Had my rehab call some weeks and and waiting for appointment to start. Now over 3 months since bypass and surgeon said rehab should start ASAP after op. 😒
Rather then just wait I was thinking of looking for a gym with trainers qualified to coach cardio rehab patients. Are there such private gyms? I’d do it until I was inducted on to the cardio rehab programme.
I was told 4 - 6 weeks after OHS compared to about 2 post stents. Mine did not actually start till 12 weeks.
I have looked at a couple of private gyms but was unconvinced they understand the needs of us hearties! One seemed to think cardic rehab was the same as cardio workout and showed me the ultimate exercise bike that could be programmed so you could climb Alpe d'Huez! Not quite what I need I think...
This is crazy, surly this should be top priority, your Cardio could tell you what to do and what not to do and get one of the machines that has a monitoring system.
As you say the trainers should know.
I have had nothing at all, make it up myself, but it must be lacking.
Unfortunately Cardic prevention and rehabilitation is outside the usual skill set of most Cardiologists.
They have little training in or exposure to this very important aspect of care.
There are specific guidelines for Cardiac Rehab. The British association of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation provide recognised training of those working in Cardiac Rehab
Okay, my mistake I got the wrong guy, but that should make it easy, not having to wait for a busy cardiologist.
A friend of mine has had regular rehab classes from day one, it doesn't look like rocket science and she has done woderfully well.
The NHS is an incredibly ineffecient organisation and maybe this is something they could easily and cheaply sub-contract out.
Good Cardiac Rehab is provided in all settings, NHS, private and council run gyms by some very good by appropriately trained practitioners.
There is however a big issue of lack of take up and access wherever or by whom it is held.
The BHF funds the National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
I heard that too, but people on the this forum can't seem to get it and neight could I without a long wait.
Give your breast bone time to heal and knit itself together!
You might try a local authority gym rather than a private one. As Michael says private ones don't tend to specialise in rehab and they might mix up cardiac rehab with cardio workouts which are completely different!
My local authority gym does the Stage 4 cardiac rehab classes. I wasn't offered cardiac rehab at the hospital stage but I got on the Stage 4 programme by going through my GP. There are trainers at my gym who will do cardiac rehab on a 1 to 1 basis. You just have to check they have the proper qualification.
I sourced my own level 4 personal trainer after finishing my rehab so the definitely out there. I was lucky and did get the rehab but found there is nothing after suitable to continue recovery- but so far so good with the one I found on line - good luck
I don’t understand what level 4 signifies 😏
Basically there are four levels:
1. Maintaining fitness before surgery. Obviously with an unexpected HA this does not apply. For OHS trying to improve core strength is important as you must not use your arms to push yourself up.
2. Immediately post op to get you out of bed, mobilising and going to the loo. Obviously this varies considerably between individuals and procedures carried out.
3. This is with the cardiac rehab team but not always available/offered. Typically starting two weeks after HA/stents and six weeks plus after OHS. Minimally invasive surgery somewhere between the two.
4. Back in the community. Typically at a local gym.
The availability and quality of Phases 3 and 4 varies enormously. It can also be "one size fits all".
It's good to see Qualipop is finally being offered Phase 3. I have been referred for "gym by perscription" as an arthritic hip affects what I can do quite significantly.
Phase 5 is probably doing the odd triathlon: 🏃 🏊 🚴
"because a big part of the emotional recovery is rooted in discovering that you can still do stuff (and hopefully more than you could before) " - absolutely 100% agree. I've waxed on about how vital rehab is, quite a few times on here, but you're sentence sums it up perfectly!
Wimp! How dare you! I am doing that with a 56lb backpack! One's butler will carry it! 😁
I was completely refused cardiac rehab last year after a heart attack because I'm disabled. They claimed not to have anything for wheelchair patients. Several weeks ago, out of the blue I got a letter inviting me for rehab and if I didn't hear fromt hem in 4 days I was to ring. I rang. Two weeks later I got a phone call and now, 4 weeks on I have an assessment booked for the 23rd. Rehab is massively overstretched in this area bu even though I have to wait, it just shows what speaking to a different nurse can do. First one was adamant I couldn't do anything. This one says "Let's at least try". Have you ring rehab? You may just get someone who understandsthe urgency.
Yes, they have contacted me by telephone and assessed me. I’m waiting (a long time!) to be triaged. Hence looking for alternative in the interim.
Yes nurses do vary. One wrote to my GP saying I was overweight because on her chart although not on the height adjusted BMI calculation. Funny thing by by estimate she was probably obese - never joined in any exercises!
Not bad is it ? Only 13 months!
It is good to hear but far too long!
Ring your cardiac team and ask what is happening. If the course had already started they will wait until the course finishes to put you on it. They don't like putting you into the middle of the course. But call them and ask.
At this stage, I wouldn't want help from some unknown quantity.
My advice would be to wait for the rehab. You will be encouraged to build up your exercising and being monitored by both trained instructers and a cardiac nurse. The first time I attended, when I came to the end of the programme I was told that I couldn't continue on to stage 4 & referred me back to the consultant. It turned out that I needed another stent added to the ones I already had. After that another spell in rehab & passed with flying colours.
Let the experts assess you first otherwise you might undo all there good work.
Good luck.
Cardio rehab nurse phoned me a few weeks after I came home but then said they couldn't do anyrhing as I was on antibiotics (had sepsis though not from heart op). Was told by another nurse I spoke to to try exercises on BHF website (also on YouTube). Found them a bit easy as I had was going for long walks by then. I did find a guy on YouTube with really good post op neck/:chest exercises (I find where top of incision is it does sometimes feel tight) so being doing that along with the walks. Been promised leaflets/info re diet & exercise by various nurses but not had anything. I lost a lot of muscle from the sepsis and over a stone in weight.
Cardiovascular Rehab - what's that?
Link for cardio rehab
Cardio Rehab
Cardio Rehab At Home
Meds & Nausea & Rehab
