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I am a retired cardiac RN.

One of the most important concerns after open heart surgery is protecting the sternum as it heals. The flat plate of bone is cut to allow access to the heart, then stitched with wire to close it. It is strong - you will not pop open like the Alien movie. But the delicate bone structure will begin building and must not be disturbed. Imagine joining two flat plates by welding along the edge.
You must prevent ANY shifting of the healing bone until it has time to heal just like your broken arm would in a cast. When the arms are used to lift, push, or pull anything, the force continues to the chest muscles and torques the bone.
Standing and sitting down safely requires a little skill. When you are moving your body around to get to the edge of the chair, practice hugging your arms to keep from pushing off. Work yourself to the edge of chair, feet directly below. Hug yourself and rock forward three time and push up with your legs to stand . Your upper body weight will give momentum to stand .
It is a challenge to learn and practice after surgery, but will be much easier to start now. Getting in and out of bed is tougher, but you will learn. Glad you are looking ahead. Practice now.
Getting up, moving, and breathing deeply is critical to preventing pneumonia. The discomfort of moving causes shallow breathing that facilitates growth of germs that would set back recovery. There is always congestion after this surgery. You will probably be given a “ flutter valve “ by respiratory therapy. Use that to clear the nasty blob a mucus. When you feel a sloppy, floppy loogy (can’t spell it ), blow that horn strong and long as though you are calling in troops to battle. Take a moment between blows, you can feel the blob getting floppier. Blooooow again. About the third or fourth time, it will break loose and cough up. Don’t freak out if you swallow it, better in the stomach than lungs.

Manage your pain well after surgery. It is a tough procedure. This is the proper time to use opioids effectively in a short term event.
The goal of pain management is to be comfortable enough to move and deep breath. You are not going to achieve “pain free”.
A stoic patient that bullies his way through the pain slows his recovery with elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and other bodily responses. A truly strong man uses his will to protect his body while it heals. Manage your pain well in the early phase, and the body’s need for medication will taper off.
Most pain meds have a 4 hour dosing. The effect begins about 15-30 minutes after taking and peaks an hour or so later. The med diminishes slowly until gone. That early bloom of the pain med is the perfect time to clear the lungs. Knowing that the pain relief is coming, blow the flutter valve, cough up stuff, then rest. Trust me, it is worth it.

One more thing
During the first 48 hours after valve surgery, many patients go into Afib. This is a temporary reaction that is corrected with IV meds. The heart muscle is just twitchy after all the excitement and will calm down. It may not effect you, but don’t freak out. The staff will be on it.

May you have a successful surgery and recovery. You are in my prayers.