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Sometimes, when open heart surgery occurs, there is no warning. That means there is no time to prepare your life, family, or home for the event, and there is no time to prepare your travel bag for your hospital stay. When open heart surgery became a reality for me, I didn’t have time for preparations. Looking back, I know other things I would have liked to have had with me for the hospital stay.
The duration of the hospital stay will vary with each patient and the care facility but expect about a week. Time will be split between the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a regular hospital room. There is a constant monitoring of vitals and IVs A shower doesn’t usually occur until at least halfway or close to the end of the hospital stay.
This list is of items that are helpful in the hospital after open heart surgery. There are a few items that would have been nice to prepare for at home as well. These are things I found helpful. I have links to the items or similar items I had after my surgery. Hopefully, this list will be helpful for you.
Before the Hospital:
If you have time to plan your hospital stay, I recommend taking some action for a few things. Pay your bills ahead of time. Clean your house, put things away, and take care of some errands that need attention. Make a list of the daily chores. Create family and pet schedules, including routine details. Stock up on pet food. Make a grocery run for healthy snacks and freezer food for your household. Create healthy freezer meals. Equally important, rimming your toenails because you won’t be bending for a while, and your feet may be swollen and uncomfortable.
Once you have organized your house, I recommend preparing for your return home. Most of these things are common items that you may have, but some are not so common. I linked items I used following my open heart surgery, or would have liked to have used. In no particular order, here is my list.
Hospital Stay:
Tote bag: Storing essentials and keeping up with everything. It also helps keep things within reach on the bed or chair.
Face and Body Care: Body cleansing towels, face cleanser, moisturizer, nail file, hand lotion, hand sanitizer.
Hair Care: Brush, Dry shampoo, shampoo and conditioner. Hairclips or bands, or even soft beanie hats.
Mouth Care: Electric toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
Cell phone and an extra long phone charger cord.
Trip Home:
Soft jogging suit with front zipper for women or men; or front button-up pajamas for women or men.
Comfortable slip-on shoes for women or men.
Sunglasses.
Water.
Small Pillow. Importantly, there is the need to embrace a pillow to protect the chest in the beginning. Likewise, for adding comfort to the ride home.
At Home Recovery:
Mechanical Lift Chair. There are many different types of recliners, but the electric lift chairs can help you to a standing position and help you lay back for sleep. A mechanical chair allows you comfort with less effort. I didn’t want one, but my husband insisted. I am thankful he did.
Chair Cushion. After being in bed or sitting for about a week, extra cushioning to sit on will be appreciated.
Shower Chair with arm sides or this one without side arms. I used the one without arms because I wasn’t allowed to pull myself up, I didn’t want the temptation.
Raised Toilet Seat Attachment. Having a closer seat makes it easier to sit and promotes stability with less bending.
Hand Grabber/Reacher Stick. This one is a two-pack with a long and short version. Because you can’t bend, it will be so helpful for the first few weeks.
Horseshoe-Shaped Soft Neck Pillow. Using one of these keep your neck in place and comfortable trying to sleep on your back in a chair or propped up on pillows.
Easy Clothes. Button-up shirts, soft jogging suit with front zipper for women or men; or front button-up pajamas for women or men. Again, the goal is comfort, and having clothes easy to put on and take off without lifting your arms over your head.
Loose Nonslip Socks. Soft stretchy socks that don’t leave marks, especially with swelling of the feet. Having nonslip socks will promote safety.
Squishy Pillow. Pillows can elevate swelled feet and arms. Soft pillows under your arms in the recliner are comfortable.
Propping Pillow. Additionally, a sitting pillow with arms is a great alternative to a regular pillow.
Sock Assistant. As you start doing daily activities on your own a sock assistant gadget will allow you to put on your socks without bending over. It was easy to use and nice to have a bit of independence.
Long Shoehorn. The length keeps you from bending over.
Wedge Pillow Set. This was a great help for me transitioning from my recliner to the bed. In the beginning, I wasn’t able to lay flat without pain. Gradually transitioning was better. Healing is a marathon, not a sprint.
Notebook for medicine tracking and medical staff contacts. Or a 3-ring book for adding forms like this one. Perfect for holding my free Health Trackers.
Medicine Reminder Alarm System. Despite someone helping you with medications, having an alarm for medication time is extremely helpful. It ensures you don’t forget any doses and keeps them on track. Cell phones work too.
Pill Splitter. There will most likely be a medication that needs splitting. Having a pill splitter is the best way to do it efficiently.
Medicine Organizer Box with day and night sections. These make it easy to see what you have taken, keep track of quantities, and make it easier for someone to give them to you.
Oximeter with heart rate. Monitoring oxygen and heartrate provides vital information about the recovery process.
Blood Pressure monitor. Monitoring blood pressure at home after open-heart surgery helps track recovery progress, detect potential complications early, and show stability between doctor visits. It also provides valuable information to adjust medications and lifestyle as needed.
Skintensive Bruise Cream. Though it is for bruising, I found it greatly effective for dry hands too.
Hand Lotion, Lip Balm. Anything comforting.
Please Be Sure to Ask the Doctor First:
Sugar-free Cough Drops. After surgery, some people tend to have a cough due to irritation from the breathing tubes.
Extra Fiber. Surgery in general disrupts all bodily systems, and a change in food and physical activity effects the digestive system.
Low-sugar Protein Shakes. My doctor added protein shakes after I was having some mild hair loss and lack of energy. Furthermore, it provides a bit of nutrition when there’s no appetite.
While Attending Cardio Physical Therapy:
Adjustable Leg Weights and Adjustable Hand Weights. Once you are in physical therapy, you will be told that whatever you are cleared to do in physical therapy, you can do it at home. So adjustable leg weights will allow you to keep up with your weight increases during physical therapy.
Heating Pad. Because sometimes after therapy it helps shoulders and legs.
I hope this list is helpful as you or your loved one navigates the journey of heart surgery recovery. Overall, some items are more useful than others. Most importantly, comfort is essential for healing, and having the right essentials can make recovery and care a little easier.
Go here to read about Why Health Tracking is Important During Recovery.