I am attending the rehab clinic, after having 3 stents done at Papworth, and I'm on the waiting list for exercise classes, however, before I can do them I'm told I have to attend Addenbrooks hospital first for assessment, does anyone know what this entails.
Thanks
I thought I was starting rehab next week but found out a few days ago it is an assessment for rehab! It does seem as if various institutions/departments pass minimal information between themselves.
Perhaps you will be doing exercise after your rehab talks ? hence your assessment first , making sure you can do them, which I thought I was going to do,
I can only assume that with me, as there's a waiting list and I will be doing my exercise when a place comes up, so I still have to be assessed, at Addenbrooks, which is a nuisance as it's a 40 mile round trip for me, My Cardio rehab is in Saffron Walden community centre 9 miles away, they make things so complicated,
I suppose I can ask the nurse on Thursday when I go, but just wondered what others on this site did.
I take it you do exorcises at your rehab, as that's the norm. I would have thought they did the assessment at your rehab? Good luck
thanks for your reply please read my above post to MichaelJH
I feel embarrassed as when I went to ny rehab, ir was all done together. We were assessed at the same place as we did the exorcises, Bristol BRI.
I forget I am in a City and everything is automatic. You must be so frustrated right now. Sorry😕
Thank you for your reply,
I live in a village, on the Cambridge/ Suffolk border, Although I do have to drive to get anywhere I am in an excellent area, Papworth [where I had my stents done 40 miles away, and I attend Addenbrooks in Cambridge 20 miles ] , both excellent hospitals,
The procedure you had, [ all in the same place ] is the right way, it's just unfortunate there is a waiting list for the exercise classes here, and they don't seem to have organised it well.
Don't be sorry, probably in this heat they may have had to cancel the exercises anyway, it's enough to give someone a heart attack !!!! xxxx
I just had a meeting with rehab team a few days before starting rehab. This includes exercise and informational talks. I'm in Scotland so it may be different up here but iv never heard of assessments prior to rehab
Here it's usually assessment first to find out if you are capable of exercise, as the exercise class is taken after the hours talk, Ie, 11am to 12noon talks with the cardio nurse, then half hour break, then on to exercise,
Interesting how area's differ.
I started rehab last week, exercise sessions twice a week for 12 weeks. I also have to attend 8 one hour talks during the 12 weeks. I initially attended a few weeks before for an assessment & then had an appointment for a stress exercise treadmill test & started in the gym last week. My rehab was delayed because after my triple CABG In April was very poorly in HDU of my local hospital due to an electrolyte imbalance for 2 weeks & I was very weak when I was discharged.
I live on the Wirral, Merseyside & my CABG was carried out at Liverpool
Heart & Chest Hospital.
Jean
Sounds like you are the same as me, started the talks, then assessed a few weeks later to see if you were able to exercise, I have been 3 times to the talks so hopefully I will soon get a letter to for the assessment, then do the exercises classes, and you have answered my question, "what happens at the assessment" and it looks like it will be a treadmill test.
I have had 3 stents, but I also have a calcified mitral valve, which the surgeon at Papworth was reluctant to operate on, so it's a watch and wait with that one.
thank you
I had a AVR done at Papworth, my rehab was done locally and I went for an assessment before I started rehab with the nurses at the local centre to check how fit you are before you start rehab. After I finished rehab, you could continue with further cardic rehab if you wanted. Alas it was miles from where I live and nothing available locally, so I couldn't do anything else. I live in Norfolk.
My assessment consisted of a "bleep test" - walking/running between cones at a measured distance. The speed steadily increases until you can do no more. I have heard of similar tests (Bruce Protocol for example) being used. The key is that it should be measurable and not just a subjective assessment e.g. a quick walk for you may be a run for me! .
This seemed to serve three purposes :-
1. I was allocated to a class of people with reasonably similar fitness levels
2. There was a measured fitness level that could be compared by repeating the test at the end of the hospital rehab process (hopefully a significant increase!)
3. Provide a baseline fitness level for moving to community based Level 4 Cardiac Rehab classes.
Thanks for your reply,
Seems all area's differ, and not a set procedure like yours, I thought it would be the same procedure across the board, so to speak, obviously not, I will therefore have to wait till I hear from Addenbrook's for a fitness assessment, but interesting to read the different posts about it.
I've just started the rehab at my local hospital ,they ask you to go for a fitness test to see if you can cope on the programme , just general questions of what's happened to you , what tablets your now on and they weight you , take measurements and your blood pressure , they then will ask you to do an activity , mine was stepping up and down ans seeing how fast I could go before I was tired , from that they will tell you if you can continue on the programme or not , their very helpful and talk you through everything . Good luck ....
Oh god guys I am so sorry I am only just getting back to you.
Look while you are waiting, all I xan say is little steps.
Evan if you do twenty times of 50 yards a day, as slow as you like, it is exorcise. While you are waiting, just exorcise little and often. Evan walking around your lounge several times a day is exorcise.
If you feel it isn't comfortable, then stop! You will know what's right for you.
Just don't do the sofa bit of where you are scared to move.
If you can stand up and move around, then do so.
Just listen to your body.
Jo😊
MVA - Spasms and Exercise
Orbitrek exercise thingy.
Post bypass surgery exercise 
Motivation to exercise - despite the pain
Mild discomfort after exercise 
