By Hassan Abtidon

The first phase of heart surgery recovery can last from six to eight weeks. When the person you are caring leaves the hospital after heart surgery, you'll most likely be given a set of instructions on care. Those who have had minimally invasive surgery may have a shorter recovery time. Sometimes self-care instructions are given directly to the patient.

Some muscle or incision discomfort, itching, tightness, and/or numbness along the incision are normal after surgery. However, the pain should not be similar to what was experienced before surgery. Your loved one will be given a prescription for a pain medication before they leave the hospital.

For bypass surgery, there may be more pain in the legs than around the chest incision if saphenous veins (leg veins) were grafted. Walking, daily activities, and time will help to lessen leg discomfort and stiffness.

Your loved one's doctor will tell him or her when they may resume driving. This usually occurs about 6-8 weeks after surgery; however, time may be shorter if he or she had minimally invasive surgery. During this time, they may be passengers as often as they like.

The doctor will tell your loved one when he or she is able to return to daily activities and normally it takes for the first 6-8 weeks or less in some patience with bypass surgery.

The Somaliland Diaspora received the words of Somaliland Foreign Minister Hon. Abdillahi Duale about the speedy recovery of Interior Minister Hon. Abdillahi Ismail Ero. Caring citizens is the top priority of any contemporary country and though Somaliland faces enormous challenges on health care but getting the Interior Minister a speedy heart operation or bypass, telling us, how we built great friends in our short time of existence.

The Somaliland Interior Minister returned to his homeland and the final result has shown a good blood flow in the heart. In coronary artery bypass each person progresses at a different rate after heart surgery and the Interior Minister is well and ready to report his ministerial duties. The Somaliland Community Services of Toronto wishes him well, safe return, and joy his family and the Somaliland people.

God helps those who help themselves

Hassan Abtidon

Toronto Somaliland Community Services