Hi All
I'm 44 years old and suffered a heart attack at the end of January. I was supposed to see a doctor today to discuss starting Cardiac Rehab but it was cancelled due to staff illness. Whilst I want to start my recovery process, I don't know how far I can 'push' myself. (As a busy Mum of teens, I'm finding it frustrating not being able to do everything I had done prior to the attack). Also, I have no idea how much time I'll be away from work.
Hello and welcome to the forum! Everybody's cardiac event is different be it a heart attack, a bypass, valve surgery, WHY. Add differences in age and fitness levels and you can see why nobody here can accurately guide you. This can only be done by your GP, the rehab team or your cardiologist. Time off work is similarly variable. Less than a month is unlikely - somewhere between one and three more common but following surgery or a serious heart attack probably six weeks minimum. The type of work is also a major factor. Don't push to hard as it may endanger your longer term health.
You shouldn't be concerned about over exerting yourself on the cardio rehab course. The courses are run by very experienced nurses who specialise in cardiac care. The exercises will be structured with your personal abilities in mind, and you'll be supervised every step of the way. Plus, as well as exercise, you'll receive a huge amount of valuable information, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed environment, and you'll meet other people with heart problems and see how they are getting themselves back to fitness.
Chappychap has it absolutely right. Please, please don’t miss the cardiac rehab on offer. I, and I assume most others on here, found it absolutely invaluable is regaining fitness and confidence. Don’t let delays or pressures to return to work take priority!
I can't wait to start Cardio Rehab! (Just frustrated at having to wait for the 'treadmill' appointment).
Everyone is different I had 3 months off work but rehab was a great help with judging how much I could do and the nurses there are very helpful. Try not to overdo it until you have been to rehab
I think the frustration/difficulty is not knowing just how much I can do.
It is very frustrating but you will definatly feel it if you do to much so try not to go mad
Hey there sorry to hear you went through that. I had mine just over a year ago at 42 and just wanted to let you know it gets better you just have to force yourself to take it easy and give your heart some time to heal. I knew when I was doing too much I just got extremely tired and weak. I took two months off work but everyone heals differently. I wasn't allowed to drive for 30 days. My sister's mechanic didn't take any time off, and my coworker had one as well and didn't take much time off at all only a few weeks. Just listen to your body and doctors after the assement by cardiac rehab you'll have a better idea. Wishing you a quick recovery process. Ps I'm a welder and did 3 weeks of cardiac rehab during the two months I was off and then decided to go back. I was tired, took a few months to be back to normal. I have one stent.
Danni
I found it v reassuring to see my cardiologist 3 wks after my bypass and was able to talk through progress / difficulties and make a plan for my rehab in terms of the correct voulume and intensity of exercise.
Sorry to hear about your experience too. I've only just started driving again and - whilst it's a bit strange to start with - it is great being able to get out and about again. I've been told to expect a letter shortly ref the treadmill test, which I understand I have to do before I can start Cardio Rehab.
Hi
Welcome to the group there is a lot of first hand experience here and i agree with everything said but will just add.
Perhaps your teens need to start helping you more, sorry if they already do a lot but these things can be wake up calls and we need to listen and priorities ourselves, give your self time and space to relax and do regular exercise, which is something i find hard as i am a carer for my disabled wife and work part time but exercise is crucial to getting better and stronger than you were before.
Charlie
I think it's a very difficult balance. I agree everyone at home needs to help more and, as one of my children is disabled, I know how hard it can be to find time for yourself.
I agree with the other comments; cardiac rehab is invaluable and everyone is different when it comes to healing. However, you say you have teenagers so maybe it's their turn to step up and help you with tasks if they don't already? Would give you more time to rest and heal.
Hi Harbourside, did you not see a physio in the hospital?. I was given a bhf booklet that the physio went through recommending exercises and amount of walking to do each day, prior to rehab?. I know its frustrating waiting.
No, I didn't see a physio. I was given a booklet just after I was admitted, which includes some very basic movements/exercise but isn't particularly clear as to what you can do at certain stages. I found something on the BHF website yesterday, which is helpful.
Hello and warm welcome to you!
I am more of a reader in this forum but I find it informative and supportive. I am sorry to hear about your health event - it can be a real shock and takes time to process.
