Heart Rehabilitation

[Hazeg]

Hi can anyone help I am starting heart rehabilitation on Wednesday, my heart failure nurse said it would be good for me, I was just wondering if anyone could tell me what to expect please.

Thank you

[jimmyq]

They will help you to recover your confidence and you will learn how much exercise you can do safely. There will be medical professionals in attendance at all times and they will keep an eye on you to make sure you are OK and don't overdo it. Enjoy!

[Hazeg in reply to jimmyq]

Thank you Jimmyq I will let you know how I get on.

[Chappychap]

Watching replies with interest Hazeg, I start on Wednesday!

[Hazeg in reply to Chappychap]

Oh rite I am going at 3pm. Will let you know how I get on.

Thank you Chappychap

[Sususulio]

Echo the comments about exercising safely and the staff are welcoming and friendly. I guess the dynamics of the group will determine how much you get out of it in terms of shared experience , reassurance etc. The one I attend doesn’t have much in the way of opportunity to share stories/experiences but we jolly along following each other around the circuit. I always feel better for having done it and it is a step in terms of rebuilding confidence.

The hour passes quite quickly and whilst there is varying ability in the group there no feeling of being better/worse than anyone else.

I am sure you will find a value in it - good luck!

[Hidden]

Lets put it this way, I am half way through mine, and I am already beginning to sense that when I have finished it will feel like that day your mum left you at the school gate.......

[Alison_L in reply to Hidden]

I finished last week. I loved it so much I've volunteered to help the rehab team giving talks or Q&A from the patient's point of view! In the meantime, I'm off to my own gym today for the first time since May

[Jasppip]

It's great doing rehab because you feel to exercise as you are monitered the whole time so you learn how much you can do also I met some great people. I'm lucky where I live as well because there is a rehab group run in the community which you can attend after rehab has finished you see the nurse for blood pressure then we do an hours exercise very similar to rehab it's great and you can go for as long as you want

[Lyonheart66]

Go and enjoy, slow gentle exercises focusing on getting the ticker working, at first you may struggle but I was a new man after my 16 sessions. You're with similar people in the same situation and the staff were all fun

[Marie3811]

Hi I completed my Rehab it was hard at first but builds your confidence and you meet a nice bunch of people the nurses are supportive and kind so well worth going. I am glad that I did

[benjijen]

I continued with 'stage 4' of rehab at local leisure centre and have been going to that for 17 months now 2 or 3 times a week. It's friendly and although you have to work at it you can also have a good laugh which makes you feel so much better! Also as everyone has similar problems you can share experiences and worries. 'Outsiders' tend to get fed up with anything to do with your problems!

[Alison_L in reply to benjijen]

I will hopefully start stage 4 at my gym next week

[Heart100]

Hello Hazeg

Rehab is a good idea for anyone who has a heart condition which needed medical intervention. They are experts in how to exercise and will teach you how and how much push your body to keep fitter than you were. The levels are matched to your ability so you won’t be sweating like you think. Just a light warm up followed by a few minutes of walking on a treadmill ( if you’re able to ) and various static excersises like moving the arms and legs. Really nothing more that going on a quick trip to Tesco’s to begin with. In my case good informative talks too. You will enjoy it.

Regards Mike

[Kev12564]

I spoke to a gent yesterday who’d recently had stents fitted about his new gym experiences. He was really starting to enjoy it.

Can I ask how to find out about such programs? My 86-year-old father had a bypass in July and is recovering very slowly. He’s been offered a “fatigue and breathlessness” course, but some sort of structured exercise would be ideal.

[Alison_L in reply to Kev12564]

Hi CocoNutWater. Does your father have a Heart Failure Nurse? They would be able to refer you. Or his GP. Although if he's been offered a fatigue & breathlessness course, he may not be ready for rehab classes. Who offered that course? They would be able to tell you about rehab.

[Kev12564 in reply to Alison_L]

Yes, there is a nurse assigned to him, and she mentioned the fatigue and breathlessness course. I spoke to the group running it, and this will sound very harsh but it seemed amateurish. He has an assessment this week with the group, so hopefully I’m wrong.

He does get extremely breathless walking short distances, and this must be confidence shattering. I feel he needs professional encouragement to walk slightly more and get a baseline level of fitness and confidence.

[Alison_L in reply to Kev12564]

Hope the assessment goes well and that they're not amateurish. If you're taking him there, do ask them about rehab, although they may say he's not fit enough yet. xx

[Kev12564 in reply to Alison_L]

Thanks. I might have organised it, but I’m not going along unfortunately. It’s the usual story of living a few hours away and working, etc. Sad state of affairs when both parents are clearly in their final years, but hey I’m seeing them this weekend.

[ubet123]

Hi Hazeg, as has been said by others I've found cardiac rehab to be really beneficial I'm in my 4 week and enjoying it everyone feels a bit unsure to begin with , but it is very safe and apart from helping you physically I've found more importantly it gives you the confidence to start feeling " normal" again, enjoy the experience.

[Kazzie68]

I did 16 sessions at Harefield after my heart attack and was amazed how much I was able and allowed to do. It was invaluable and a massive part of my recovery, playing a huge part in regaining my confidence in what I was able to do. I’ve carried on going to a cardiac class at by local gym since which was suggested by rehab team and the trainer there monitors your BP before and after sessions. Good luck with yours, onwards and upwards!

[CharlesL]

Re hab...well it wasn't for me. Prefer just to go to the gym on my own

Take care

C

[Rhinet34 in reply to CharlesL]

No I'm sorry but it wasn't for me either , just walked more till I could get back to doing my own exercise

[CharlesL in reply to Rhinet34]

(Although I am one myself) I don't like mixing with old ill people.

Forgive my squeamishness

Take care

C

[Hidden]

I was skeptical due to my personal circumstances; I was previously very fit and exercised a helluvalot ! But I have nothing but praise for the cardiac rehab program. It’ll be tailored to your cardiac requirements and current limits. You should leave with more confidence than when you started,. Also at the end of it you’ll be certified as safe to exercise, which a few health clubs require. And there should be a follow on program in the community that they can recommend after the rehab is done.

Have an open mind.

[Jinky07]

My rehab is in two sections. I completed section one last week and that was 6 weeks of Aerobic circuits and stretching. Today I started second section and it was a mixture of aerobic circuit and gym equipment like treadmill etc. Much higher intensity today. On top of this they also do talks on mindfulness, relaxation, exercise and diet etc. Well worth going.

[Foxyhole]

I go Wednesday and Friday I enjoy it and you get looked after well, I would recommend you go

[Pommel]

Hello hazeg, I too have heart failure and the exercise forms part of the treatment for me. I did 8 weekly sessions in the hospital rehab section with specialist physios, then 11 weeks subsidised at the local sports centre gym with optional classes. I then joined that gym to carry on. When I was first diagnosed I was worried about how much I could push myself and the cardiac rehab team gave me the confidence to know what I can do safely. Which was brilliant! I now do a routine in the gym plus home exercises and lots of dog walking! It's worth knowing though that different cardiac problems allow different exercise routines and heart failure means more time spent warming up and cooling down. It's nice to still see some from that first rehab group still at the gym over a year on! Good luck and enjoy it! Makes you feel better!