Treadmill for the First Time since Surgery

[gadgetman]

I got on my treadmill for the first time since my surgery. Before my valve started giving up, my Cardo limited my treadmill walking to not exceed 120 BPM. I could usually reach that (and a little over) about 15 to 20 minutes in at a 2.5 incline and a fast walk. This time I was on the machine for almost 45 minutes, reached an incline of 3.5 at a fast walk and was only able to get my heart rate to 108 BPM. Wow!!!!

Once my valve started giving me trouble during last summer, my Cardo said no exercise at all. Guess you could call this an improvement.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[BillCobit]

Guess you could call this an improvement.

May God Bless,

Danny

You kiddn' Danny? Dramatic improvement!

Good news!

 

[gadgetman]

You kiddn' Danny? Dramatic improvement!

Good news!

I did my second walk Wednesday. I went for 48 minutes, raised the incline to 4.5 and speed of 2.0 (about a 30 minute mile I think) and got my heart rate up to 110. I like this feeling . Sure is great over here on this side.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[Arpy]

Big Golf Clap

Big Golf Clap

...I like this feeling . Sure is great over here on this side.

Danny

Well done and keep it up - the feeling only gets better as you get fitter. You will end up doing more than you ever used to think you could and all your friends will start remarking on how much better you look (fitter, trimmer, better colour [sorry Australian spelling!!!])

Regards

Russell

 

[gadgetman]

Danny

Well done and keep it up - the feeling only gets better as you get fitter. You will end up doing more than you ever used to think you could and all your friends will start remarking on how much better you look (fitter, trimmer, better colour [sorry Australian spelling!!!])

Regards

Russell

I will now accept any and all Australian spellings. Dr. McGiffin, my lifesaver, went to the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia in 1975, served his internship at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane and his residency at Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles Hospitals. So anyone from Australia is A-Number-One in my book. Send some more fine docs like him up here. We'll teach them "American" once they get here.

I just got through my first real work around the house (other than washing dishes and clothes) by installing some shelfs in our pantry. Lets see, that is a project that I've put off for 8 or 9 years. Looking for another "round toit" as in "I'll get a round toit real soon". A little sore across the chest but remembering what I was experiencing before surgery I'll put up with a little discomfort.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[Arpy]

Round Toits

Round Toits

Yep have a fair few "round toits" some for Ron (later on) and some for Justin (just in case you get a round to it later on). I must admit a fair few of those got put on the back burner in the last 2 years but I seem to have got the renovation / maintenance bug back again since my op in mid Nov 04. - along with the exercise bug. (But not the enthusiasm to concentrate on work!!!)

I found that once I felt a bit more active in the recovery phase I would attempt to wash / mop the floors which used the chest / pectoral muscles and ended up feeling a little sore for a while. I also found if I was cooking up a storm and doing lots of stirring that would also have an impact in the delayed pain stakes. Well I could use that excuse to get out of some housework for a while anyway...doesnt seem to work anymore unfortunately...

Regards

Russell

 

[McCln]

Gadgetman

Gadgetman

So glad that you are doing so well. Are you doing the treadmill everyday. Or twice, or three times a week? I do it five days a week, going between 2.6 to 2.8, incline from 2.0 to 3.0. There are days when I have to skip it and feel out of the loop. But when having to get meds or dtrs. appt. Just have to do what has to be done. I go to a gym five days a week. So at least, in the summer heat, I will have a safe place to work out. I also have type 2 diabetes, so the exercise is more important. Good luck and keep working hard. Just don't push it too much till you get build up on the stamina.

 

[gadgetman]

Caroline,

I started out trying to do three days a week for now until I see my Cardio on the 17th. I want to check into getting into a rehab program at one of the local hospitals. After more than 10 weeks not lifting much I need to have some supervised weight management. Since November of last year I was not able to do too much because of the SOB, low energy level, etc. In other words, I got real lazy. I am feeling the recent "pantry work" across my chest and shoulders. No sharp pains, just some discomfort. When I first started the treadmill 3 or 4 years ago I had gotten up to 5 days a week and felt great. I had even reached the point where I looked forward to my walk . Then I got a cold bug that was going around and missed about two weeks. I never got back in the groove and eventually stopped using it at all.

There are no gyms out here in the country and I'm afraid of getting involved in some of the commercial gyms unless they understand the heart limits and recovery time. That's why I hope to get into a physical therapy program at a hospital. They have the knowledge and experience with working with OHS patients and know how much to push. On my machine most anything above a 2.5 speed turned into a slow jog and since I was limited to 120 BPM I tried to stay away from that. I used to jog (not on a regular basis) when I was in the Military but got out of the habit real quick when I retired.

So I'll keep "treading" along and slowly increase the number of days and speed. I've been told that it takes you about 2 to 3 weeks to get into the habit of doing it without forcing yourself.

Russell,

I'm slowly working back up to "househusband" status as I'm re-retired. The wife still works and is quick to remind me I need to get back into my daily chores. She doesn't seem to believe me when I point out things I still can't do just yet. I tried to run the vacuum cleaner a few days ago and found out that thing weights a "ton". Like you, I have the most discomfort when I do the things that I have to "swing" my arms back and forth. But based on how I feel already, I'll be back in the groove sooner than later.

May God Bless,

Danny