Anyone here done cardiac rehab?

[medxam]

For my 1000 post (new numbering system) I decided to post a topic that may be helpful to many of us.

How many of you forum members have done a program of cardiac rehab and how many of you do maintenance? I am finishing my 3rd week at my local hospital, following my heart attack last fall. I find it stimulating. The mechanical bicycles wear out my old knees but I love the treadmills. The educational sessions are good, even for an old saw bones like me. It gets me "up and out" in the mornings which has been hard for me since my wife died last year. The fellowship with the other participants is priceless. Seeing others with many more problems than I have makes me thankful for where I am in my life!

medxam

 

[Bkreutz]

I did it once but I quit because they played Michael Jackson music all the time and it seemed like the place was a club for the staff. I have a treadmill at home that I use every day.

 

[RonJ]

I was asked to participate but to be frank I'm kind of scared.
Along with 4 heart attacks, arthritis and COPD my heart races with just a walk to the head.

 

[gm272gs]

Just the one time, after I left my Model 29 sitting on the bench at the range.

The good news is that it was still there when I got back, and the ticker started ticking again.

 

[S&W Oldtimer]

Starting in my 5th year.

 

[rburg]

I did back in 2009. It was OK I guess. The main advantage was it got me up and going. I liked the stair stepper and the bike, but I refuse to get on a tread mill again. Ever. At some point in time they'll get me back in to see the cardiologist. But somebody's got to insist, and have the rank to make me do it.

My hatred for the treadmill stems from my feeling I've been on one my whole life. Kind of like treading water and getting no where. I'd never been on a treadmill before. If I wanted to walk someplace, I'd just do it. None of this walking and getting no where. So innocent and pretty stupid, I showed up on time, having made the first appointment in the morning, planning on going to work and getting a full day in. Boy was I dumb.

So I get there and they move me to the machine. I thought it was a legitimate medical test device. It was just one of those high performance snow mobiles. The high horse ones they use to race up a cliff and then down to out run the 200 mph avalanche. So the girl puts me on the machine to "warm up". Her term for it, really she had me going about as fast as I could go. Then she got her "baseline" as she called it, so she cracked open the throttle to full speed. The idea was I should run at over 100 mph until I died. How was I to know the heart surgeon needed a new BMW?

The rehab machines were much calmer.

The OP here is right, you meet some really good people. I had a buddy who had the same days and time slots as I used. He was older but was a real joker.

One of the nurses was a real babe, with the rest, well, not so much. If they'd all been cute maybe I'd have continued. But as always, I had too much going on so I just didn't got back.

 

[bgrafsr]

I did 10 weeks of rehab 3 years ago, lost 60 pounds, and felt great. Joined a fitness center at one of the local hospitals and stayed with it for a year or so. Have stopped going and have regained the weight. Keep telling myself to start going again, but just can't get in the groove to do so.

 

[Sgt.Peck]

I've gone through cardio rehab twice. First time in 2004, after having endocarditis. I was only 44. Then had to do it again in 2009 when my porcine valve failed. Now have a ceramic St. Jude valve. I enjoyed the rehab, but kind of a PIA driving there three times a week. I bought myself a good treadmill and have had an AirDyne stationary bike for sometime. I am guilty of not using them as frequently as I should.

 

[Tam 3]

After a "quad" in 2004 I started the rehab in the hospital and stayed with it for 8 months. Quit and bought an AirDyn stationary bike and a set of dumbells. Walked and used the bike for 50 minutes then replicated the rehab weight routine. Increased the weight by 50% and kept it up. Got tired of the bike and sold it and just increased the walk time. Did not see any difference in weight gain or loss. Still going strong.

Pay attention to the rehab specialists and follow directions. A little bit of obsessive/compulsive tendency is a big help.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[25elk]

Had a quintuple bypass two years ago in May and went through 12 weeks of rehab. It was a one hour drive to the hospital each way, three times per week, but I enjoyed it and needed it. Have a treadmill here at home and was religious about using it for the first year but have fallen off lately. I am active and walk a lot so I am not totally forsaking exercise, but the treadmill is not my cup of tea. They told us in rehab that only 35% of people keep up the exercises for life.

 

[Grayfox]

I had a heart attack and a triple bypass back in 2000. I did rehab for about six weeks I think it was. The bike and hand crank I didn't mind much. But I really hate a treadmill. Boring as hell, one constant pace and you just don't get anywhere.
I've worked hard and been active my whole life. It was kinda funny when the therapists kept coming over and telling me to slow down.
After that I started walking in the local parts. Now that I enjoy. Being out in the fresh air and watching other people. Went every day, started slow and easy and within a few months had worked my way up to about five miles a day.
Every check up since then has been fine. I give full credit to the walking routine and staying with it.
Unfortunately when winter came I slacked off. I've found that I can't deal with the cold as well as I used to. However, even now after almost 14 years, when the weather is good I still enjoy a brisk walk in the parks. I always do at least three miles. Come spring I'll pick up the routine again and go two or three times a week. Several times each year I also go to one of our great State Parks and hit the hiking trails.
My heart will never be what it once was, but then my Cardiologist say I'm doing great.

