How long till I can workout?

[carista]

Ok here's a warning right away...I'm gonna whine cause I wanna work out!
I'm one month post op, 27 years old and about 9 months ago I quit smoking, then had to quit lifting weights and I gained 30lbs. I've been walking on the treadmill, taking it very carefully by the way...and I feel so good right now. How long did some of you take before you started lifting weights? I would be happy with just lifting 5 pounders at this point, ANYTHING!! I will be seeing my cardiologist in a couple weeks and of course will ask him the same thing then, but I'm anxious.

I was also curious about how long it took before you could do more than just walk. I would really like to use the elliptical again, but I know that gets your heart rate up and I don't know if that would be a bad thing yet.

Another reason I'm so anxious is because I've been getting depressed, which I know is pretty common after heart surgery, but I know that would all go away if I could just workout again. Anyway...anyone have any idea how much longer I'll have to wait before getting into the swing of things again?

Thanks so much for any replies to my whining post.

Carista

 

[Georgia]

I started cardiac rehab 3 weeks after surgery - call your cardio & see if s/he'll prescribe for you. You want to get this going asap. My insurance paid; I had to pay a co-pay for each visit (same copay as my pcp).

They have you do some REALLY lite weights and bands. True weight-lifting is simply not advisable. And they had me on the elliptical the first day I was there.

 

[Paul]

Wow! One month and you feel great! I had a big turning point at 5 weeks but was not thinking about lifting weights. I know I started Cardiac Rehab about 4 to 6 weeks out and was wanting to always go just that little bit farther or harder. I have strugled (and discussed it on this site) to know what I can expect and when.

What you are asking is SO common under the active lifestyle section i can't even tell you. We all want to get back to healt and know that this won't be an anchor around our necks for the rest of our lives.

I would suggest you do some reading of some of the posts here ove the past few months/weeks. Not sure how much old stuff is accessable:
http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12286
this is the one i really got into, but as i said it's a very common concern for active people.

On the other hand, feeling like lifting weights at 4 weeks seems incredible to me. Just a thought, but could you be trying to over compensate for the feelings of depression? I did that too. Please don't rush it. Only 4 weeks!!

 

[carista]

Wow! One month and you feel great!

On the other hand, feeling like lifting weights at 4 weeks seems incredible to me. Just a thought, but could you be trying to over compensate for the feelings of depression? I did that too. Please don't rush it. Only 4 weeks!!

Don't get me wrong, I still feel like I had heart surgery. But I'm already starting to feel better than I did just previous to the surgery. I don't get as short of breath going up the stairs like I did before surgery, I don't get fatigue anymore...the only thing that really bothers me is my back. I really hope I don't end up going downhill again! But I know there's no way I could weight lift heavy right now, I just want to do really light weight lifting and maybe a little more cardio than just walking. I definately know I couldn't jog right now. I definately won't rush it though, I won't do anything my cardiologist tells me not to do, I just kinda wanted an idea how long everyone else got back into weight lifting.

 

[Hank]

Work Out !

Work Out !

Hey Carista,

Welcome to VR.com. Sorry I don't post more, but life is hectic and this site is growing like CRAZY!!

I was told after my surgery that I could do whatever I felt like doing. My cardiologists told me that our bodies have a great ability to tell us when we are doing too much.

I think that your answer would be how much can you do without pain or shortness of breath.

I say Go for it! You will know when it's too much.

 

[ChristineBP]

Hi


I think you should talk with your doctors and tell them how frustrated you are feeling right now.


Sometimes doctors forget how hard all this can be for their patients. I always question my doc and call them when I have a question. This is why they are your doctors and you pay them for their brains.


I know what you are going through I spent half of my life being told no you can't do that . Now I do what feels right. I had surgery back in 1990 at Mayo and now I'll be turning 30 In 6 weeks. I'll need more surgery's but I'm not willing to give up my lifestyle. Stay positive and be smart, talk with your doctors. I tell my doctors to run a 5k with me to make sure I'm Ok - still no takers. So I'm still on my own. I hope you stay well and happy!!!!!!! Best of luck.

