Heart Attack: Partner's Concern about Recovery

My husband had triple bypass open heart surgery with a terrific outcome. Since his heart attack, I'm not sleeping well. My doctor prescribed sleeping pills which I don't take in case he needs me. What can I do to feel more confident that he's doing ok?

To The Caring Wife,

Your concern is not uncommon among the over 1000 bypass surgeries I've followed through in the past 30 some years.

By the time your husband leaves the hospital, he should be able to get in and out of bed and back and forth to the bathroom by himself. And he should be getting stronger everyday, with an occasional off day now and then. If there are unusual circumstances involved, please ask his doctors for special instructions.

If you stay healthy, rest well and remain relaxed and confident, so will he; and vice versa.

Most people recover very well and very fast after a routine bypass. Probably both of you will have to be reminded of the surgery so you'll remember to include it in your Thanksgiving celebrations.

And if this has been a more traumatic event for you than statistics might indicate, then I suggest you use it as a “transformational experience” to re-evaluate what's really good and important in life. My patients who have done so live much richer lives going forward. I wish you and your family the same.