After a cardiac rehab programme have any of you been able to get further help to guide you in terms of maintaining a level of fitness? My dad has finished the rehab programme but is still keen to pursue different avenues for guidance in pushing himself safely. I’m looking to find someone who can do sessions, almost like a personal trainer, but with an interest in cardiac rehabilitation.
Many thanks in advance,
Steph
Cosywosy.. after my hubby completed his cardiac rehab sessions we found that our cardiac rehab staff ran a local group in a hall nearby. I was able to attend sessions with him to try to get myself fit as well. Costs £8 a time. As far as statins concerned hubby was taken to hospital in a lot of pain shortly after starting 80mg of Atorvastartin, it turned out he had a deranged liver function and the statin was stopped. After 6 months he started taking 10mg and this hasn’t caused any problems.
We found our cardiac nurses very helpful and would always return messages left on their ansaphone. It is worth trying to see what exercise is available directed at heart patients.
Thank you for replying Bazmack48. I will look into local sessions and see what’s available.
That’s reassuring to hear that a change in dosage has worked well for your husband. Hopefully just a blip but stressful until the shock of all this settles.
Do you mind if I ask how you are doing? I’m conscious of my mum too and how this could be impacting her.
Cosywosy..of course I do not mind, we are all friends here. I still find it very difficult to cope with as hubby has other health issues. HA was Oct 2016 and I believe he has been in hospital at least 7 times since with problems. I have my own health problems, the big C, and until this year was at the hospital many many times each month. I know I should be attending counselling sessions to help me but have had problems with attending these. I joined this site as well as the lung one as found both sites very helpful. You will always find someone to help.
I started at a gym with personal trainer who has experience with cardiac as well as other health issues in Sept last year, before that was just mainly walking
Hi after Cardio Rehab I enquiries about GAP which is GP referral scheme. I am on a twice a week 12 week programme at the local gym which costs £2.10 per session. The sessions are attended by qualified instructors who demonstrate how to use the equipment etc. If you attend 70% of the sessions you qualify for a free months gym membership. The you can join the gym on on monthly basis at reduced rates for one year. This allows use of the gym swimming etc. May well be worth asking if there is such a scheme in your local area. Your cardio Rehab team should have the info. Cheers
Hi cosywosy ...after having my HA and stents inserted I attended the six or eight week Phase III rehab course (talks, advice and exercise) with a trainer and nurse present. Following that I found my local gym offered a Cardio Rehab Phase IV (no nurse but a qualified trainer). I have been going to that session once a week and have free gym membership for a year and pay £2.20 a session. Well worth it. Try you local gym to see what they offer. I found meeting others with cardio related problems was useful. Diet changes and gym helped me lose almost 3 stone and now I go to two other sessions at the gym by myself working to a programme set by the Phase IV trainer. In my experience, the key message is to ask what's available and you'll find the experts only too willing to help. They've been brilliant
That’s really good to hear Moonrakerlad. I will pass this onto my Dad 
Hi Cosywosy, Having completed my initial cardiac rehab in Jan 16 , having had a quintuple by-pass I asked the physio trainer if there was any further programmes available, similar to what I had just completed. She said there was nothing on the official system however if she could get enough people interested to start a phase 4 programme would I be interested. I said most definetly. About 8 weeks later got a phone call that classes would be starting on an evening around 17:30 and she would be running these classes. The cost was £4 for an hours session. Blood pressure is taken before start of session and individuals are monitored, if required, during classes. I found these classes excellent as you meet others who have had similar reasons to have had phase 3 and want to keep up or even improve their fitness, which we have found has happened. So they are certainly worth attending. Good luck and hope you find a phase 4 class. Dave
That’s great. Glad to hear you not only found a class but they were also very useful!
M
Cardiac Rehab is one of the best tithings my husband did to bring him back to living life. It’s was good for his body but better for his soul. He made new friends and realized life goes on after a HA.
Ask the nurses about programs they know about in your community. Sometimes the rehab facility opens their doors on certain days for graduates and they may also know of trainers who specialize in working with clients who have cardiac issues. My hubby’s HA was 20 years ago and we’ve traveled the world, seen our kids get married and welcomed grandcgildren into our lives. A HA is a wake up call to take care of yourself. Exercise, have regular checkups and testing with your doc, take your meds and right now don’t over do. Your best years are ahead of you. Cheers!
My cardiac rehab requested that I present a workout plan to them before I leave. I am joining a local community center which has a long walking tract and a gym with workout machines. I will be doing it alone but have my fitbit and my pulseox to monitor myself.
Hi Cosywosy. I think it really depends on where you are based. In the Glasgow area (possibly other areas of Scotland too?) there's a scheme called Live Active, which does exactly what you're looking for. You need a referral from your GP and, while they work with any condition at all, one of the main things they do is follow on from cardiac rehabilitation, getting you set up with a suitable programme and supervising as much/as little as you need to progress. Might be worth asking your GP if there's anything similar in your area?
Hi Steph, I had a quad bypass 18 months ago and after my phase 1 Cardio re-hab decided to re join a triathlon club where I run 2-3 times a week and swim once a week. I had to take it easy at first but soon got into the swing of things. I've done a few 10k races since and a half marathon last year. I still have to listen to my body and be sensible but I think joining a gym class or something similar will benefit him considerably. All the best
Phil
After I finish cardiac rehab in a couple of weeks I can then be referred to what is called a 20 20 club you can go to the gym or excerise in the water. It is for people with cardiac problems, it is supported by NHS but not funded and cost £20 per month. Maybe worth seeing if there is one in your area.cardiac rehab nurses can refer.
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