Rehab

[inventory]

Hello everyone, hope all is well.
I have a question. I just returned from my first cardio appointment after surgery. He said everything so far looks very good.
I asked him about an exercise and weight program and he basically told me what I could start doing, for now and in the future.
He did recommend rehab if my insurance covers it. I have always done my own fitness programs for 30 some years and would just as soon do it on my own, instead of hassling with the insurance company, whether or not they would even cover all of it.
I know there are pro and cons but I would really like to do it on my own for the next month or two before I return to work.I have been fighting with my insurance company for a year and truthfully am just plain tired of messing with them over another thing.
Any thoughts would be appreciated very much.
Al
Any thoughts would be very helpful.

 

[Ross]

There really isn't anything wrong with doing it yourself as long as your disciplined enough to do it. About the only difference is, you'll have someone telling you what to do and watching to make sure your not over doing it. Outside of that, I can't think of any other Pros to the question. Remember though, you have to have the discipline to carry on.

 

[jackc]

Rehab

Had my bypass in June 2002 and for similar easons to yours decided to my own rehab. Ross has it right...the clue is self discipline...you must do the work religiously. But if you have always worked out then it is habit and you miss not doing the work. ( if you are like me)

I found two problems...tended to do too much and paid the price in a very sore chest and I constantly got ahead of myself in the belief I was more recovered than reality.

I had a rehab nurse who called me every other week and reviewed what I was doing( she constantly gave me hell) and I was tested via a bike stress test at the hospital 3 months post op. ( scored rather well if I say so myself!!)

Have another test (to see if I worked out over winter in the freezing North where I live) should be late March.

Can be done..just be careful

Jack(Welland)

 

[Granbonny]

Walking

Walking

I think walking the first month is plenty..Anything you do with your arms..be careful. Will feel it the next day. Your upper body needs a lot of time to heal. Bonnie

 

[inventory]

Thanks everyone-
I have always been a very disciplined person and have worked out for more than thirty years with walking and a weight program. The weights were more or less to keep in shape and nothing like body building like Arnold. I feel that I can go it alone and my cardio more or less gave me a guideline today if I don't do the rehab. Don't get me wrong, he feels like everyone should do the rehab.
Jack, I also live in this great northeast as does ross in ohio, and it has been a bad winter. For me though spring is hopefully around the corner and I should be able to get out more.
Thank you all for your comments. I do appreciate it.
Al

 

[Rain]

I vote for rehab...

I vote for rehab...

It gets a tiny bit chilly here in Colorado too. And my little town doesn?t have a mall or any place like that to walk. Besides I was kind of afraid to get too far from the house all by myself when I first got home from the surgery. And it?s nice to have a nurse there monitoring your heart and blood pressure, etc. and besides you have the added benefit of being able to ask her a zillion questions during that scary time of recovery.

I thought it was such a great idea..... here it is three years later and I'm still going! I think most insurance companies pay for phase II, mine is even paying for phase III.

Good luck.

 

[ShezaGirlie]

Three years in Rehab?

Three years in Rehab?

I'll bet you're in good shape!

 

[inventory]

rehab

rehab

Thank you ladies.
I do try to stay in shape and am back and forth with the rehab thing. We do have plenty of places to walk etc. here in the
northeast.
Thanks for the input!

 

[Rain]

Yeeeeep.........

Yeeeeep.........

I got muscles in places I never even knew I needed them!!

 

[Ross]

I got muscles in places I never even knew I needed them!!

OUCH, that's gotta hurt!

 

[Rain]

Rossman.....

Rossman.....

Believe me it doesn't hurt a bit ..... just makes you want more and more and more.

 

[terry40]

Hi Al

Hi Al

I know what it's like to fight with those insurance companies, is it a jersey thing???

I'm still doing the Rehab thing, 3x a week, but I lived with this damaged heart for over twenty years, it was not in the best shape pre-surgery, so for me Rehab has been a blessing.

They are mainly concern with not increasing my heart rate too much, too soon, slow increases, working my arms and legs, even doing some wt lifting, and starting out with a warm up and ending with a cool down, I also exercise 3 days at home too, I have a treadmill and an old exercise bike. I will continue this after I'm finished with rehab too.

Terry40

 

[inventory]

Hi terry

Hi terry

Yes terry I do believe it has to be a NJ thing. As I mentioned before i have always exercised a lot with weights, done a lot of walking and walked always in my jobs. I also have one of those Healthriders I use for cardio. I just have been fighting and still am with the insurance company, and am just worn out. Probably what they want.
Anyway, today is 1 month exactly, and at this time I was under the knife. I will celebrate by going out and starting my daily routine of walking and keep on increasing it.
I hope everything is going well with you. It sounds like you are doing great. Everytime I see Audabon (sp) on the weather map I think of you.
Take care and good talking to you once again.
Al

 

[epstns]

Inventory - Good to hear you're back. Sounds like the walking will get you back into the swing of things, then you can add as you feel able.

May the force be with ye!

 

[inventory]

Steve

Steve

Yes Steve I am back.
Today is my one month anniversary of my surgery.
Thanks for the reply.
Al