Resources

What to bring to your appointment:

• Valid picture ID
• Insurance cards
• Referral from primary care physician(PCP) – if applicable
• List of medications
• Copy of X-ray, CT scan, heart catheterization, echocardiogram – if applicable

Insurances Accepted*

• Aetna
• AvMed
• Beechstreet
• BlueCross/Blue Shield
• CarePlus Health Plans, Inc
• Cigna Healthcare
• Citrus Healthcare
• Coventry/First Health
• Evolutions
• Freedom Health
• GreatWest Healthcare of Florida
• Healthchoice
• Humana
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Multiplan Network
• Physician United Plan
• Prestige Health Choice
• Private Healthcare Systems
• Sunshine State Health Plan
• Tricare – Standard
• United Healthcare
• Wellcare

*Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time. Please confirm with our office staff when making your appointment.

Post-Operative Instructions

1. Do not lift, push, or pull anything over 5 lbs. for 4 weeks after surgery, then increase to 10 lbs. in the second month.
2. Unless specified on discharge, do not drive until seen in office. In the first 2-3 weeks, you may take short car trips as long as you do not drive.
3. Take daily showers, using a liquid anti-bacterial soap such as DIALTM 
4. Check incisions daily. If any signs of infection such as redness, swelling, tenderness, drainage or temperature greater than 100.5, please call office at (321) 841-7700. (Take temperature once a day at 4:00 P.M. for two weeks after discharge from hospital).
5. Remember to continue coughing and deep breathing exercises at home. Walking is encouraged and no limited! If you feel tired, stop and rest. We may send you home with a low blood count which could cause you to feel tired; it will take a few weeks to get your energy level back up. Rest throughout the day, and do not over do it.
6. Female patients are encouraged to wear a front closure bra during the day. Keep a pad between elastic and incision.
7. You may notice swelling at the top of your check incision, this is normal for approximately 1-3 months. If it becomes red or starts draining, call the office.
8. You may experience the following:
• Numbness or tingling in the ring and little finger, this is temporary. It is due to separation of the breast bone during surgery.
• Trouble sleeping for the first weeks at home.
• Trouble eating, poor appetite; food may not have any taste.
• Arm, neck, shoulder and chest sore­ness. You may also experience tingling sensations in the chest where the nerves are healing. Take your pain medicine regularly to help minimize discomfort.
• You may notice some popping or clicking in your chest incision, this is due to some minor movement of the breastbone: if you feel movement is excessive, please do not hesitate to call office (321) 841-7700.
• Fluctuation in weight. It is a good idea to check weight daily, if weight gain is more than 5 lbs., you should notify your cardiologist.
• You may experience swelling in the leg from which the vein was removed. Keep the legs elevated while sitting. Wear your support hose daily until you are seen in the office for your post-op visit; however, remove them at bedtime.
• You may experience constipation, especially if you are taking iron pills. You may take any over the counter laxative. We recommend colace as a stool softener.
9. When you get home, immediately call your cardiologist or family physician for an appointment, if one has not already been made.
10. We will discuss your return to work when you come to the office for your post-operative appointment.