On the Telemetry Unit, the nurses are specially trained to care for patients after heart surgery. The nurses will help you recover so that you can go home about 4 days after surgery. Your nurse will be anticipating your needs. Your nurse will check on you frequently. However, if there is anything that you need please call for your nurse. You may reach your nurse by using the call button or by calling your nurse from your telephone. Your nurse will give you his or her wireless phone number each day.

On the Telemetry Unit, you will continue to wear a heart monitor. The heart monitor is portable so you will be able to walk and move about in your room and in the hall. You may still have chest tubes in place. The chest tubes are usually removed 2 to 3 days after surgery. You will also have an IV in your arm.

After heart surgery, it is very important for your family to be included in your care. Your family members are encouraged to spend time with you. Family members may assist you with bathing, walking, and breathing exercises under the supervision of the nurses. You may have as many or as few visitors as you wish. The Chaplains and Social Workers are available to support you and your family members, as needed.

Taking your pain medicine is a very important part of your recovery. Some people do not like to take pain medicine. But if your pain is not controlled, your recovery will be delayed. You will need to take your pain medicine so that you can move around and take deep breaths after surgery. You and your nurses will work together to control your pain. Please let your nurse know any time you feel uncomfortable.

You will continue the breathing exercises. Deep breathing and coughing are very important for your recovery. The breathing exercises will help prevent pneumonia.

The day that you move to the Telemetry Unit, you will walk in the hall. The first few times that you walk in the hall, you will go with the nurse or the physical therapist. Once you are steady on your feet, you will be able to walk with your family or by yourself. Starting the second day after surgery, you will walk in the hall 4 times a day. You will also begin cardiac rehab exercises. The cardiac rehab professional will teach you the exercises and give you information about the outpatient cardiac rehab program. In order to recover your strength after surgery, it is important for you to spend most of the day up in the chair and walking in the hall. This will help prevent complications.

Once you move to the Telemetry Unit, the Case Manager will come to see you. She will help you prepare for going home surgery. If your recovery goes as planned, you will be ready to leave the hospital about 4 days after surgery. She will give you information about the services available to you at the time of discharge from the hospital.

Be prepared for diet changes after surgery. It may be difficult to get used to your new low fat, low cholesterol diet. It is not unusual for a person's appetite to decrease after heart surgery. However, it is important to get proper nutrition in order to recover from surgery. Your nurse, dietician, and nutrition services will work with you so that you will get the foods that appeal to your taste and special diet needs.

Click here to return to the Patient and Family Guide to Heart Surgery.