Cardiac Rehab Question

[hubb1972]

Hello again all. Quick question on cardiac rehab, specifically how would I do this myself at home if I had to? And is that even advisable? I want to do cardiac rehab, my insurance will pay for it at 100% but transportation is a major issue. The times offered for rehab are very inconvenient for my wife and she would essentially have to take half days of from work 3 days a week until I can drive (end of April). I guess I could do some rehab from home and start the program when I can drive. I had surgery March 17th and am walking almost an hour each day now (2 30 minute intervals).

After searching the forums, I see a lot of mixed responses. Some praise rehab, some did not do it at all. From my standpoint, it is like getting a free gym membership in a way for 12 weeks.

I would also be curious as to what type of exercises you did from home if you did your own rehab. Walking I already do, I thought about starting to do some stair climbing repetitions since my home has lots of stairs. I know jogging is out of the question right now due to the pounding affecting my healing sternum.

Thanks in advance to all!

 

[DebbyA]

I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice about exercise, but my advice is to wait til you can drive (if it's otherwise convenient) and to ask about driving earlier. My surgeon gave me a driving go-ahead at 3 weeks. When I had my first AVR that cardiologist wanted me to wait 3 months for rehab. At that time I was living in Virginia, and that gave 3 months of indoor air-conditioned exercise during 3 hot, humid months. This time my reasoning was exactly like yours--12 weeks of free gym membership.

 

[Paleowoman]

You can certainly do rehab at home - that's where you have to do it inbetween rehab classes. For example, I have rehab 'training' once a week and then inbetween each week I do the same at home on at least two other days, with brisk walking on the other days (ha - walking when my ankle has recovered from strained tendon). But you need some guidance, imho, to devise a program for yourself which gets more challenging as the weeks go by. Cardiac rehab is based on interval training to raise and lower your heart rate, and to get you breathing deeply, and the use of a heart rate monitor is essential to get the heart rate right for you, and that's where the rehab nurse comes in to give you advice on how much to raise your heart rate as everyone's starting rate is different. Hope you sort something out as it's really a great thing to do.

 

[Mentu]

Do both

Do both

As you already know, we begin rehab from right after surgery by walking and just moving around. I agree completely with Anne's recommendation that you continuing to do the basics at home until you can drive yourself to the rehab group. Many people don't begin Cardiac Rehab until six or seven weeks following surgery which was my own experience. At home, walk as far as you comfortably can and do more household chores as much as those pesky chest muscles will allow. As I've told several others, I think the benefits of Cardiac Rehab are not just exercise but, and I think much more important, it helps restore your confidence that you can trust your body to do what you want. Do Both.

Larry

 

[AdrockTN]

Hi ... I agree with the statements about waiting until you can drive. I did cardiac rehab sessions for about 3 weeks. I found it to be beneficial from a mental standpoint. There was a sense of comfort knowing that I'm being monitored while pushing myself physically.

I highly recommend doing at least 2 or 3 weeks of it if you can.

 

[epstns]

I wasn't cleared for rehab until 12 weeks, due to having so many complications after surgery. I was cleared to drive at 5 weeks, and was always allowed to walk as much as I felt was comfortable. From week 4 through 12, I would accompany my wife to the fitness center. While she did her classes or workouts, I just walked laps on the indoor track (winter in Chicago. . . ). I was walking up to 2 miles at a 15 min/mile pace at that time. When I started rehab, I was fully "ready" to give it a go. I went to rehab 3 days a week, and on the other 2 days I went to my own health club and did whatever routine I had been doing at rehab. Once I finished the 12-week rehab program, I just took it back to the gym 5 days a week, and haven't looked back.

The rehab experience gave me the confidence to push harder than I thought I could. They monitor you closely and adjust your routine to challenge you, but do so safely. The staff were so very caring and considerate of us, and we bonded as a "class" with our nurses and technicians. I still go back and say "Hello!" whenever I'm in the building and have a few minutes.

 

[scott.eitman]

I began Cardiac Rehab at about 6+ weeks. Before that,I walked...and walked...and walked. Increasing the distance a little each day. That increase was based on how I felt. It can be very short increases.

I DO believe rehab in an important step in recovery. Mainly because, when properly administered, we are connect to heart monitors which can give valuable feedback as to how our hearts are. For those with other Heart Disease issues, there is typically seminars involved as well to help with dietary, nutrition and much more.

