Hey Heart Warriors
Today marked a milestone for me. Today I did my first outdoor run. In temperatures of -3 I did nearly 4km with splits of 8 minutes per km, and almost 9 weeks since my heart surgery operation. I really didn’t think I could get out this soon but I did, time for a new running chapter to begin. If you start with courage, you’ll finish with pride....
Just read your previous posts - amazing well done, so good to hear this both for you and as encouragement to us all.
That's something to shout about at only 9 weeks post-op. Well done you!
Keep up the good work but take it steady, particularly in cold coditions.
Ian yeh slippy under foot today and feel the pain in my chest now where my muscles are healing but glad I did, each will recover their own way but if it inspires others so be it ....
To varying extents, I believe we can be masters of our own destiny, albeit with the challenge of compromised cardiovascular systems. 5 × 30 minutes weekly exercise should be a starting point and not a target although I accept it's a big ask if you have a portfolio of co-morbidities.
Guess I'm 'lucky' just to have coronary artery disease (2×stents) and a 9month old bioprosthetic aortic valve.
Just resting now after a couple of hours of tennis and packing to go snowboarding this weekend.
With near normal life expectancy from the new valve, life is good.
Hi, well done
can I ask when did you start exercising? My stent was fitted 3 weeks ago and I am still recovering. I am dying to get back into fitness.
I started walking three days after the operation, but it wasn’t for a month until my first cardiac rehab that I started a proper fitness routine, and then on the 21st of January I started physio, the run the other day was my first run on my own and only my second run since the operation. If you get given a chance of cardiac rehab, take it, as it will give you the guidance to a safe recovery, listen to what they say, act on what they tell you and you will be back in no time to your pre- op self!
Many thanks - How did you get in contact with your rehab team?
They initially approached me in the hospital not long after surgery, and I was seen within 5 weeks, if they haven’t approached you, look at the British heart foundations webpage or ask your GP for a referral, or you could also try your cardiac nursing team and see can they provide you with contact details to help you get started. Do go to it as it’s the best way to start your recovery and they don’t just provide physical goals you can get support from other patients that provides emotional support too!
Thanks very much for letting me know. Just booked an appointment with my GP. The shock, as I am sure you will agree and the trauma is more than the procedure and physical recovery- I will try and keep positive. Best wishes,
Irishwolfhound
I agree, cardiac rehab is essential.
I'm only 2 weeks into it and I am seeing improvements but it is with their guidance and help.
They have now got me open gym access so I can attend on my own and follow their plan to get me back to fitness but over the next few weeks when I feel able I can increase the levels myself bit by bit, i also did some weights for the first time in weeks under their guidance and loved it.
Things going the right way but it is definitely with their help. 👍🏼👍🏼
Simon
Oh wow. Thats fantastic, congratulations. My heart attach and procedure was all done in an emergancy, perhaps thats why it takes time to receive correspondance but I’ll will take that up with my GP. Many thanks.
My LAD was stented in 2015 with normal activity resumed after a couple of weeks. No heart attack, just a fortuitous angiogram and living with slowly escalating aortic stenosis.
AVR in April 2018 so walking myself fit and resuming cycling and tennis by week 10. So nearly 9 months on I'm a new 'normal' with only the physical constraints of age (66) and pharmaceuticals (amlodopine and bisoprolol) to hold me back.
There was some formal review for cardio-rehab but I chose to self manage as I'd already established a walking regime of gradually increasing distance and intensity.
Not a big fan of gym work and able to operate independently. Accept some need the support and motivation of group activities but worked fine for me as I had the support of my tennis community.
May I wish you focus plus a good recovery, Shockedwithstent.
Many thanks IanGordon. Well done on the recovery front - lets hope I go back to a normal routine sooner rather than later
Well done hopefully I will follow your footsteps. All the best
Of course you will, go at you own pace, don’t try to beat anyone and listen to your own body and your doctors. Good luck!
Well done. That’s pretty epic.
Congratulations! That’s the right way of thinking
Crawling up the wall tooth abscess 
Follow up appointments. 
What help can I give?
Don’t run before you can walk.
Follow up appointments
