Activities

• Walking is the best exercise. It is important to gradually increase your activity. Remember your arm stretches, too.
• Elevate your feet when sitting and lying down.
• Weigh yourself daily in the morning and record. Report weight gain of three to five pounds within one week. Remember that excessive fluid and salt in your diet can cause fluid retention.

Activity Restrictions

• Do not lift anything heavier than five pounds for a total of four weeks after your surgery. If both of your internal mammary arteries were used for your bypass grafts, do not lift anything heavier than five pounds for a total of eight weeks after your surgery. Then, no more than 10 pounds for four weeks, and after that no more than 15 pounds for four weeks.
• Do not push or pull a heavy load.
• Do not strain (e.g. holding your breath, straining, or bearing down while having a bowel movement).
• Do not perform work that requires you to work with arms overhead.

Hygiene and Incision Care

• You may shower, but no tub baths. Remember to turn your back to the shower spray.
• If you still have staples on your incision, have them removed as instructed.
• Do not use any ointments, creams, or salves on your incision.
• Change any dressings over incisions every day, or more frequently, if they become dirty.
• Remove "steri-strips" (tape that is on your incision) 10 days after your surgery.
• Keep your incisions clean and dry.

Other Restrictions

• You may drive four weeks after your surgery if you are not taking narcotic pain medication or anti-anxiety/sedative-type medications. Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medications or benzodiazepines.
• You may return to work or school as instructed.
• Follow a low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-salt diet.

Promoting Healthy Sleep

• Be active during the day. Limit daytime napping.
• Use pillows to elevate your head and support your arms. Avoid lying flat. Keep feet elevated on a pillow if swelling is an issue for you.
• Take pain medication before bedtime if pain is keeping you awake.

Concerns

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Incision begins to open up, becomes more reddened, leaks yellow drainage, or feels warm to the touch.
• You develop a fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
• You gain three to five pounds within one week.
• You experience irregular heart beat.
• You feel dizzy.
• You experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea for more than 24 hours.