“What Are Those Big Heart-Shaped Pillows Used For?” Asks Alice

I sure used mine every time I even thought I was going to cough or sneeze I would grab my pillow and hold it as tight as I could with out it hurting, it sure did help. Be sure to use your Spirometer.
Good luck andGod Bless

My heart pillow was a great invention that I have used a number of ways. I used it to hug tightly when I got up from a lying down position. I used it when I had to cough. I used it to protect myself from the seatbelt and finally it has become a thoughtful souvenir of this whole surgery experience.

Adam

All of these rationales for the heart pillow are true, PLUS, I found mine a great way to remember the location of my seat on the flight back to California from Cleveland.

Betsey

Great answer, Adam. My pillow and I became “best friends” during my recovery. I gave it lots of hugs.

Hi Alice,
I loved my heart pillow, taking it with me everywhere. It was like a security blanket, and it helped when I coughed. I put a pillowcase over it and hugged it in bed every night. I also used it in the car, under my seatbelt. I even made an extra one to keep in the car. Since I enjoy sewing, I had some extra material and made a round pillow stuffed with plastic bags from the supermarket. I’m sure your doctor will give you one, and I wish you the best when you have your surgery.
My piggy aortic valve is two years old this month.
Sylvia

I still use my heart pillow when I first get up in the mornings. It’s also there like a security blanket. It really has been my best BUDDY since I had my valve (Bovine) put in. Good luck & God Bless. Diane

While in hospital and for a couple of weeks to months after surgery, your heart pillow will be your best friend. You will use he spirometer and the RT and RN will want you to cough. You will only do it one time without the pillow. You will also want it in case you sneeze.

I’m almost 1 year post-op and I still use my pillow everyone in a while.

Good luck on your surgery and let the medical professionals take care of you,

Best wishes to you Alice on a speedy recovery.I to used my heart pillow when in bed,when sneezing or coughing,etc….I gave mine to a friend who’s outcome was not good unfortunately.Because of other complications. HOWEVER,may God bless and protect you,and make yours a speedy recovery. KEEP TICKIN EVERYBODY!!

At Good Samaritan Hospital here in Cincinnati they give Teddy Bears call “Sir Koff-a-Lot”. Like the heart pillows featured in the photos, he is designed to offered the support needed when you cough. Even though I had minimally invasive robotic surgery, I found that I needed mine quite a bit those first several days and used him for “positive” pressure when I slept at night. I am now almost 10 weeks post op and haven’t needed him since about 2-3 weeks after surgery, but he will long be a momento of this event in my life!

In the UK, with public healthcare for free, you just get a towel, tightly wrapped and held together with sticky tape. It works too…

I’m due for surgery in less than a month. Have a thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm & must have the entire descending aorta reconstructed. A friend told me to get a cough pillow & I admit, I had to Google to find out what it was! Now I want one! But because of geographical challenges (I’m in SAfrica), I think I’ll have to make one for myself! Thanks for the idea 🙂

Its been about 16 mos. post op for me (mitral valve repair/pfo repair) and I still use my pillow daily. I sleep with it, hug it, its been a big help when I’ve gotten colds and I cough very hard. I don’t know what I’d do without mine!

It’s been 3 yrs since my surgery. I still keep my pillow near my bed to remind me to take the best care possible & and cherish and be thankfull for every day I have. Also to keep up with this fantastic blog that has helped me so very, very much. Diane

I work in Cardiac Surgery in Ireland and used these pillows when nursing patients in the states in CTICU following sugery.
Do you have a company we can contact to order some please?

Can you provide contact details to order the cushions please? I work in cardiac surgery in Ireland.

