Rehab after AVR

[Ageingfast]

I had a new valve by open heart surgery 2nd May this year. Due to the virus, I have no access to follow up nor rehab. No physio, no cardiac nurse.

I have a brief outline of what to expect and it is suggested that i will need 12 weeks to get full strength etc.

I have been following an outline of what to achieve each week. After 3 weeks i was doing 5 daily trunk exercises and was walking about 3/4 of a mile. But i then had a bad gout flare up. So no walking and little movement . I get gout flares, perhaps one every two years, and i hold the medication to deal with it. But this time it has been very bad and laid me low for three weeks and more.

I now find myself at week 8 post op but will just about complete week 4 rehab.

Would it be the right thing for me to now do week 5 rehab etc and to run 4 weeks in arrears ?

I am still sore along part of the scar. I get an aching left shoulder. But overall things have improved very well indeed. I no longer need to sleep on my back.

I am lost as i have nothing to compare with my progress. Am i possibly lifting too much. Am i bending down too much.

There is so much to do at home, especially my rather long garden. I dont make my bed yet. I dont use the Dyson yet.

I am so lucky to have had the avr done, it seems no one else had it around this time. I now want to make the best of my good luck and so i want to get the rehab the best i can.

Suggestions gratefully received.

Best wishes Colin

[gilreid1]

ps://bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

A very useful link for you.

[Calliope153]

I had a new valve and aortic graft on 20th April so I am about a fortnight in front of you. I have had no follow up either. It doesn;t matter if you do not rigidly progress along the programme of rehab sessions each week. Sometimes you can be stuck doing the same session for a couple of weeks. As long as you do something each day that;s fine. Everyone is different. I must be about week ten and I am still only walking each day. I walk by time, not distance. I can now walk for up to 50 minutes but in this hot weather I do my walk early (7 a.m this morning) and only do half an hour. You should aim for 150 minutes walking each week (5 days @ 30 minutes) I had a heart attack and a stent fitted in 2017 and did cardiac rehab (8 weeks with the cardiac nurses (had to wait for three months before I started that as no spaces in groups) then went on to Stage 4 at the sports centre. At the moment I know I am not ready to start doing arm curls and lifting more than a kg . (should be only lifting a half full kettle at this time apparently) I watched many people join the group(s) and honestly no one progresses at a standard rate. Completing week 4 now is excellent progress and I salute you. I will get back to doing my half an hour circuit of BHF exercises on top of walking when I feel ready. I know I am not ready yet. You are doing really well - you will know if you are doing too much as your body will tell you you're tired and you won;t feel like doing much. It;s good to set your sights high but it is really early days yet.

[Ageingfast in reply to Calliope153]

Thank you callio. I now feel less isolated, knowing that i am not the only avr in corona times. You are going well with your walking Arent you. It is so hard to refuse to lift any weight at all. But i will persevere and, by the time this heatwave has passed, i will be doing week 5.

Again, manybthanks

[Shar28]

Hi, first of all, please don’t compare yourself to others or follow the rehab guide religiously! Everyone is different and has different needs. I’m not medically qualified in any way but from my husband’s experience I would suggest picking up the rehab where it feels comfortable to, but no further ahead where you were and in no way pushing yourself. You could contact the consultant’s secretary requesting a call-back or your GP or the BHF nurses to discuss and receive some expert advice. The BHF nurses are wonderful. (Working weekdays office hours 0300 330 3311)

In respect of rehab, my husband had his AVR by open heart surgery (ie not TAVI) in January 2018. In our area, he didn’t qualify for any rehab as he hadn’t needed any grafts because his arteries were clear. So you’re not necessarily being neglected by not having any rehab now. His first follow up via the hospital was 8 weeks after discharge although he saw his GP sooner due to dizziness - his meds needed to be adjusted.

Hope your recovery goes well going forwards and you’re enjoying the sunshine, even if it is rather hot. Ignore the weeds! All the best to you and your loved ones.

[Ageingfast in reply to Shar28]

Thank you Shar.

I now feel less isolated and I think I am doing the right thing by "rejoining" week 4.

I can breath freely, stand up straight and I can do the trunk exercises. Sleep is getting better every week. I Have started to walk about 500 yards and will build that up as fast as my body agrees with me..

I do not cope well with extra hot weather but thats always been me. I come up trumps when its cold...I function well in the cold.

The weeds appreciate your kind comments and are doing very well.

Thanks again

Colin

[Calliope153 in reply to Ageingfast]

You mean your conservation area is developing nicely.......