exercises

[joel132]

I didn't get any breathing exercises to do while in hospital or asked to breath the table tennis ball machine. I was asked to climb two flights of stairs before i would be released. Breathing is a big deal at the moment, can someone explain the breathing exercises please? So grateful for everyones responses, i do read them and they help very much. My brain is a bit addled at the moment so if i miss a reply please forgive me.

[080311]

My breathing exercises a bit difficult to explain but will give it a go!

Make a huff sound as if you are breathing on a piece of glass, as if you are going to polish it, 10 times. Turn your head right and left taking deep breaths again 10 times. They said every hour in hospital when I got home tried to do them at least 6 times a day. Walking will also help with your breathing, remember gently does it, your stamina will come back but it does take time. Hope you get the gist of the breathing, maybe ask you rehab nurse if you have been given one. If my description is rubbish 😂

Pauline

[joel132 in reply to 080311]

thanks... that is new to me .. x

[Chappychap]

Pauline's breathing exercises sound like mine. The description "as if you're breathing on glass" is excellent and really captures it, the only thing I'd add is that you should aim to completely empty your lungs, and when you think you can breath out no more dig deep and breathe out just a little bit more!

Another element of the breathing exercise is to cough. If you've had open heart surgery this will make you wince, but it's important so grit your teeth and get it done. It helps if you hug a pillow to your chest as you cough.

In addition to breathing you should be aiming for a daily walk, going a bit further each day until you've built up to a mile or more. The "pre-Covid" advice I was given was that if the weather was rubbish then try walking in a covered shopping centre, but i guess that would depend on where you live these days.

Good luck!

[joel132 in reply to Chappychap]

thank you.... on it

[Mountwood in reply to joel132]

If you don't live near enough to a covered shopping centre to use it in bad weather there may be somewhere in your house you could use. During lockdown I discovered it was 20 good paces from my front door in a straight line to my living room rear window so 5 walks was 100 paces and so on. It's boring but it does build up.

[080311 in reply to Chappychap]

Yep the cough I forgot, maybe the brain wiped it😂 I had a rolled up baby blanket that I hugged, it went everywhere with me, I even slept with my arms wrapped around it the family called my teddy! Sort of became my comfort blanket, still lives on my bed as a reminder😉

[Purplecross]

I never had any exercise or walking two flights of stairs before I left hospital. All I had was a check up 6 months later not 6 weeks. 3years later and now no energy getting out of breath was told before op I wouldn’t feel 20 years younger even5 years would have helped.

[Ageingfast]

Additional exercises, indoors: 1. Sit on a chair that allows feet to be flat on floor. Both hands on outside of knees. Push one hand down leg towards ankle. Then back to knees then other hand. Ten times. Hopefully you will soon reach ankles and maybe the floor

2. Sit back in the chair. Raise both hands overhead, forming an arch. Breath in as you do this. Then lower arms, breathing out. Ten times. 3. Shrub your shoulders and cyrcle shoulders. Eight times.

Outdoors, walk slowly enough to allow you to talk. Work up to one mile. Apparently walking is the best exercise.

I think the BHF has a video of more substantial exercises. But I am 73 and am still recovering from a stroke. So video is in abeyance.

Colin

[Handel]

Hi Joel.

My husband was asked to breathe in very deeply (a day after his quad bypass), hold his breath for 3 seconds and breathe out slowly (4 lots of that).

He did this 5 times a day until he got out of hospital 4 days after the op.

He had to cough as well! Just a note on coughing and/or sneezing, make sure you have your arms folded across your chest. A pillow to hug is also a good idea.

When you feel up to it, start walking a bit and gradually increase the speed and distance every couple of days.

You'll get there, honestly.

I really don't know what I would have done without these lovely people on this forum helping us through the worrying times. Turns out, there's not too much to worry about!! xxxx