 

[MikeHeim]

Same Frustrations

Same Frustrations

I completely understand what you're going through. I'm four weeks post-op and I'm ready to get on with things! I'm 29 and a marathon runner (hope to be again in the future), so I'm really used to pushing myself. My cardiologist patiently explained to me that this is certainly not the time to push myself. He forbade me from cardio workouts until I see him again in two weeks.

The part I can really relate to is the frustration. When I don't work out, I feel lazy and am generally irritable. My fiance has been feeling the brunt of this for several months (due to all the activity restrictions before surgery as well) and I'm really not sure what to do. I absolutely cannot wait until I can go for a run, bike ride, or start to lift weights (I recognize this is several months away). Everyone says that I should "relax and treat myself", but I am just not the type of person that can sit and watch TV or read a book for extended periods and be happy about it.

One question I have never really heard an answer to: What happens if you DO push yourself too far? Will this slow your recovery or the healing process? There are several occasions where I have walked farther than my body wanted to or climbed more stairs than I should have, but I usually seem to recover in an hour or two. Is it possible that I'm doing some type of damage?

(Sorry to bust into your thread with questions of my own. )

 

[msiwik]

Advice

Advice

I completely understand what you're going through. I'm four weeks post-op and I'm ready to get on with things! I'm 29 and a marathon runner (hope to be again in the future), so I'm really used to pushing myself. My cardiologist patiently explained to me that this is certainly not the time to push myself. He forbade me from cardio workouts until I see him again in two weeks.

The part I can really relate to is the frustration. When I don't work out, I feel lazy and am generally irritable. My fiance has been feeling the brunt of this for several months (due to all the activity restrictions before surgery as well) and I'm really not sure what to do. I absolutely cannot wait until I can go for a run, bike ride, or start to lift weights (I recognize this is several months away). Everyone says that I should "relax and treat myself", but I am just not the type of person that can sit and watch TV or read a book for extended periods and be happy about it.

One question I have never really heard an answer to: What happens if you DO push yourself too far? Will this slow your recovery or the healing process? There are several occasions where I have walked farther than my body wanted to or climbed more stairs than I should have, but I usually seem to recover in an hour or two. Is it possible that I'm doing some type of damage?

(Sorry to bust into your thread with questions of my own. )

Mike and Carista: Congrats on your successful surgeries. I don't have a lot of time to share all that I have learned but after 7 months; this would be it:

a) You can walk as much as you feel like at this point. At your stage, I would walk as much as 25 to 35 miles a week. The exercise physiologist thought 35 was too much and I agree.

b) It takes 6 to 8 weeks for the sternum to fully heal. Keep that in mind for weights. I do pushups at 7 mos. and still feel it in my chest.

c) Work with somebody who is used to rehabbing heart patients. I am a marathon runner too and yet OHS takes such a toll. My heart was 16% weaker than the typical male my age, six weeks after surgery. That's a common side affect and you just have to work back.

d) You can overdo it. Here's what happened to me. I didn't sleep through the night until 4 months after OHS. At 2 months, I ran 13 miles because I had a goal of doing a half marathon 3 months after OHS. Anyway, all the increased activity combined with active healing and lack of sleep did me in. I got mono and had to cool it for 3 weeks. Monitor your energy levels and take it slow following the 10% rule - never increase pace or duration by more than 10% in any given week.

Good Luck - you both have a great attitude. Keep us posted. Mark

 

[msiwik]

Ok here's a warning right away...I'm gonna whine cause I wanna work out!
I'm one month post op, 27 years old and about 9 months ago I quit smoking, then had to quit lifting weights and I gained 30lbs. I've been walking on the treadmill, taking it very carefully by the way...and I feel so good right now. How long did some of you take before you started lifting weights? I would be happy with just lifting 5 pounders at this point, ANYTHING!! I will be seeing my cardiologist in a couple weeks and of course will ask him the same thing then, but I'm anxious.

I was also curious about how long it took before you could do more than just walk. I would really like to use the elliptical again, but I know that gets your heart rate up and I don't know if that would be a bad thing yet.

