Recovering after heart surgery

The first weeks at home

It is normal to feel tired, sleep poorly, have little appetite and feel low or emotional for some weeks. These usually improve steadily. Walk every day, increasing the distance gradually, and rest when you need to.

Protecting your breastbone

If your breastbone was divided, it takes about 14 to 16 weeks to knit together fully. During this time avoid heavy lifting, pushing or pulling (such as heavy shopping, vacuuming or lifting children), and follow the advice of your team and physiotherapists.

Driving, work and activity

In Leeds we advise waiting at least six weeks before driving after bypass or valve surgery; your team will tell you when it is safe for you, and you should check the DVLA guidance for your licence and condition. Return to work depends on your job, typically between six weeks and three months. A cardiac rehabilitation programme, usually offered after discharge, is strongly recommended.

Wounds

Keep wounds clean and dry, shower rather than bathe until they have healed, and do not apply creams unless advised. Some numbness or aching around the wounds is common and settles with time.

When to seek help

• Redness, swelling, increasing pain or discharge from a wound, or a high temperature
• Increasing breathlessness, or swelling of the legs
• A fast or irregular heartbeat
• Clicking or movement of the breastbone

For chest pain like your angina, collapse, or signs of a stroke, call 999. For other urgent concerns, contact the ward or team that looked after you, your GP, or NHS 111.

A fuller guide is available as a PDF: Life after cardiac surgery.

This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own clinical team, who will explain the plan and risks for you individually. Last reviewed November 2026.