Activity following heart attack

[Sillyfroggy]

My original post here asked what angina felt like. Little did I know that I was actually brewing a heart attack that very night!

So now I’m home, doing the recovery thing. I need a couple more bits and pieces done (optimisation of stent and wire study of LAD) but have the ok from cardiac rehab to walk as much as I feel I am comfortable with. Thus my question - I did just over a mile yesterday and felt like I could do another 3 - tonight, same walk but I knew I couldn’t manage it all, and had a sit down on the way back (it was mindful sitting as there’s a Canada goose and her babies at the pond I stopped by. But what gives? I’d probably been more active yesterday, if anything, but today the inner voice said ‘nope’. I’m assuming (hoping in a slightly paranoid way) that it’s just different days, and nothing to do with the outstanding work to be done.

Thanks 🙂

[Pilgrim1956]

Interesting to hear this as I've been the same. Guilty of pushing or doing a bit more one day and not having the energy the next. Human nature to try to build up but may be in my case it's a bit to soon.

[Maisie2014]

After my heart attack and stent I was told 10 minutes walk a day. No more and no less. I felt ok so decided I could do more. I was jiggered. When the nurse rang I told her what I’d done. She said that’s why I had to do 10 minutes no more and no less. I now go to rehab twice a week and they push me to do as much as I can. Some days I’m jiggered but I know I’m doing the right thing and I’m supervised. Take advice of your cardiac team. No more and no less and you’ll feel the benefit.

[Oldmasons]

I bought myself a Fitbit which was good for me psychologically. In a week, my steps per day would go to 10,000 easily but also as low as 2000 because I was shattered, for no reason. So it really is up and down. I have started my course of cardiac rehab and been given good advice and targets from them. Celebrate a good activity day and go and do something to take your mind off a bad day, after all they only last 24 hrs.

Good luck!

[LHDLondon]

5 years on from my heart attack and having had valve surgeries and a pacemaker fitted in the meantime, I still have good days and less good days. It's important to stay positive in oneself and not be set back by that little voice we all have inside us.

Rehab specialists remind one to start off slowly, so try starting your walk slowly rather than at a brisk pace. open up those veins before increasing the pace and remember to slow down as you end the walk.

We're not in any competition on this. Any walk is better than sitting down. We don't have to stride up a mountainside against the clock. Start with short distances and build up over time.

I started Nordic walking in the park about 4 years back. I've had to cut back at times when I had to have further surgery, but now that I am better again that's been recommenced, I'm not jogging but I feel the workout more than if I were just walking. It took me a year of reconditioning to get to this stage though.

Positive thinking helps, but we don't want to overdo things.

Give yourself credit for getting up and trying.

[Pilgrim1956]

Just had my GP review (HA +18d). Useful to get questions answered and asked about exercise. His view was better to be doing things (not pushing hard) than being sedantry which is bad for you. Do what you can safely and don't overdo it, but try to avoid long periods of inactivity. That said every case is different.