross your legs when sitting;
  • Use compression stockings or bandages;
  • Bandage swollen legs up to the knees, no higher;
  • In case of coronary artery bypass surgery, the operated leg must be bandaged for 6 weeks after surgery;
  • Bandages should be removed at night.

If swelling increases and pain begins, shortness of breath appears, contact your doctor.

Taking medication during the recovery period

When you leave the hospital after your open heart surgery, your doctor will prescribe medications to take during your recovery or for life. Make sure you understand the name of the medicines, the dosage and the mode of taking them correctly. In no case do not change the dosage and regimen at your own discretion. Any additional medicines: against colds, painkillers, dietary supplements, herbal preparations should be taken only after consulting with your doctor. Ask your doctor how to take the medicines that you took before the operation.

Physical activity during recovery after heart surgery

In the first two months after open heart surgery, the following recommendations should be observed:

  • The load must be increased gradually. You can do light housework: dusting, washing dishes, cooking while sitting. Do not stand in one place for more than 15 minutes;
  • Do not lift anything over 5 kg (this load can be adjusted by your doctor). Do not push or pull anything heavy;
  • Pay attention to the symmetry of the loads on the shoulder girdle. For example, getting up from the couch, lean on both hands at once to avoid stress on the sternum;
  • Try once again to avoid climbing stairs. If this cannot be avoided, stop to rest as often as possible, listen to your body;
  • Take regular walks. First, start walking the same distances that were before the discharge of 200-300 meters. Stop for a rest. By the second week of being at home, increase the distance to 700 meters, in the third to 900 meters. By the end of the fourth week of staying at home, you can walk a distance of one kilometer, naturally with rest stops. It is better to walk before eating;
  • Try to get enough sleep. If you feel tired, lie down and rest. Afternoon nap is very important. In many patients, the sleep pattern in the postoperative period is disturbed, with time everything will return to normal. No need to worry and drink any medicine. If lack of sleep is bothering you, seek the advice of your doctor.

Travel and driving during recovery

It is not recommended to drive a car earlier than 9 weeks after open heart surgery. It is necessary to wait for the healing of the chest and the full recovery of reflexes. If you still need to drive, make stops every hour for 10-15 minutes, during which be sure to stretch your legs with a walk.

If you have to fly during the recovery regimen, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Diet during the recovery period after heart surgery

Usually, after open heart surgery, the patient suffers from lack of appetite. Therefore, when you are discharged, you will most likely not be prescribed any food restrictions. After one to two months, switch to a diet that is low in salt, sugar, and animal fats. Include in your diet foods high in fiber, vegetable oils, and iron-containing foods: buckwheat, red meat, liver, rose hips, pomegranate juice, etc. Eat more often, in small portions. Eat healthy food - this is your path to full recovery.

Emotional health during recovery

Often, after discharge, a person feels emotionally devastated. This is a common reaction. A person is subconsciously afraid of the unknown from how the healing will take place, whether a relapse will occur. Constantly experiencing physical fatigue and getting upset from this. Many people have memory impairment after surgery, which is just as scary.

The decline of emotions is a temporary state. As you recover and return to your old life, everything will return to normal. To restore emotional balance:

  • Set a daily routine, get up on time, get dressed, don't be lazy and don't lie in bed for half a day;
  • Go for walks;
  • Share your fears and experiences with your family;
  • Visit, but not for long, starting from 15 minutes;
  • Invite guests, but limit visiting times and small children;
  • Find a hobby: play chess, do crossword puzzles, draw, embroider;
  • Good sleep and delicious food will also lift your spirits;
  • Go to the sanatorium
  • If depression worsens, see a specialist.

Each person is individual and goes through the recovery period after heart surgery in his own way.


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