I had a heart attack soon after my 45th birthday last November and although my kids reached their early 20-ies, I wondered about very similar things as you do. I was keen to return to work asap and I did so after 6 weeks on phased return. My work is mostly office-based but can be stressful due to high demand, rapid pace, multi-tasking, responsibility and on-calls. I really struggled with multitasking and speed, found decision making very difficult, was considerably slower, and could not keep up. My functioning was very from my previous level - both at home and work. I blamed Beta-blocker and Atorvastatin but in fairness during 8 first weeks at work I unusually had two bouts of cold, severe asthma flair-up that I'd ever experienced (I missed 4 days of work with it), and finally developed iron-deficiency anaemia. I felt so exhausted, wiped-out and weak, that I went off sick again, and remain at home - feeling pretty useless. I find myself unable to do more than two-three significant tasks a day and overall feel much weaker than before returning to work after my heart event. I have serious doubts that I'd be able to do the same job or even continue working my profession - those 8 weeks of return were such an enormous struggle that I lost confidence in my ability to do my job. I am not worried about my health, or recurrence of cardiac event, I am not depressed or anxious either. I am upset that I can do so little and still wrestle with my expectations and reality of my abilities at present. I discovered how inpatient and unkind to myself I habitually was.
I share this to illustrate how individual each recovery is, and echo other peoples' advice about pacing yourself, focusing on your recovery, and not putting pressure to function at the same level as before the event. It takes time to learn a good balance of what you can and can't do, learning to pace yourself and to take better care for your health. I found this website very useful too: myheartsisters.org/
You take care and stay connected. Talking with trusted others is as important for one's recovery, as exercise for cardiac rehabilitation.
Thanks for your message. I'm currently (as you put it so well) 'wrestling with my expectations' and very frustrated. My confidence has taken a knock and I'm finding that just doing everyday things is hard.
I'm not so worried about returning to work at the moment - just getting showered and dressed is enough! - I just don't want others to think I'm 'milking the situation'. I'm (semi) office based but my 'clients' are mainly verbally and physically abusive. Whilst I miss the social interaction with colleagues, I know I need to be on top form before I even contemplate going back into the lion's den. I do worry that I won't be able to go back (I've been there 18 years).
You take care too and thanks again for your response.
Hi Harbourside.
A major factor in how long it will take you to recover fully is the treatment you were given. Were you fitted with stents? Did you under by-pass surgery? Surgery will take much longer for you to recover than if you had stents fitted. Either way, the rehab course is invaluable. It is a mix of education, care and exercise with the chance to talk to fellow sufferers about how they are coping etc. They will advise, educate and steer you along a sensible recovery programme. Whatever you do, don't try to overdo things, it will actually slow down your recovery.
As others have mentioned, it is time for your teenagers to step up and take the load off you.
Yes, stent rather than surgery. I'm looking forward to cardio rehab not only for the fitness and advise but also to be able to talk with those who have gone through the same experience. Whilst people understand the physical aspects, it's far harder for them to understand the emotional side of things.
I have done 3 out of the 6 cardiac rehab.prog. sessions. Its brilliant , originally I didn't want to do it, but my wife roped me into it. I'm really thrilled I'm doing it, as its been really beneficial , mentally / emotionally and physically. Can't praise the Royal Free Team enough. Great exercise class for 1 hour followed by different lectures/talks all of this done by professionals, who have vast experience about yours and my condition. Bravo
Can I please recommend following this with "Level 4" Cardiac Rehabilitation? This is conducted often in places such as your local sports centre and provides a great on going exercise regime. Not as controlled as the initial rehab but still under the supervision of a qualified instructor.
To be blunt without such services it would be very easy to slide back to the way of life that led to the cardiac event in the first place!!
Try and work out what caused your arteries to clog in the first place. after doing the usual no smoking, blood pressure checks, weight control, you have to look at diet, particularly sugar hidden in all sorts of food. There seems to be a move towards more whole food, less meat, more veg and less complex carbs.
Probably quite difficult with grab and go teenagers but from now on it is going to be about you and not them. Perhaps you can get them cooking one night a week?
hello lovely it takes time I'm 58 I had 4 heart attacks at 57 ...now 14 months on thank god I'm at work again just came off some meds and feeling positive now just do what you feel you can day by day and you will get there
I felt just the same, how much exercise should I do? there was very little guidance, and my aftercare was on zoom in the time of coved. I would have loved a treadmill test. However what I have done is walk, gently at first and gradually building up to 8000 steps, I can now walk briskly and talk at the same time, I often go with a friend who needs to walk for her bad back. I don't walk in extreme heat or cold. I would like a homebased exercise regime for the days when the weather is unsuitable. Any suggests of a YouTube or video suitable for heart patients would be welcome.
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