How Much Walking?

[pillarpaul]

Granbonny sent me a "scolding" post that I just found in a hockey thread that I am walking too much post-op. Bonnie, although I sincerely appreciate your concern, your post contradicted what my cardiologist, the CCU nurses and Cardiac Rehab have told me. You have planted a seed of doubt, though, so I thought I'd ask the group.

I am almost three weeks post-op and am now walking 3 miles per day. It's done in 4 or 5 shorter walks spread throughout the day. I listen to my body but it just doesn't tire during walks. All the people I mentioned above recommended pushing the envelope in walking and "playing it safe" on sternum activity. I realize it's probably a personal situation but I was a physical fitness nut who exercised up to the day before my heart cath. A good time for me is hiking ten miles at 10,000 feet. I also got post-op atrial fibrillation so my cardiologist put the fear of God in me about possible clotting.

Anyone else have a recommendation or experience to share on this? Guess I better not tell Bonnie how much I'm bench pressing these days. lol

 

[Nancy]

In my humble opinion, your surgeon knows what all went on inside your heart and what kind of physical shape it is in. If he's comfortable with what you are doing and you have the afib under control and you feel fine doing the walking, there doesn't seem to be any reason to not do what you are doing, especially since it's broken up into segments during the day. You are used to walking, and that's quite different than someone who isn't. Just remember that if you walk a certain distance, you also have to be able to walk back. I'm sure you can judge what is safe for you

Do you bring a walking stick along with you, in case you feel lightheaded?

Sounds as if you're doing GREAT, Paul. Isn't it wonderful?

 

[wweir]

Paul,

Must say I am very impressed with how you are doing. While I walked a lot and I truly believe it is the best medicine, I don't think I did three miles until I was about 4 months post op.

I guess my only concern would be falling while you are out there in the neighborhood, especially if you walk at dawn or at night. You may want to add a cell phone to the walking stick.

Curious, are you doing any sort of re-hab work that is sponsored by the hospital? I did that for about four weeks. I was monitored (mobile EKG gizmo) to make sure all my systems were working as the like to target your heart rate. Once I passed that sequence of visits I was cut loose.

Keep up the great progress.

Walter

 

[Bill Hall]

Paul - It sounds like you are doing great. Three miles is a long distance after three weeks, but you know better than anyone if it is too much. I don't know if I went three miles, but I certainly walked a lot. The big question is how do you do that in Denver, when there is no oxygen up there. Good luck with continued recovery.

 

[Rain]

The mystery is solved!!

The mystery is solved!!

There have been reports here in Colorado of a mysterious person flying around the city of Denver!!

?The fastest thing on two feet... yeah, they call him the streak... looka da, looka da..?

They say only he and his cardio know who he really is....

 

[mike anthony]

Paul, it sounds to me like you were in great shape and if your body and doctor tell you your o.k....go for it. I myself was doing 2-3 miles a day on my cross-trainer after 3 weeks and I didn't spread these workouts over the day. Each person is different, but my god if you were hiking 10 miles in the mountains and are now doing 3 miles with 4-5 walks a day....no wonder you don't get tired. Keep up the good work, it sounds like you are doing wonderful.

 

[Sunshine susan]

Hi Paul--well for me it has been four years, but I was walking about a mile at the end of one week. But I had been a confirmed walker before the surgery so it wasn't new. If your doctor approves, then let our body tell you. A cane and cell phone are always a good idea until you really get your breath back, but the walking hastens that recovery as well! Good luck! Susan

 

[Ross]

Not that I can get anywhere close to 1/4 mile even, but the Docs told me to walk as far as possible and just quit when I tire out. Your in a lot better shape then I, so what is right for one person may not be alright for another. I'd say as long as your happy and can handle it, go for it!

 

[hensylee]

You go, Guy.

Hey, Bon, leave the kid alone!!! lol

 

[Rich]

Paul,
That's great, your body will tell you if your'e pushing too hard but I sincerely doubt you are.
I was doing two miles a day in my second week and still do to this day.
Pesonally I think It's the best re-hab there is, it really built my strength back.

 

[Guest]

Paul,

I guess I'm the opposite of you...sorta.... I haven't walked as much as I should have.... But, I have started taking a brief walk about 2:30pm at work...it has helped to strenghten my legs ...as well as relax me a bit in the afternoon.


And Rain...great song by Ray Stevens .

Peace...always,
Cort S, pig's valve & pacemaker-enhanced 29/swm
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[Ross]

Granbonny sent me a "scolding" post that I just found in a hockey thread that I am walking too much post-op.

She's just upset that she hasn't gotten to make any coon or possum dinners for anyone here yet. She prides herself on that cooking and if she can't feed you, she doesn't want you to walk. Hence this gives the effect of it being considered health food.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

SUPER PAUL !

I wasn't able to get into Cardiac Rehab until 6 weeks out due to insurance and scheduling delays. When I got there, the head nurse recommended exercising enough to raise my HR 20 to 30 Beats above my resting HR with warmup and cooldown stretching exercises. I found this TOO EASY and pushed it to 120 to 130 bpm for the full 60 minutes they allowed, moving around between a treadmill, Schwinn Airdyne, and "arm bicycle". I used the treadmill as my warmup exercise, slowly incrementing the speed from 1.8 mph to 3.4 mph and raising the grade from level to 4% over 30 minutes.

