Taking Care of the Cardiac Patient at Home

Taking Care of the Cardiac Patient at Home

Your loved one is finally being discharged from the hospital after experiencing a cardiac event. They may have had heart surgery, a heart attack or even sudden cardiac death. In any event, they are coming home after being in the hospital and you should be aware of some of the issues you may face as a caregiver.

Please don’t expect your loved one to immediately be physically or emotionally the same as before they went into the hospital. It is going to take some time to get back to “normal”. They are going to need your patience and understanding as they cope with the “new Person” that is evolving after their heart event.

There are multiple things going on with your “patient” as they recover from what was likely a multiple day hospitalization, surgical intervention and new medications. Physically, mentally and emotionally their bodies are going through some significant changes. In this video, we will talk about what this can look like.

Physical Changes

The body is slowly adjusting to some major physiological changes that occurred rather quickly. Feeling weak, nauseous, lightheaded or sleeping for longer periods or taking multiple naps during the day is common. Some loss of appetite or changes in eating patterns may occur. Some patients may feel more comfortable sleeping in a lounge chair as they adjust.

If your loved one had surgery, they may complain of surgical pain. We encourage you to use the pain medicine exactly as it is prescribed. After a couple of days at home, it is likely Tylenol or Motrin should be adequate pain relief. Discuss with your physician what the optimal medicine is. It is important that all medication be taken as prescribed. No medicine should be skipped without discussing with your doctor first.

Patient often complain of significant constipation. This is caused by many different things: pain medications, anesthesia, decreased mobility and change in diet. Making sure there is fiber in the diet, using Dulcolax as needed and slowly increasing mobility will help. Many patients find prune juice very helpful.

You may need to rearrange furniture if your loved one is coming home with a walker or wheelchair. Making some wider space available for maneuvering will be helpful and may prevent falls.

It is critical that your loved one get up and move around the house at leaset 3-4 times a day. This activity should increase over time as they start to feel better. Walking outside is safe as long as the patient is not prone to falls. The fresh air will help them with physical recovery as well as their mood.

Mental Changes

It is not unusual for patients to have periods of confusion and/or forgetfulness. The lingering effects of anesthesia as well as the overwhelming physical changes can cause the brain to be less agile than it was prior to surgery. With time, this should improve.

However, always be alert for the signs of a stroke. If this should occur call 911 immediately.

Emotional Changes

First it is important to understand that what has happened to your loved one has most likely left them feeling scared and even traumatized. Perhaps you witnessed the cardiac arrest or the heart attack. You may be feeling the same way. Those feelings can lead to emotions such as anger, frustration, fear and depression. The fear of it “happening again” can be quite debilitating.

These feelings can be manifested in many ways. Patients may fear dying with any exertional activity. The postoperative pain and soreness may make them feel that the event is happening all over again. They worry – what if it happens again? Will it be worse? Will I die? They may not want to take their medicines as it reminds them of the event or the frailty of their body. They may become easily agitated because they are unable to do the things they have always done in the past.

As a caregiver for your loved one it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression and fear. These symptoms can impact a patient’s recovery.

How Do You Help Your Loved One Move Forward?

Educating yourself about what has happened and what a realistic recovery period is. Patients often think if they are not fully back to normal within a few weeks something is wrong. Sometimes, it can take anywhere from 6-12 months to fully get back to “normal.” Reinforce with your loved one that it does take time to recover.

Help your loved one take their medications and follow up with the doctor as prescribed. It is critical they see their physician during recovery to ensure that things are moving along in the right direction. Accompany your loved one on the visit and take the opportunity to have your questions answered.

Physical activity has some real benefits for not only recovery but also for mood. Walking can improve depression and assist in moving recovery along. However, surgical pain, depression and fear of “it is happening again” can cause your “patient” to not want to get up and move. Help them by walking with them and encouraging them to walk for short periods 3-4 times a day. Weather allowing – walk outside.

Diet is important- your loved one now needs an increase in lean protein and vegetables. Now is not the time to eat McDonalds or the like. Good nutrition is so important to a healthy recovery., Good nutrition can also help fight depression and worry by providing the right vitamins and nutrients for the brain. Sleep- don’t be dismayed if your “patient” seems to be sleeping a lot when they get home. Sleep is the body’s indication that healing is going on. Let your loved one nap during the day if they feel a need for one.

Encourage short visits from family and friends. Having a social network helps re-engage your loved one with life again and has positive effects on mood and disposition.

As the partner to someone who has had a serious cardiac event many of your previous roles in the relationship will be changing along with those of your “patient”. Sometimes the grief and sense of loss associated with those role changes during a critical illness can be overwhelming and you both may need professional help to get you over the hurdle. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional counselor for help. They are trained specifically to help you manage the feelings you both may be having.

We at Shipley Cardiothoracic understand the difficulties involved in caring for a loved one after having a cardiac event. We wanted to provide this information to you to help keep you informed. If you have any questions, however, feel free to call our nurse navigator at 239-343-6341.