 

[sps282]

Did rehab for 3 months after heart attack last December found educational information very helpful, especially the diet portion. I had been working out for several years prior to heart attack so the rehab was easy to do and seem lite duty compared to what I had been doing (which apparently was too much).

 

[11B Lifer]

Brought back by CPR and defibrillator I went thru weeks of painful rehab- My heart recovered pretty well- CPR busted my spine up- since then I've had two minor heart attacks and one major- Rehab and exercise has helped me survive the subsequent attacks. These things can not be predicted-you can do things to mitigate/reduce risk- I survived in order to care for my wife who had cancer- she has died so I'm regrouping-my kids help me keep on track with rehab.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I worked out hard and religiously for decades doing both cardio and weights. At age 63 I was diagnosed with two 95% plus blockages and two 75%; quad bypass soon after.

I attended the rehab sessions at first, to make sure I was OK to workout. Most of the rehabbers appeared to have not exercised in decades and were physical wrecks. The staff was a bunch of lazy goofs collecting an easy paycheck. I quit and resumed home workouts.

Two months after my surgery I was driving VWs and Audis on the test track near Salzburg. Now that was a HOOT! They taught us how to do a backup 180 degree turn to evade a roadblock.... I was the only one who did it right the first time.

 

[vito]

Almost 18 years ago, at age 52, I went through quintuple coronary bypass after the blockages were found on a nuclear stress test and cardiac catheterization. Although I had been a runner for years I still went to rehab. I think the primary value of the rehab was to reduce the anxiety of exercising vigorously after the surgery (your mind can wreck havoc with your feelings, making you think the bypasses will come loose or something and kill you). Walking on the treadmill with RN's on hand and your heart being monitored is very reassuring.

I've tried to stay active ever since, with bicycling (indoor or outdoor) my major activity. I retired a few months ago and I go to a gym for an hour to an hour and a half workout almost every day (but I still am about 40 pounds more than I should be!).

My doctor said that the average bypass is good for about 12 years, so I am already almost 6 years past that point. I think that my continued exercise regimen is what has kept my heart condition under control and I feel pretty good. And that is despite having half of my left lung removed after a motorcycle accident 14 years ago as well.

 

[nitestalker700]

chain saw

I had by pass surgery 8 years ago. they did 5 . after 6 weeks of rest. I got a tri axle load of logs, and sawed and split,

 

[gaf]

I had a quad bypass in October, 2010. No heart attack as the blockages were discovered during a stress test to establish a baseline for future tests. Did the required rehab after the surgery and have continued by doing at least 2 miles a day, either outside walks or on the treadmill in bad weather.

 

[S&W Fan]

In 2003 at 47 yrs of age I had a heart attack, spent 6 weeks in cardiac rehab. It was great, they kept telling me to slow down & go lighter on the weights lol. I was easily the youngest in my group by a minimum of 12 years, most were over 60. I was the youngest patient most of the therapists had seen in their very short careers. I didn't bond too well with the other patients, I would get a little down looking at them and thinking I was too young to be there. Took me a bit to pull my head out of my butt and realize age had/has nothing to do with it-especially for me it was 90% genetics and 10% crappy diet-at least according to my cardiologist.

I've always been a "walker" so I really enjoyed the treadmills. My knees gave me fits on the stationary bike and rowing machine they used. For me the best part about having dogs is that they've kept me motivated to continue walking regardless of the weather. I'm now also a type 2 diabetic so the walking has benefited me there as well. Still about 15 lbs overweight but I'm trying.

 

[S&WIowegan]

In 2003 at 47 yrs of age I had a heart attack, spent 6 weeks in cardiac rehab. It was great, they kept telling me to slow down & go lighter on the weights lol. I was easily the youngest in my group by a minimum of 12 years, most were over 60. I was the youngest patient most of the therapists had seen in their very short careers. I didn't bond too well with the other patients, I would get a little down looking at them and thinking I was too young to be there. Took me a bit to pull my head out of my butt and realize age had/has nothing to do with it-especially for me it was 90% genetics and 10% crappy diet-at least according to my cardiologist.

I've always been a "walker" so I really enjoyed the treadmills. My knees gave me fits on the stationary bike and rowing machine they used. For me the best part about having dogs is that they've kept me motivated to continue walking regardless of the weather. I'm now also a type 2 diabetic so the walking has benefited me there as well. Still about 15 lbs overweight but I'm trying.

I had a 37 yr. old car salesman in my rehab group who had a heart attack on the job. I never had a heart attack but I felt some discomfort during workouts and the rest is history.

I had a neighbor who was a thoracic surgeon. We played poker in his basement which had a lot of exercise equipment. He admitted he rarely used it. His attitude was all the exercise in the world won't change our fate, but those who workout will be good-looking corpses.