Another reason I'm so anxious is because I've been getting depressed, which I know is pretty common after heart surgery, but I know that would all go away if I could just workout again. Anyway...anyone have any idea how much longer I'll have to wait before getting into the swing of things again?

Thanks so much for any replies to my whining post.

Carista

Carista - you should talk to LLJ from this site. Laura is about a year out from surgery, a physical therapist meaning she understands the science, and someone who loves weightlifting like you! You might pm her. Mark

 

[carista]

The part I can really relate to is the frustration. When I don't work out, I feel lazy and am generally irritable. My fiance has been feeling the brunt of this for several months (due to all the activity restrictions before surgery as well) and I'm really not sure what to do. I absolutely cannot wait until I can go for a run, bike ride, or start to lift weights (I recognize this is several months away). Everyone says that I should "relax and treat myself", but I am just not the type of person that can sit and watch TV or read a book for extended periods and be happy about it.

Same thing with me, I get crabby with my husband sometimes cause he's in the best shape he's ever been in in his life so he's always all excited talking about what a great workout he had and yada yada. I'm happy for him, but it's so hard to hear everyday while in the mean time I'm in the worst shape i've ever been in. I definately feel lazy right now.

Hank - I definately like your cardio's outlook, hope mine says the same thing.

Mark - Thanks for all the tips and advice, definately good to keep in mind. Maybe I will try to get in touch with LLJ also, thanks!

 

[MikeHeim]

Been There

Been There

I failed to mention this in my first rambling post, but it was especially tough watching my fiance run the Long Beach Marathon back in October. It was actually when I was beginning to train for that race when I started to get the severe shortness of breath that originally led me to the doctor. Five months later I was under the knife...

Anyways, good luck to you going forward. I've tried to act as if I don't care when my fiance goes running, to the gym, surfing, or hiking (with someone other than me?!?!?!?!). Hopefully I can slowly start to work back in these activities so I look halfway decent at the beach this summer. You know, except for the six-inch gash in my chest.

 

[Rush20]

I know your frustrated, however please try to be patient. Like you, I was very active prior to my surgery. My diagnosis came as a complete surprise and my exercise regime pre-op actually helped mask the symptoms, so needless to say, "shutting down" for surgery and recovery was new to me.

Take it slow because regardless of the condition of your heart, your body went through a large trauma during surgery and needs time to recover. I started pushing myself too hard about 6 weeks post-op and it pushed my recovery back.

My surgery was on 8/29/03. A few weeks after surgery, I started the cardio rehab program that took me up to the last week of the year. Then, with my cardio's blessing went back to my lifelong cardio/weight lifting regime. I started slow with very, very light weights and focused on form, etc.

Remember to stretch and take it slow. The following spring I went to the batting cages in preparation for my mens softball and baseball leagues and even though I felt fine, my chest was on fire as a result of all the twisting, etc. Something that never occurred prior to surgery so all those chest and trunk tendons, etc. really tightened up as result of the surgery.

 

[msiwik]

Another good testimonial about patience

Another good testimonial about patience

I know your frustrated, however please try to be patient. Like you, I was very active prior to my surgery. My diagnosis came as a complete surprise and my exercise regime pre-op actually helped mask the symptoms, so needless to say, "shutting down" for surgery and recovery was new to me.

Take it slow because regardless of the condition of your heart, your body went through a large trauma during surgery and needs time to recover. I started pushing myself too hard about 6 weeks post-op and it pushed my recovery back.

My surgery was on 8/29/03. A few weeks after surgery, I started the cardio rehab program that took me up to the last week of the year. Then, with my cardio's blessing went back to my lifelong cardio/weight lifting regime. I started slow with very, very light weights and focused on form, etc.

Remember to stretch and take it slow. The following spring I went to the batting cages in preparation for my mens softball and baseball leagues and even though I felt fine, my chest was on fire as a result of all the twisting, etc. Something that never occurred prior to surgery so all those chest and trunk tendons, etc. really tightened up as result of the surgery.

