Most of us know people around us who have undergone bypass surgeries, and have taken it as an excuse not to be active anymore. ‘I should be careful and take it slow. Who knows what my heart can handle now?’ is the attitude they often throw around, despite doctors asking them to have moderate activities, rather than being bed or sofa-bound. Is there any merit in being so cautious, and is it worth it, health-wise? Dr Rajesh M Ramankutty, Chief Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon, Caritas Hospital, Kottayam, explains how patients who have undergone the surgery should manage their post-surgery life.
‘Should I just rest?’
Apparently, a common question from patients to the doctor is, ‘Now that bypass surgery is done, should I just rest and not go anywhere, restrict my lifestyle?'”This is my advice to them,” explains Dr Rajesh, “What was your lifestyle before the surgery? You should restart it!” He narrates an example. “I had a patient who was an 80-plus-year-old retired headmaster. He runs a big animal husbandry programme, and has around 30 goats and 20 cows. Every time he comes for the check-up, he says, ‘I got up at 2.30 – 3 am, milked the animals and distributed it to the villagers.” Later, he sleeps for 2/3 hours in the afternoon, says the doctor. “He went back to what he loved the best. His children say he is overworking. But here’s what I have to say. If you can continue the same lifestyle, with which you came for the bypass, introducing gradual changes to it, it’s healthy,” the doctor explains, adding, ‘It’s achievable for everyone.’
Patients should try going back to the pre-surgery lifestyle after the bypass surgery, according to Dr Rajesh. Photo: Shutterstock/sasirin pamai
How often should you go for checkups?
After a post-surgery hospital stay of up to 7 days, the first review will be in the first week, the doctor says. “Then we meet the patient after a month. By then, all the patients can be back to their normal selves. The next follow-up is after three or six months.” The doctor’s visit is to remind you of a healthy lifestyle, Dr Rajesh says. “We remind them to watch their diet, observe their sugar, pressure and diabetes levels. However, they should continue to be their own doctor, watching these parameters,” he adds.