I only went to Cardiac Rehab 5 times. With the permission of my Cardio, I quickly moved on to Spin classes at my gym. (not for everyone)

 

[hubb1972]

Thanks for all the responses. Fortunately, my transportation issue worked itself out so now I have a ride so I plan to start this Friday. I should be cleared to drive on the 23rd of April which is my next Dr appt. Never thought I would miss driving so much. I was hoping he would maybe let me drive sooner since I am younger than most of his patients (42) but nope......

 

[knotguilty]

Just to share my story, I was in excellent condition before surgery and was anxious to get back to exercising and the treadmill. I decided to do my rehab at a local hospital where they could monitor me and because I was tenative, and was glad I did. Come to find out, the blood pressure meds I was on after the surgery lowered my pressure too much after exercise and I had an "event". They called it viso-vagel, but it was no doubt a reaction to the blood pressure meds I was on. My pulse went down to around 50 and my BP went to around 50/60. I almost passed out and got sick once I was able to respond to questions. They wheeled me right into the emergency room. I never had issues with my BP prior to surgery and went back to rehab after seeing the cardiologist and him taking me off that PB med. Never have had another incident. Be careful if you do it at home.

 

[Heart2.0]

Hello I am new here. I will start cardio rehab next week .Four months after surgery! I had my aortic valve and ascending stem replaced 12/13/13
I can drive myself but am now dealing with insomnia. So if I don't sleep I won't be going. I guess I am not getting
Well very quickly? I was pretty fit before but reading here it sounds like I am very slow to recover. Oh well. I walk every day but sometimes only 25 minutes or if I do errands or some other activities , only 10 minutes. I was up to 40 before the
Insomnia. Ugh! I miss going to the gym and having fun. I am 53 and my diagnosis was a complete surprise!

 

[Heart2.0]

Double post?

 

[DebbyA]

Heart 2.0,
Insomnia can make even well persons feel unfit! I had no problem getting sleeping pills (Ambien) from doctors after surgery, as sleeplessness is a common problem after surgery. You may want to start your own thread if you have other questions about that or rehab. I encourage you to go to rehab because there will be health professionals you can talk to there. They won't push you to do more than you're capable of.

 

[Paleowoman]

Heart 2.0,
Insomnia can make even well persons feel unfit! I had no problem getting sleeping pills (Ambien) from doctors after surgery, as sleeplessness is a common problem after surgery. You may want to start your own thread if you have other questions about that or rehab. I encourage you to go to rehab because there will be health professionals you can talk to there. They won't push you to do more than you're capable of.

Heart2 - Doing exercise can actually help with insomnia so doing cardiac rehab can help there and without sleep meds if you don't want them. Also, cardiac rehab is about more than just exercise, cardiac rehab nurse will discuss well being with you - do the HADS score and discuss that, make suggestions, encourage you to see your GP or cardiologist if necessary.

 

[epstns]

Heart 2.0,

I, too, had insomnia for a couple of months after surgery. It nearly drove me bonkers. Finally I got a prescription for Ambien from my cardio -- but then I read about the side effects of Ambien and never opened the pill bottle.

At the time, my daughter was working on staff at an inpatient psych facility near Chicago. She told me that they often use ordinary over-the-counter Benadryl as a medication to calm down patients who are agitated but not so much that they need prescription meds for it. She said they also used it as a sleep aid, and suggested that I try it. Taking one 25mg tablet before bed did wonders for my sleep, and it did not leave me with a "medication hangover" the next morning. Might be worth discussing with your cardio and giving it a try.

 

[Heart2.0]

Thanks for the responses! I feel too unstable to drive our tricky LA fwy with out sleep. I am taking the smallest
Effective dose of melatonin. I have to take benedryl for so many allergies, sadly it isn't really working in a large dose
For sleep. Almost seems* to keep me up. My problem is my 2 family members in a tiny home, who cannot be still
After I go to bed. I have a sound machine, ear plugs and an eye mask...but withthier noise , the concept of "sleep hygiene" + medication Fails here!
I'll see my primary care dr and hope for a referral to a sleep person.
I have a atypical *neurology so many
Meds will cause me harm. I hope biofeedback back and a move to the couch will help
Also my hair is coming out but I am on no meds and all blood work was ok 40 days ago. yuck.

 

[AdrockTN]

With regard to insomnia, Xanax worked for me ... still does ...

But I will echo what Paleogirl said ... exercise helped with the insomnia too.