AFTER Rehab, my Cardiologist told me I could exercise up to 90% of my Age determined maximum HR (220-AGE) X 0.9

FWIW, I had an A-FIB event in the hospital which they brought under control with a digoxin protocol after about 3 hours. I had a second and third event around 6 weeks out, going to the ER for the second one where they monitored me for 3 hours and then told me to go home after it converted back to normal sinus rhythm (NSR). For the third one, I popped another 25mg Toprol and relaxed in my recliner. It converted after 3 hours. They told me to go to the ER or Doc's office if it didn't convert in a 'reasonable' time (2 or 3 days).

'AL'

 

[Les]

Paul,
Your recovery is outstanding! I was walking three miles a day within 4 weeks Post-Op on the second valve. ( The first one, I had an aneurysm burst in my left leg one week post-op, and that kind of slowed things down!) But, I did take it easy, changed my pace as my body told me to and just enjoyed being out of the
$*&#@! recliner! "Better to wear out than rust out!" Great news Paul...keep on!
_______________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[epstns]

Well, Paul, You've done it again!

Well, Paul, You've done it again!

Paul - You've gone and done it again. You've beaten the norms and accomplished what I will (so far) only dream of! Great work!

On another note, thanks for sharing, as it gives those of us still in the waiting room another great story of how "normal" life can get so soon after surgery.

Please keep us posted, as I still have no idea how long I'll be waiting and the more good things I hear, the less my power fears will hold over me.

Thanks, buddy!

 

[pillarpaul]

Thank You, Thank You

Thank You, Thank You

Hey, everyone, thanks for all the great responses. It was interesting to see the different approaches to post-op exercising -really shows its an individual thing.

Great ideas on the walking stick and cell phone. Don't know why I didn't think of the walking stick - I use it all the time hiking. Guess I didn't think of "walking" as "hiking" although it surely is when you're post-op

Walt, will start a supervised cardiac rehab program Friday. Am looking forward to learning how to get range of motion and arm-strength back. Have been kind of a weenie about that.

Nancy, funny story about remembering that one has to return the same distance and judge accordingly. One day I took a different route. Wow, felt especially strong and went really far. Turned around and then I realized I had walked stricly downhill! The trip back was all uphill. I forgot that what goes down must go up!

Al, thanks for sharing on the a-fib. Yes, guess I'm still at risk but nice to know future episodes can be controlled.

Bill, the only way I can do this in Denvr is that I've lived at mile high for 25 years now so my lungs were already adjusted. If I suddenly moved to sea level I'd be walking 6 miles a day!

Ross and Ann, Bonnie was just giving me some of that "southern s-motherin" Least I hope she wasn't expecting me to eat any of those roadkill specialties!

Finally, Rain, I didn't say I was walking FAST. If I had been "streaking" I would have been arrested for public indecency before I got out of my driveway!

Thanks, all, again.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

One more comment about A-FIB.

Those two events 6 weeks post op were the ONLY events I experienced since I was released from the hospital.

One cardiologist wanted to start me on AMIODARONE which I politely dismissed. I told him I wanted to take a more conservative approach and would consider increasing my Toprol XL above the current 25 mg I was taking. He then informed me that 100 mg was considered to be the MINIMUM Theraputic dose. I reminded him that I felt 'sluggish' when I was on 100 mg and that 25 mg seemed to work just fine for me (and that I experienced PVC / PAC events if I discontinued my 25 mg).

Bottom Line: I stayed with 25 mg of Toprol XL and have had ZERO reoccurances of any type of arrhythmia in 11 months.
YMMV !

'AL'

 

[Rain]

Cort...I'm tellin' ya.. the action is in fruits & veggie dept!!

Cort...I'm tellin' ya.. the action is in fruits & veggie dept!!

According to the Action News Reporter........


"Hello, everyone, This is your Action News reporter
With all the news that is news across the nation on the scene at the supermarket
There seems to have been some disturbance here
Pardon me, sir, did you see what happened

Yeah, I did. I's standin' over there by the tomaters and here comes Paul
Runnin' through the pole beans, through the fruits ''n' vegetables
Nekked as a jaybird
'n' I hollered over t'Ethel, I said "DON'T LOOK, ETHEL", 'n' it's too late
She'd already been INcensed"

 

[Gail in Ca]

My discharge booklet said to lengthen your walk daily by 1-2 minutes, with three 10 minute walks then two 15 min walks, with an eventual goal of one 30 minute walk each day.
I think if you are an exerciser, you listen to your body and you are probably not pushing it. My booklet says that in the 1st month your pulse rate when walking should be no more than 20 beats above resting pulse rate. You said you lift but I was told not to lift anything more than 5 lbs for 6 weeks after surgery.
It also says to avoid rigorous sports and activities for 3 mos.
Gail

 

[pillarpaul]

Al, curious about your declining amiodarone. That was the drip they gave me in the hospital. I might have an idea though because I asked my cardio during discharge review just why that wasn't prescribed prophylactically after surgery since so many people get a-fib post-op. He said that is currently being discussed in the profession but they hesitate because of the life-threatening side effects. He then handed me a script for - you got it - amiodarone. I said, "Wait a minute, you just told me all these negative things" to which he responded that that that was only for 2 weeks or over six months. He said "So, if you make it for two weeks you'll be fine"! How reassuring! I'm on 800 mg for one week, 400 one more week, then 200 thereafter.

Gail, sounds like a good general guide. No, I don't lift. They told me not to lift anything heavier than a phone and I'm using a hands-free unit. Heaviest thing I lift is my coffee cup

Rain, huh?

Paul