Was hoping for advice/experience from a fellow leatherwaller who may have had to have their chest opened for heart surgery.

My 62 year-old friend who is in excellent physical shape, is presently considering surgery which may be invasive to the extent that his chest wall may be surgically opened for bypass surgery. Although there are various other related concerns, this element remains important as he is wondering if this type of procedure will permanently affect his ability to shoot hunting weight bows for the rest of his life (he is an avid elk hunter). Additionally, if anyone has successfully and gratefully gone through this procedure, is full recovery in terms of shooting ever possible, and if so, what is the typical recovery time in terms of shooting a bow again. This is a pressing issue that only a passionate archer can understand. Any and all I put is greatly appreciated.

huck

Yes you can recover completely, and it will take under a year. I forget how long it was. I think it was the normal recovery time for a broken bone, which is 6 weeks. For that time you will need to have a special pillow to sleep. and you will not be allowed to drive a car, and a variety of things. I forget when I felt like shooting a bow, but I would have started 6 months after the surgery when that time came around, I don't remember when I did. I will ask around.

However. Good question to ask, but if contemplating surgery like this, I would certainly not put it off to save my season or something. I know people who died waiting.

Also, if you do something stupid during the recovery, and you upset the break in your chest, then the options are not good, and some people end up permanently crippled. So do not risk anything other than a proper recovery, and sometimes they don't even go well.

There were two ways of doing it 5 years ago where I live, and one involves wiring, and is better if you get through it. Another involved glueing the bone, and it repairs faster, but I was told it can make subsequent surgery more difficult, and I knew people in rehab who fully occluded before the 6 month rehab was done, and had to go in again. Your surgeon will probably advise you, but presumably has an entirely personal preference.

Your friend can PM me if he has more questions.

I have my chest opened twice Recovery time was about 6 months. Physical threepy really helped me When doctor said I was ready I started with lighted poundage and worked my way up Good luck and shoot straight

I had quadruple bypass four or five years ago. They took veins out of my left leg from groin to ankle to bypass blockages in arteries. Most painful for me was 13 days in hospital bed. Doc wired sternum back together but I fell getting out of shower about a month later and ripped wiring loose. Also tore up bow shoulder so bad that rebuilt. Doc didn’t go back in and.desire sternum and I have been ok so far. But I can put fingertips into my chest open spaces. (Desire should read rewire)

That doesn’t prevent shooting bow but shoulder surgery bothers me a lot. I have trouble lifting a bow but am shooting a light bow.

As stated above do therapy and follow orders. Walking regularly is crucial. Someone here on LW said The only things you get back are what you take back

Good luck and as stated don’t tarry.

Above is good info.

I had by-pass surgery in August 2009. I followed exactly what the doctor and PT told me to do. For me it was 12 weeks before I was allowed to start normal stuff. My chest is wired; I can still feel them . . . As mentioned above, if he is having heart issues don't wait, follow your doctors and PT recommendations. You don't want to mess the chest up and have to do it again!

I started hunting (with a gun) in December that year and was able to carry my stand and took a small deer . . .

Hope all goes well with him! Michael

CABGX5 in 2010 . There are few major muscles cut. It was pretty straight forward then probably more so now. 6 weeks initial recovery , 2 months back to work. I would think it reasonable to be shooting full strength in 4 months if everything goes well and no complications , if your heart is in it.

I had a quad in 2017..at about 3 months I was working with light exercise bands..no problem ,then a light weight 35lb bow and within six months i was back to 45lbs. Today at 80 yrs I could handle 50 lbs for moose..if I just had a moose tag! As H writer said..walk as soon asap and also stretching exercises. Jigger

Please tell your friend to look at heart friendly supplements..esp COq10..I take it every day. Jigger

Took me about three months. But, there is nothing to consider, if he needs a by- pass get it done now. Worry about recovery later. He’ll be able to shoot again, some take longer than others. Mine was emergency surgery so I was happy to be here for the recovery process. Good luck to your friend.

I have a friend that had bypass and split the sternum. 6 weeks later he shot a buck on my place with his bow from a tree stand. Then gutted it before calling me to bring the 4 wheeler to pick it up. Then a month later killed one in rifle season. I thought it was too early but, he didn't and he is still doing great. That was six years ago.

