Getting back to normality

[Tigger61]

Hi all, it’s early days for me but beginning to feel like I need to do things round the house. Not sure what I should or shouldn’t be doing.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I believe you had stents rather than a bypass. Having had a quadruple bypass as stents were not an option I would not like to advise on post stent recovery. Maybe you could confirm either way. The thing to remember is that you are aiming long term and overdoing it early can set you back significantly.

[Tigger61 in reply to MichaelJH]

Hi MichaelJH thank you for your reply which is very helpful, yes your correct I had a emergency stent after having a heart attack on the 6 February, so it is early days. I would imagine that it would be easy to overdo it when I feel so well.

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi Tigger61

I had a heart attack/cardiac arrest in December 2018, and had one stent fitted. Having had CPR to restart my heart I did end up with quite a bit of unavoidable rib damage, so for the first few weeks I did very little. After that, I started to busy myself around the house, cleaning, changing the bedding (slowly) and going out for a walk for a few miles. Then in March I started at cardio rehab and everything went up a gear or two.

My best advice would be to do what you feel like doing, but if it gets too much then stop - I found that my body told me when I'd done enough for the day. Certainly I found doing something much better than just sitting there, a little victory like changing the bed starts to give you the confidence that you will recover.

Good luck with rehab - it's a brilliant program that really helps to get you back to your old self.

[Tigger61 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Many thanks sounds similar to me except no CPR needed. It’s good to get advice and other people’s ideas on how to manage the recovery. Your advice is very helpful thank you. Can’t wait to start rehab but gentle walks the order of the day.

[Nicin]

Hi I had emergency stent fitted in December. I found after 3weeks I was doing most jobs round the house washing etc by 6 weeks I was back driving and going out doing the shopping. Still found got tired quick. I’m now post 9 weeks and pretty much back to normal all activities. Just waiting to get go ahead from cardiac physio to start swimming again

I’ve returned to watching rugby league and only last weekend helped my son move house. Was sensible didn’t lift anything heavy but managed most things.

[Tigger61 in reply to Nicin]

Many thanks for your input, I know it’s early days and will take advice from you as you have had same experience. Hope you get back to swimming soon.

[Nicin in reply to Tigger61]

Small steps but you will get there. It’s hard taking it slow I was the same

[achingarm]

Hi I had a stent fitted in December, all went well but was extremely tired when I got home. I could see the dust accumulating but my health comes first, just do a little every day. If you don’t feel like it have a lazy day, watch tv or lie in bed, you’re resting your body & that’s what it needs.

You’ll be fine, remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take care x

[Tigger61 in reply to achingarm]

Thank you, sounds to same as me, get very tired, I find doing things in the morning the best time and having a rest in the afternoon. I did suffer terribly with a aching painful arm where they put the stent through. I gather from your tag line you had the same. Keep well.