Starting Cardiac Rehabilitation

[Braveheart]

Well, after doing the paper work yesterday, and discussing my case with the nurse in charge of rehab, I started my actual workout today. I am a person whose idea of a "nice walk" was four miles. When I went on a treadmill at the gym, I didn't get off until I heard my entire CD, which usually ran 60-70 minutes.

So, I was wondering whether this rehab stuff would be worth my while. I was comforted when the nurse fitted me with a heart monitor. Since I had my bout of a-fib, I am a little "gun shy" about my heart rhythm.

The fitness person explained that this time they were going to go easy on me, to get a baseline. I went through the stretching, various machines, and another round of stretching. The fitness guy kept asking me if I felt ok, if anything was hurting. It wasn't.

I went home thinking that this would be a piece of cake. I wasn't hurting. I liked the numbers on my little oximeter. I went home, laid down on the couch, and suddenly felt like a dead fish. Obviously, my little encounter with exercise after surgery was not as innocuous as I first thought!

 

[Star54]

You go girl! That's great! I just walked 8 city blocks and almost took car service home!
Keep up the good work...you truly are a braveheart!

 

[Braveheart]

Star54- Your story reminds me of something that happened to me years ago.
I had had a deviated septum operation, which, when you think of it, compared to AVR and bypass, is rather minor.

The doctor was in Manhattan, a few blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of my favorite places. I was three weeks post-op, and was seeing him for a folllow up. I figured that I could go to the museum after I saw the doctor.

Anyhow, I walked the few blocks from the doc to the museum. You have to go up a long flight of steps to get to the entrance. I put my foot on the first step, quickly turned around, and hailed a cab!

 

[Star54]

lol....My hospital was on Museum Mile...Mt.Sinai...of course I took car service there and back....not ready for trains yet....lol...PS...I love the Met also, spend hours in there!!!!!
Thank God for Taxi's!

Linda

 

[spartangator]

Keep it going with the rehab. It'll get less exhausting soon, and you'll have all that experience to give you confidence that all's well.

 

[CThrock]

Keep up the good work. I totally enjoyed rehab the equipment was good and the cardio nurses were very informative on all my questions, and believe me I had alot.
I loved the feeling of being monitored because it made me feel safe and taken care of. I do walk a treadmill at home but doing other various machine really made the differences.
Good Luck and thanks for the update.

 

[Braveheart]

I loved the feeling of being monitored because it made me feel safe and taken care of.

Exactly. Ever since I had my bout of a-fib, I have been a little leery about pushing it. When I am on the heart monitor, I know that the staff will stop me if I do anything dangerous for me.

 

[Braveheart]

Well, I have gone to rehab a few times already, and they are increasing what I can do. Compared to what I did before the AVR & CABG, it is baby stuff, but apparently, it is what my body can take now.

I do find though, that when I go on certain machines, and am told to keep my exertion at certain levels, I purposely try to go above those levels. I have always been very stubborn, and like to challenge myself. I still go home, and go to sleep after a workout.

This weekend, I am going to attempt to do my usual walk, which, before the procedure, was 4+ miles. If I start to get tired, I will cut it short, but I really want to see how much I can push myself. I will go slower than usual, and have plenty of places where I can rest in between.

Thank goodness that the weather in Florida is beginning to moderate, so it will be reasonable for me to walk outside, if I start out early enough.

 

[Hot Rod Harry]

I looked at it as a "supervised workout", and did it for a month. I'm glad I did it, because I think I pushed myself further, because off the comfort of being monitored. Take baby steps, and moderate your progress, you will do fine. Don't be scared to push yourself, when you feel it's appropriate. You know yourself better than anyone, so don't be scared to push yourself, on those days you are feeling great. Good luck.