We now understand how athletes come back too soon from injury don't we. The other thing I can say is that invest in a good HR monitor - it will help you stay within parameters of what ever the physiologists tell you! Mark

 

[Gemma]

Hi Carista,

I'd definitely ask your cardio about a cardiac rehab programme. Jim had a bit of a hold up getting onto his because there were just too many people needing it (in the end they started up an extra session each week to cope with the overflow) but once he started going he really started feeling more confident and like he was really recovering.

Assuming that the rehab programme is similar for you as it is here in the UK, they do a combination of monitored exercise on bikes, elliptical trainers, climber thingies, treadmills etc, plus group discussions on all sorts of heart-related stuff like understanding your medication, diet, relaxation and pretty much everything you can think of. Jim was the youngest by a long way but still enjoyed "competing" with other patients!

 

[Paul]

Ahhh

Ahhh

Don't get me wrong, I still feel like I had heart surgery. But I'm already starting to feel better than I did just previous to the surgery. I don't get as short of breath going up the stairs like I did before surgery, I don't get fatigue anymore...the only thing that really bothers me is my back. I really hope I don't end up going downhill again! But I know there's no way I could weight lift heavy right now, I just want to do really light weight lifting and maybe a little more cardio than just walking. I definately know I couldn't jog right now. I definately won't rush it though, I won't do anything my cardiologist tells me not to do, I just kinda wanted an idea how long everyone else got back into weight lifting.

Ok Christa, i understand now what you are saying now. I got the wrong impression. I know i got in trouble from picking up my 3 year old too soon and inhibiting the sternum healing. That's what i meant about lifting weights too soon. I had an easier time staying inside as last winter was brutally cold here in Vermont and my wife was 5 to 7 months pregnant during that phase of recovery; so our life was/is busy enough to not get too restless. I was also renovating the kithchen prior to surgery so was able to get back to that level of activity post surgery. Maybe there is something like that you could engage your self in? Also, I really did enjoy cardiac rehab after my 6 week checkup and encurage you to presue that if it's an option. There is a level of assurance for those first few workouts since there are medical professionsals around. But at 4 weeks I bet you are very close to some satisfaction. Hang in there.

 

[LLJ]

Hi Carista! I can't believe you feel so good 4 weeks after your surgery! I was still barely walking down the block( 500 yards) to get my kids from the school bus at that time. I had an anneurysm repair as well as an accidental tear in the ventricle during surgery,so maybe that's the difference. Or else I'm just old and in the way!
Any way, I see my friend Mark has referred a question my way so here goes: Everyone on this site is wonderfully well informed and they seem to give sensible advice. I went from being able to do 45 pound incline flys to struggling with 5 pounds 4 weeks after surgery. My heart would just POUND! I developed some Afib at about the same time I started to push things too hard. My Doc told me it was unrelated but......
I agree with everyone here GO TO CARDIAC REHAB! Yes, as a PT I could do it all myself,but it made me feel secure having a monitor hooked up while I attempted my first 10 minute jog at 8 weeks post op. I had a stress test done prior to starting rehab. They also monitor you while you do weights so it's a good set up.
It has been a year for me and as antsy as you get, GO SLOW. I finally feel like I might get back into shape again. I also gained weight after surgery(once my appetite came back) I just wasn't doing the workouts at the intensity I had been prior. OHS is a dramatic event in the life of your body. Pretend your starting out like the worst couch potato and you will always see improvement!
I don't know if this is helpful,but feel free to email me too! Good luck!!!
Laura

 

[ar bee]

my way

my way

have a look at my recovery schedule:

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12491


well2u
ar bee

 

[carista]

Thanks ar bee, that's very helpful! I just wanted to let you all know that I talked to my cardiologist about it, and he basically said the same thing. To do cardiac rehab. His main reasoning was I would be likely to get back to where I was before a lot faster because I would know exactly what I could do. So once I get back from out of town that's exactly what I'm going to do. That probably is the best route anyway since I'm being impatient.

Thank you all so much for all the help you've given me!

Carista