Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Heart surgery

Looking for input on how long after open-heart surgery a 62-yr old can expect
before he can shoot a handgun/rifle/shotgun or pull back a 50# bow. Any of you
guys been thru this?

I’ve got a follow up in two weeks but would like to get some idea now.

Sorry if this has been discussed before, I’ve never had much luck with the
search engine.

7 years ago, I had a quad bypass.
I had drawn a good deer-rifle tag for ten weeks after the procedure.
I didn't want to risk busting my chest back open, so I donated the tag.

I would say 3 monthes

Take it easy on that, follow the doc's orders.

+1 regardless how you feel.

If you have to get out, I would toy around with a quality 22 rifle at a range.
Best wishes for a quick recovery.

I had quadruple bypass in May 2012. I was 65 then, am nearly 74 now. The doctors told me "everyone's different". My retired MD friend said "Two years until you're fully recovered", and he was right. My cardiologist later agreed.

Are you on blood thinners? They will make you bruise easily, and sore when you shoot. I shot as soon as I could, I think July. It hurt. Give it time.

I told my heart surgeon that he gave me back my life, and now it was up to me to keep it. I meant it, and still do. Good luck with your recovery.

Handgun - 3 to 6 months
Rifle - 6 months to 1 year
Shotgun (12 ga) - 1 year to 1 year+

Re-entry to that wound is not an option, brother. You don't want to be doing that. These days, they can do retreads or modifications through your arm or leg down the road. But, you definitely don't want to have your chest split again. I'm 2 years and 9 months down the road and am fine now.

Yep.

It all depends on you--- you and how much effort in recovery--- I had quad by pass in May of 2008 --- deer hunted NY and VT in Nov. 2008 no problem what so ever and none since

Ask your doc and “listen” to the answer.
Good luck.

Thanks guys, good advice. Guess I won’t be doing any hunting in 2020.

Cardiologist don't have a clue as to the stresses induced during shooting. I had open heart surgery on April 1st '16, shot a midrange prone match the middle of June. I asked two different cardiologist about how long to wait and the both left it up to me. Weightlifting was a different story. I waited for four months before hitting the weights and stuck to 50% of the weight I normally worked out with for awhile. YMMV...

I was born with a bicuspid Aortic valve, that began to fail fast, as most do. 5 hrs of open heart, got a cow pericardial valve, made in Singapore. No heart damage, no meds, etc.. hooks and wire mesh chest... I backpacked my buck out that year, 4 weeks after surg, on my 69th. Surgeon was not thrilled, but told me to be careful with backpack... Only 3/4ths mile out... I have always worked out, and kept my weight at 210....6'5".... They got a new fiberglass breast plate now... Screw in. Eliminates a lot of chest pain...

I'm a congestive heart failure survivor. Pacemaker/defibrillator in my left shoulder. It definitely took the wind out of my sales. I don't hike back in very far these days, but I hunt every year. As long as you're willing to slow down a bit, you'll eventually be able to get back out. One weird thing, is it made me a much better still hunter, as I have no choice but to move very slowly. My cardiologist said I should consider hunting with something that doesn't kick very hard due to the gizmo in my shoulder. I mostly carry a 300 Savage with mild loads or another 99 chambered for .243. I gave up the compound and went to a crossbow. It's not the same, but it gets me out during archery season.

the 50 pound bow is going to have to wait for certain

Good friend had the robotic bypass surgery back in May. His biggest concern was if they had to crack his chest should something go wrong. His brother had open heart and split his chest open twice. The hospital where Rich had it done uses screws and the plate, told him he could elk hunt this year if they did have to split him open.

Great advice and inspiration. Thanks.
Sounds like my situation is similar to tscott. My aortic valve was also
replaced, but it was plugged up, not bicuspid. My dad had the same surgery
at 68 and a brother at 65. Lucky me at 62. I am now also part cow.

I am in good health otherwise,non-smoker and I eat right. Doc told me to lay
off the cardio when diagnosis was made over a year ago, looking forward to
resuming that. I’ll be back out there, it’s just a matter of when and with what
weapon.

Sir: Given excellent health prior to surgery and no complications, the breast bone (sternum) will need 3 months to heal in order to withstand an impact on it; sutures are jhealing in 2 weeks but they do not want the patient to break them open prematurely...so do not plan on disobeying doctor's orders! That said, 25-30 days - my guess- before you TRY to pull back a bow string. Yes, I had this surgery in 2016 when I was 64.

My dental surgery took longer than most of these reports. The medical system is amazing.

I had a 6 way bypass in 2017. For the first month wasn't suppose to pick up anything more than 5 lbs. After about 8 or 9 weeks, all restrictions were lifted. They said it takes about that long for the sternum to completely heal after being cut in 2. They told me you don't want to mess that up. Believe me, after going thru that, you want to listen to your doctor, because you don't want to go thru that again.

By the way, was 60 when I had this done.