Exercise other than walking....

[Shelba]

It has been 6 weeks since my surgery, and I feel great. I saw my cardiologist today, and he said I can start doing exercise other than walking as long as I build up to it. And to still use caution when using my arms and also when lifting anything. He said yoga is fine, but to be careful and take it easy.

My question is....when did the rest of your resume exercise other than walking? I'm ready to kick it up a notch, but of course I don't want to hurt myself. I'm nervous about trying to start running again.

My INR is finally up there! I tested at 2.8 today! Wooo hooo!!!

Michele

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Michele,
After 6 weeks I was told I could start adding 10 lbs. a week until I got up to 50 lbs. and than after 6 months I could increase 10 lbs. a week up to 150 lbs.
I am 1 year out and they still don't want me lifting more than 200 lbs. now.

Did you do cardiac rehab? That really seems to help out, anyway it did for me.

Take Care

 

[SJJ]

Michelle,
I had to give up jogging about 5 years ago and am really anxious to try it again. I feel like I could do it now at 8 wks post op but my surgeon's guidelines say 3 months so I'll hold off another month to be on safe side. I'm just starting using light hand held weights again and in another month I'll get back on my Pilates machine. Right now, some of the stretches on the Pilates (through the chest area) would seem a little ouchy to me. Glad to hear you're doing so well.
Sue

 

[Raverlaw]

Hi Michele,

Glad to hear from you again. I'd been wondering how you were doing.

Let your body be your guide. Start with light weights if you're going to lift or use a machine, and don't do anything that causes pain. Stretching exercises and yoga should be OK if you take it easy.

I've started running a little, because walking no longer keeps my heart rate as high as I would like to have it for exercise value. I've noticed that the jarring from running stills bothers me in the sternum area and in my left breast where I'm still a little swollen. When I was on vacation, I jogged on the padded treadmills at some of the hotels where I stayed, and that was more comfortable, less jarring.

I plan on starting rowing soon, but I know that I'll have to keep a close eye on the chest area and take it real easy for at least 3 or 4 more months.

Please keep in touch and give us an update on how you're doing!

 

[Abbanabba]

Ohmigod.... all this talk of exercise.....it's just......it's just.....it's just not natural!!!!!

Michele -
How would you go with something like dancing? Or are you one of these die-hard aerobic/gym freaks? When I was "well" I used to love dancesport, which was a combination of ballroom and latin dance. It might sound a bit namby-pamby, but let me assure you, it certainly made me "glow" and was a great all over, low grade aerobic exercise. And the best part was, it didn't even seem like exercise at all..!!!

Bill -
How you can even contemplate a rowing machine this soon after your surgery just boggles my mind, but "each to their own" eh?

Cheers
Anna : )

 

[Tom F.]

Six weeks to the day of my surgery I went back to the gym and returned to weight training and cardio work. I only lifted very light weights, but I will be honest and say that I did exceed the limits my doc gave me. Nevertheless, I had no problem. I also rode the bike and did stairmaster. In time I did return to martial arts, but again started slowly. Some of the more ballastic moves did stress my chest, things just felt tight. I did stretch and do some yoga, but my sense about yoga is that is something that should be done slowly and carefully, because some of the stretches really seemed to stress the area of surgery. Now in all of this my strength did not allow me to push all that much for a good six months post surgery. I just did not have the physical ability to push through limits. So allow yourself to take time, and to rest.

 

[Raverlaw]

It might sound a bit namby-pamby, but let me assure you, it certainly made me "glow" and was a great all over, low grade aerobic exercise.

Anna,

Dance certainly qualifies as exercise, although it might be difficult to do it often enough to get the benefits. I will go out on a limb here and venture to say that if you were my dance partner, I'd probably "glow", too!

And rowing isn't as physically tough as you might think - it is highly aerobic while working most of the major muscles groups. You quickly get into a sort of zen-like state and the rythym. Cross-country skiing can be the same way. Both are best out-of-doors, doing the real thing. The gym machines are a good simulation, but you miss the fresh air and *swish* of the oars in water (or skis in snow).

 

[Abbanabba]

Hmm, well, it all sounds far too much like "proper" exercise to me.

Anyhoo, back many (many) moons ago when I used to be really young and fit and healthy, I used to go dancing 4-5 nights a week!! .....Unfortunately all that good work was undone by being in a smoke-filled night club, knocking back a good dose of scotch & dry. Ooops!!

A : )

 

[Mary]

You might try swimming as long as it's at a pool that's maintained well. Our local pool keeps the chlorination up so practically all bacteria and viruses are killed. I figure I've breathed,swallowed, and splashed around in enough chlorinated water to keep germs at bay for years to come.
Even if you can't swim laps, you could jog in the shallow end. Runners who have been injured typically use a pool to maintain their endurance as they recover from their injury.
Mary

 

[Shelba]

Abbanabba, I turn up the music and dance around my living room. Started that at about three weeks out of the hospital, and that has been good.

I'm going to start back at the yoga studio I was going to before my surgery, and I will definitely take it easy. Before my surgery, I was able to do back bends easily, but I suppose it will be a different story now. It will be my 8 week anniversary on May 3rd. I can't believe how quickly time has passed, but at the same time it seems like forever that I was in the hospital.

Bill, it is good to hear that you have started reving up your activity, because that makes me feel better about increasing what I've been doing.

Thanks everyone for sharing your exercise after surgery exeperience. I didn't do cardiac rehab, but I sort of wish I had. I feel great. My INR is finally at a good place, and I don't have to go back to see my cardiologist until October! Yay!

I'm am ready to do something other than walking though. I think I'll increase my living room dancing, and start running on the treadmill!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[Abbanabba]

... is not alcohol used to sterilize and kill germs? Hey now, we cannot have fungi and germs growing on our brain cells now!! ... Mark

And let's not forget the "Buffalo Theory"....

When buffalo wander in the wild, the weak and the sick are those that fall most often to prey. The result of this is that the strongest and healthiest buffalos are the ones that survive and thereby create a stronger and healthier breed of buffalo.

The same principal can be applied to the consumption of alcohol and it's effect on the brain. It is a well documented fact that alcohol kills brain cells, so it makes sense that the weakest and most useless brain cells are killed off first. This, therefore, leaves only the strongest and most powerful brain cells, thereby meaning the more you drink, the smarter you become!

....the 'Buffalo Theory" - gotta love it..!!!

A : )

...now where's that bottle of Johnny Walker..??