I was a heart valve repair patient in October. I love my heart shaped pillow. My hospital cardiac unit is in need of heart pillows for patients after surgery. I wanted to do a project and make pillows with our youth group. Do you have a pattern or instructions on how to make heart shaped pillows? I have searched on the inter net but I am not finding a simple pattern.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Sandy Hurt, Greensboro, NC

Just had my aortic valve replaced in June, 2012. I don’t know what I’d have done w/o my heart pillow. I still use it from time to time. Do use your spirometer as prescribed as well!
Linda

The red pillow I got from Duke University Hospital was kidney shaped, had a graphic of a heart with valves and vessels labeled, and came with a pen so my visitors could sign it like a cast. Brought a smile.

My pillow, 11 years ago this very time, I used my heart shaped pillow to remind me to keep my arms crossed on my chest and stand without pushing up with my arms (and my sternum) from a sitting position. I say hi to mine every once in a while in my closet where it still has a place of honor.

I’m a recent cardio valve repair patient. The heart shaped pillow the hospital gave me was accidently destroyed, and I’ve been trying to replace it to no avail. Can you tell me where I can purchase a replacement pillow, and the cost? Thank you Cary Blas

http://blessyourheartpillows.com

Where may I find the heart shape pillow for my husband to use when driving, he had heart valve surgery marielabateman@yahoo.com

I work for a company who makes these types of pillows. Shumsky Therapeutic Pillows. We do offer a gift option from our website. http://www.therapeuticpillows.com/

The pillows are cute but pressing them against the healing sternum might not be such a good idea. There is no research showing that it helps, and it could even be unsafe. Read why here: https://www.qualiteam.com/blogs/thequaliteamblog/where-is-the-clinical-evidence-for-the-use-of-heart-pillows

Your link also has no evidence. As a nurse who has recovered post open heart surgery patients, and my dad having a CABG last week, I think the proof is watching someone cough with and without protecting their sternum. One causes tremendous pain, and the other employs the proven action of splinting. Please don’t discourage people from using a simple tool to help alleviate discomfort during the healing process.

I used mine for 6 weeks after AVR and was very happy to have it available!

I agree with Kathryn. The pillow provides both support to the sternum and comfort to the patient. As a nurse, I remember the days when we used a folded and taped up towel or sheet for the patient to use post op as a support.
Now we have the unforgettable red heart pillows, at least in the Cardiac surgical areas. I received mine after my AVR at Cedars Sinai. It was waiting for me on my bed in the ICU. I keep it on a shelf where I can see it to remind me of my experience and the support that it provided.

Is there any clinical data available that demonstrates the effectiveness of these pillows?

The website you are linking to says: “Uniform, effective sternal support to aid in healing” and “Pain reduction during coughing, deep breathing and moving about”.
I’d like to ask: how can such a pillow give “uniform effective sternal support”? Patients have to grab it in order to work right? otherwise it doesn’t do much or am I misunderstanding how you should use it? Uniformity would depend on how a person holds it?
Also, does your company have any scientific data to back up the claims of “pain reduction” and “aid in healing”? or do you base these claims solely on user feedback?

Nothing at all?

It has been five weeks for me since my surgery. I love the pillow it is a comfort for me. I believe I will probably use for a long while now.

My husband is addicted to his “heart pillow’. He had a quadruple by-pass AND a valve replacement. My question is WHERE can I buy a replacement pillow? After 6 years his has become torn and tattered. PLEASE HELP!

According to Heart Hugger’s blog https://blog.hearthugger.com/why-heart-pillows-are-ineffective-after-heart-surgery, there is no proof that the heart pillows are effective. They say “The claims made by Heart Pillow manufacturers would lead one to believe that they have tested and proved the pillow to be a viable sternal support, but that just isn’t the case. The Heart Pillow has slipped through the cracks of today’s evidence-based medicine.” On top of that, hospitals globally have seen readmission rates increase with the use of a Heart Pillow verses a sternal support device. Is there any evidence that you have found for the effectiveness of Heart Pillows?

There actually isn’t! Here’s a helpful blog about it: https://blog.hearthugger.com/why-heart-pillows-are-ineffective-after-heart-surgery