My husband had open heart surgery and then developed ARDS 5 hours later, that was 3years AGO. Input from DR,RN

He says that he never has a good day. Never feeels good. Gets out of breathe easy. He feels like he can't take care of his family anymore. His doctor said the heart attack was so massive that he would feel worse than before. forty percent of his heart is working. We have been married 24 years and I adore this man, What can I do for him or say to him when he asks why him? I feel like he's giving up. I need a answer from someone who is living with this or a heart doctor's input.

If your husband suffered a massive heart attack, then there will be heart muscle that is damaged and will not beat adequatly.. causeing a build up of fluid in the body, heart, and lungs. After having such a massive heart attack, then having open heart surgery I have taken care of patients who did go into ARDS. ARDS can be caused by a build up of fluid in the lungs, not nessisarily from pnemonia.. etc.
There are rehab programs out there for post open heart patients, they can work with him and try to get him feeling like himself again.

I am a respiratory therapist who has worked with open heart patients immediatly after surgery and weeks later.

ARDS isn't the problem now.. it is most likely congestive heart failure.. which with the proper care can make life a lot easier for your husband...

Madam you did not mention his age family history smoking habits,diabetes,hypertension etc.If he gives up smoking,keeps his blood glucose,blood pressure under control and eats a low calory diet,he will not be in danger.It is still better if he walks on a plane ground and gradually increases the duration of walk.It appears that he is suffering from what is called CARDIAC NEUROSIS.It is amenable to empathic reassurance from near and dear ones.Sex life of any level stimulates the mood and elevates it.You are good at treating him.And of course do not forget to pray together.LOVE.

Good post above. With the ejection fraction at 40%, he may be suffering from congestive herat failure symptoms. These would include difficulty breathing and low energy. He should be on the proper medications for that and you can ask the doctor if that's the case. I doubt ARDS is causing the problems at this time. Lung recovers pretty well from that. I think he may have a depression overlay on top of his physical ailments. Evaluating and treating him for depression could be helpful. Also, cardiac rehabilitation would be great too...it will help both his heart and his mood. Wish you best of luck...

ARDS is an acute problem, the after effects usually resolve. What kind of cardiac surgery did he have??
Was it a bypass or a valve. sometimes Mitral Valve Prolapse generates similar symptom....