Fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, and confusion are just a few of the emotions patients and their caregivers navigate before, during, and after open-heart surgery.
鈥淭he emotional and mental health aspects of my husband Joe鈥檚 open-heart surgery were challenging,鈥 said Cynthia McComber, BSN, RN. 鈥淭he news he would need this surgery came with sheer panic. He had to face the reality that he might not survive.鈥
McComber is a senior nursing director at 人妻中出视频 of Utah 人妻中出视频, but her extensive nursing experience has not included working with cardiac patients. So caring for her husband was life-changing and eye-opening.
鈥淧rofessionally, I鈥檝e cared for surgical patients at the bedside and followed them after discharge, but at the end of my shift, I could go home,鈥 McComber said. 鈥淎s a caregiver for my husband, there was no end of shift. The responsibility was constant. Even when I wasn鈥檛 actively doing something for him, he was always on my mind.鈥
From Diagnosis to Discharge: Navigating the Shock and Stress of Surgery
It started with a diagnosis no one in the family was expecting. 鈥淓verything happened so quickly,鈥 McComber said. 鈥淲e walked into the Emergency Department thinking Joe might need a stent, and within hours he was admitted with a procedure schedule in the Cath Lab the next morning.
Post-procedure, he was admitted to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit with an aortic balloon pump.
The shock of learning how extensive his heart disease was, and then hearing he would need a quadruple bypass, was overwhelming.鈥
McComber鈥檚 nursing background did help her better understand what was happening and how to navigate the system. One source of constant comfort was the care her husband Joe and the entire family received from U of U 人妻中出视频鈥檚 cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical teams.
鈥淲hat helped me was trusting that we were in excellent hands鈥攖he nursing staff, the surgeon, the entire team,鈥 McComber said. 鈥淚 tried to stay calm and present for Joe, and I never left him alone in the hospital.鈥
After they left the hospital, McComber became the primary caregiver and advocate for herself and her husband. 鈥淎fter discharge, the emotional toll became even heavier,鈥 she said. 鈥淪leep was a huge issue for Joe, and with it came deep anxiety鈥攅specially in the evenings, when he would worry about dying in his sleep. Getting support for him to work through that fear was a bit difficult. However, he was finally able to speak with a social worker who helped him navigate some of his fears.鈥
With support and assistance from the cardiac team at U of U 人妻中出视频, McComber, her husband, their three daughters, and their grand人妻中出视频ren began to focus on recovery and a healthier future for Joe.
鈥淔or us, it was about focusing on the little things and celebrating small wins,鈥 McComber said. 鈥淪ometimes, progress is hard to see day-to-day, but the body is healing in the background. We looked forward to each doctor鈥檚 appointment for updates, and cardiac rehab became a huge milestone鈥攊t gave us visible evidence of progress and kept us motivated.鈥
Finding Strength in Support: Resources and Resilience for Caregivers
The resources to ensure a physical, emotional, and mental recovery from open-heart surgery are available, but it is important to stay engaged with the medical team overseeing post-surgery care.
鈥淭he experience underscored for me how vital it is for caregivers to know they can and should lean on resources like social work, counseling, pharmacy education, and rehab staff along with the medical team,鈥 McComber said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e there to help not just the patient but the caregiver as well.鈥.
As a medical professional herself, McComber emphasized the importance of never being afraid to ask questions. 鈥淲e all come into this with different levels of understanding and different capacities to absorb information, so it鈥檚 important to speak up until you feel confident and have a thorough understanding of what you鈥檝e heard,鈥 she said.
McComber added that it is essential to advocate for your loved one and yourself every step of the way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot like the announcement you hear on a plane: put your oxygen mask on first,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t may sound clich茅, but it鈥檚 true. To provide the care and strength your loved one needs, you must care for yourself first.鈥
In fact, McComber had specific advice for caregivers based on her own experiences as a nurse and a wife helping her husband through a challenging recovery.
鈥淩emember that caregiver fatigue is real,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 was blessed with a strong support system, but not everyone has that, so I encourage people to seek it out鈥攚hether it鈥檚 family, friends, or community resources. Getting good sleep, staying nourished, and taking time for yourself really matters.鈥
As far as Joe鈥檚 recovery goes, McComber offered inspirational news. 鈥淗e is doing incredibly well,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 feel like he鈥檚 our miracle man because he had the quadruple bypass due to all his blockages, and now he has a new lease on life and is looking forward to the future.鈥
Eight Steps to a 人妻中出视频ier Heart
Your heart beats approximately 100,000 times every day, circulating your blood across a distance of about 12,000 miles. From dietary choices to physical activity, sleep habits, and managing factors like smoking, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, each step is crucial for overall heart health.
