Exercise & DCM

[Vivi2711]

Dear Respected colleagues,

Diagnosed with DCM since May 2018. I am 60 yrs male. On medications, salt / fluid restriction plus walking daily. Suffered with short of breadth, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite etc for nearly 6 months. Started with slow walking 20 mts a day and by improving in a phased manner as on date walking briskly for 1 hour covering 5.8 kms at the rate of 10 mts per km. Absolutely with no symptoms. My LVEF measured two months ago is 33%. However, I feel normal with all activities. Bp & heart rate are very much under control as measured daily. I am a table tennis player and can I restart playing it? Will it strengthen my heart and is it an aerobic exercise suitable for DCM patients? I need to shed more my fluid weight by sweating since my bmi is still slightly more.

Please tender your valuable advice.

Thanks in anticipation please.

[Shar28]

Hi, my husband has DCM too. He found the information about exercise on the Cardiomyopathy UK website really helpful. Here’s the link

cardiomyopathy.org/dilated-...

My husband goes to the gym, uses the static bikes and rower and weights. He doesn’t let his heart rate go up much, perhaps to 60% of the maximum for his age and keeps the weights much lighter & reps lower than he did before his DCM. He also uses the sauna and plunge pool. GP confirmed it was fine to do so. He’s built up what he does very gradually, listening to his body and backing off if he’s fatigued or just doesn’t have so much energy. Everyone’s different and what suits one person doesn’t suit another so you might find it useful to speak with the Cardiomyopathy nurses (the helpline number is on their website) or your GP.

Best wishes.

[Vivi2711 in reply to Shar28]

Shar 28,

Thanks for the valuable advice and the link provided by you is very useful guiding me to stick on to walking daily as advised by my doctor too.

It's a timely help from you.

Thanks again

[jimmyq]

You should discuss it with your doctor.

[Vivi2711 in reply to jimmyq]

jimmyq,

My doctor had advised walking & I will stick on to it.

Thanks

[jimmyq in reply to Vivi2711]

Did you ask about increasing your exercise?

[Vivi2711 in reply to jimmyq]

My doctor during my visit two months ago advised me only to walk. I had written a fresh post by now. Kindly go through it and tender your valuable advice please

[Ianc2]

I think you are doing very well. Have you considered extending your range/time walking?

[Vivi2711 in reply to Ianc2]

Hi lanc2,

I started walking 20 mts daily and now had made it to 1 hr covering a distance of 5 kms. I had a thought as to whether resorting to playing vigorous table tennis will be strengthening my heart more.

I had written a new post write now. I shall be grateful if you could go through it and tender your valuable advice.

With regards

[Vivi2711]

Dear Respected colleagues,

For the second day I played table tennis today for a period of one hour with intermittent break of two minutes for every 4minutes play. Since I was a competitive player at state level earlier my practice was a bit more faster. My heart rate rose upto 136 at peak while my target heart rate is 128 max. Felt a little palpitation while playing very fast & became normal within minutes. No dizziness or pain or light headedness. Was energetic till end. There was profuse sweating which I need to drain fluids but I was able to burn only 300 calories. If I walk 5 kms daily at a pace of 10 mts per km I shed 400 calories and absolutely with no palpitation.

Kindly guide me further

With regards