Shooting probably won't be as much a problem as lugging an elk out! Follow doctor's orders, and I hope he has a timely recovery.

Your guys are the greatest and inspirational as well!! Big thanks for your input. It is very much appreciated. The best of flying arrows to you all.

amen to all the above as it happened to me in 2019, so thankful to the GOOD LORD and great doctors and nurses! back to shooting my old k-mag and very thankful every day!

I had a Heart attack 29 years ago and Bypass Surgery two years later. Took some time before I started shooting again but I'm still at it. Been through 4 Cardiologist, two retired and one died. : )

In 2004 I was 49 years old and had to have a aortic valve replacement and my ascending aortic artery replaced with plastic pipe due to a massive aneurysm. That was in March. In May my buddy and I lugged a home made tree stand to hunt bears over bait. Had no trouble pulling my 61# recurve then and still don't at age 67.

So don't give up, follow doctor's advice and in a relatively short period of time you will be back in the saddle and wondering what all the fuss was about.

Rick

I had quadruple on Jan 31st, 2019. Started rehab 2 weeks later and in June shot a bear in Ont. #56 bow. In Oct I hunted Kodiak Island and shot a Sitka blacktail SO it can be done! Just follow the rehabers orders! Good luck!

While it is nice to get comments from those that supposedly have had a similar procedure, >without question< your friend needs to >>follow what his doc and therapist advise him regarding shooting<<.

The guy I know that had chest split open was in his early 70s and had a LONG recovery. I'm not even gonna mention the recovery time so you don't consider that number.

LISTEN TO YOUR DOC! Don't even BEGIN to consider online advice here or anywhere else. There is no thoracic surgeon on this site.

just got back from my colorado unit 61 archery hunt last monday. tuesday had a heart attact getting opened up monday. wish me luck

I don’t think OP was wanting advice but maybe just wanted a little reassurance that there is life after heart surgery.

Geez...2019 was a bad year! I was in the clinic with 2 heart attacks. Got out with just a mess of stents so far! ....and lots of meds! Hang in there guys!

February of 2010 had 4 bypasses and November was in Alaska hunting just do what the doc says

In November of last year I had a series of mini strokes after recovering from Covid. At the end of January I had triple bypass and then my chest wired back together.

I am 68 years old. Before all of that, I was shooting 49/50 lbs. I listened to my surgeon, did three months of cardio rehab, and yes continued doing exercises. AGAIN, listen to your doctors, tell them what you want to accomplish. They were very specific about when I could start shooting bows again.

I started with lighter bows and then moved up in weight fairly quickly. But, everybody is different.

I am currently shooting a 54 Lb. Tall Tines recurve. 4 more pounds than pre - surgery bows.

Yes, he can regain his original strength and bow weight. I can't remember the timetable but for 10 weeks you can't lift anything over 10# or drive. After that, I started with my grandkids' Bear Little Bear, then a 35# Browning Spartan, then back to 45# bows in the seemingly short time period. For the 10 weeks, a nurse cautioned me with "You DON'T want to harm that incision or they will have to open you up and do it all over again." I listened.

I had bypass surgery 7 years ago. This was in January. I started pulling my wifes bow (30lb at 28")in March of that year. I went to the Tennessee Classic the last weekend in April. I used me 56lb bow. It really helped having a full week with my bow. Did a lot of shooting and it really helped breaking loose the scar tissue.

I was lucky that I didn't have any damage to my heart. The heart attack and surgery hasn't kept me from shooting or hunting. Just start with a lighter bow and be patient.

Grumpy Jim

Triple in 2008 and stint in 12 a pacemaker/defibulator in 2015. was shooting 57 till 2019 and had to drop i have one at 50 rest are 47# Will be 67 in May of 2021.

Had a 5 by pass 22 years ago at 46. About 5 stents since and over a half dozen heart caths. Now I have diabetes too. I dread the diabetes more than the heart thing. For having a lot of issues still truckin and hunting.Im excited for the rut.

Had a quad bypass 4 years ago was shooting in 6 months. Then year later on my neck shooting 4? Months later no problems I’ll be 67 in about a month now

Did he have stroke or heart attach , I did not !

Just listen to the Doctors and do your rehab I had 4 bypasses in February and was hunting in Alaska in November so yes you should be OK. Bergie

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here