How essential is physical therapy after AVR?

[Zindolo]

I had AVR on November 3rd and am scheduled for my first appointment with a physical therapist next Tuesday. But now the coronavirus cases are skyrocketing again and that will be 5 days after Thanksgiving. So, at a time when a lot of people might be asymptomatic spreaders of the virus. I'm seriously thinking I would be better off to cancel the physical therapy as I would be at great risk of developing a serious/fatal case if I got infected. I'm walking okay now and don't seem to be having any problems. Did everybody reading this who had AVR go to physical therapy afterwards? I'm sure they will insist that I come in, but I'm in the USA and with our healthcare-for-profit it is definitely in their financial interest for me to come in for these sessions...

[Tubbylardo]

A lot depends on you and how fit you are?

I was walking 5 miles a day before my AVR. Was up and walk the day after my AVR. I did start physio but considering I drove myself to the appointment, walked from the car unaided and held a conversation with the nurse during the bleep test - they concluded it was a waste of time and discharged me.

If YOU think you would benefit from having the sessions, then go. Don't let fear dictate the course of your actions and hamper your recovery.

[francesw47]

Hello again! Good to hear that you are doing ok. System drastically different here in UK. We have final meeting with surgeons (at about 6 - 8 weeks) then cardiac rehabilitation - the quality of which varies across country. It involves supported programme of graded exercise and some education input. On both occasions I found it good but mainly, I suspect, because of the contact with others. We can go onto a level 4 programme afterwards - and I was part way through that somewhat more intensive circuit based activity when coronavirus struck and it closed down.I walk. I walk everywhere. I walk up hills, down hills and around hills. I walk at least an hour a day and continue to do so inspite of the virus. I walked as exercise after first AVR and again after second. But, fitness is not just stamina and cardiac workout - its flexibility and strength too = so I have hand weights which I use and stretching exercises from pilates helpful. Take advice before using weights - not sure how long ago your op was.

But your dilemma is real. Is it esstential for healthcare staff to wear PPE in US? And I do get your concern/reservation about going to see people who are not protected when with you. Why not ask if they will wear necessary kit?

Other than walking, the BHF website has a graded cardiac rehab programme - you could follow that.

How are you otherwise...

[Zindolo in reply to francesw47]

Wow, by 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery I feel like I'll be completely recovered and wouldn't need rehab at all. I just specifically do not like the date of December first, being five days after Thanksgiving. From what I've seen, that is about the perfect time for somebody to have and spread the virus just before coming down with symptoms themselves. I'm sure the staff all wear PPE, but still, I try to avoid being indoors with strangers in general. My surgery was done on November 3rd. I do go to the grocery store but that's really fast and I'm constantly moving. The rehab would be a different situation, being in one room with possibly other people who might be breathing heavily. That just sounds too risky to me right now. I might even consider going the next week, since by then most people who contracted the virus on Thanksgiving should be either sick or no longer contagious. But I'm walking around the block, driving around my neighborhood, and frankly don't think the rehab would really be that beneficial to me. I plan to go to an appointment I have with the surgeon on Thursday, but that will be just me and him and very limited exposure to strangers indoors. One major way that it is spreading is probably in church services, and sadly now that there are 3 or 4 of Trump's idiots on our Supreme Court, they recently ruled in favor of superstition over science and declared that there shall be no limits placed on religious gatherings. So those idiots are getting each other sick every Sunday and then going out and spreading it to everybody else! Sorry I digress, but it REALLY annoys me that Trump broke the Supreme Court on his way out!!! This is a problem that could afflict this country for decades!

[080311 in reply to Zindolo]

Wow, that’s great, good on you. I started my rehab at 8 weeks saw my surgeon at 9 weeks discharged back to my cardiologist who I saw after 6 months and he discharged me back to my GP. I have a brother who as been in the States for over 40 years so have had a bit of an understanding of your medical system his son is a surgeon there as well. Our two medical systems are so completely different.

Hope your recovery keeps going from strength to strength.

Best wishes Pauline

[080311]

Hi ZindoloPlease to read your AVR went well, I can appreciate you are feeling nervous about going to cardio rehab with the pandemic my brother is in St Louis and had a FaceTime conversation with him last night. He was talking about how things are there.

After my AVR I completed my cardio rehab, obviously before COVID unlike Tubbylardo I found it invaluable, gave me my confidence back my stamina improved but most of all helped my mental health, being around others who had been through the same experiences as myself was so helpful I was able to realise that the odd aches and pains were normal, having cardio nurses on hand keeping an eye on my blood pressure and pulse was also reassuring. We also had a talk every week from people ranging from pharmacies explaining our drugs and what we could expect from using them and why we were prescribed them to people who are researching heart issues and what things we could look forward to helping us deal with our heart problems. To dieticians who talked us through what we should be doing to help ourselves 😂

Hope your recovery continues so well, keep going you will get there.

Best wishes Pauline

[Blackcatsooty in reply to 080311]

I had AVR by open heart surgery 2nd May this year. In London at the height of the covid infections. No rehab available. Promises, but no rehab.

I must say that there were/are many issues that rehab would have been very helpful. I did trunk exercises, as shown in the hospital, and walked each day. But its all the tweaks that i cant deal with, i had mega five week gout flares, which stopped my exercises for five weeks. Then all was going well until mid August. Huge fatigue started. My legs wouldn't work. It is taking forever to find out why. Rehab would have set me on the right track.

I am virtually an invalid at the moment. Very disappointing. Hospital tests start on Tuesday. Exactly what i could do without.

Best wishes

Colin

[080311 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Oh so sorry you are struggling, so many here on the forum are finding no cardio rehab hard going, hope your tests at the hospital next week find out what is going on. Keep us up to date with how you get on.

Best wishes Pauline

[Fredders]

I’ve had two AVR ops and wasn’t offered rehab after either of them. Both times I was driving after six weeks and back at work after 12. I don’t feel I missed out by not having any rehab, but we’re all different. It’s really up to you whether you think you’ll benefit from it or not. Perhaps go along the first week and then see how you feel.

Wendy

[Shar28]

Hiya, in the UK not everyone has rehab after an AVR. My husband “only” had an AVR but no bypass so he wasn’t eligible in our area for rehab. He just gradually built up activity in accordance with the guide issued by the hospital.

[Newanton]

However, it is very important after this what kind of physical therapy you do. I would recommend that you turn to a good doctor and see what advice he gives you or what he recommends you to do next. My cousin had such an intervention and in half a year she felt very good. But she told me that with this - zakerchiropractic.com she didn't have to worry, and the doctors here helped her a lot. Besides the fact that they were understanding, they made a special program for her and in the end, she did not spend much money. I mean, everything came out at a pretty advantageous price.