Just introducing myself. New to this platform. I’m 52 and had a quadruple bypass 5 weeks ago today. Been building myself up with moderate exercise every day since and lost muscle mass and conditioning since op. Looking to go back to basics and build up again so any advice on what exercises and when to start gratefully received, in particular from others who have gone through similar... PS - I was fit and in good physical shape prior to op even though I needed said major op! (Never had a cardiac arrest thankfully)
Thank you.
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QuadroVEINia
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Welcome to the forum, not a place you ever thought you would be joining. I had Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 4 years ago, 5 weeks is not very long since your surgery, it takes between 8-10 weeks for your sternum to heal so no arms above your head or pushing or pulling movements. No carrying anything heavier than a half a kettle of water. Like any bone it needs time to heal and even though we were wired up the sternum needs time. I asked my surgeon about it and he said 18 months after our op the sternum would be stronger than his as new bone grows over the wires.
Have you got yourself on the cardio rehab I know it’s not running at the moment but get on the list for when it does start, the cardio nurses are there to check on us make sure our hearts are behaving and blood pressure is ok. I found it invaluable as well as getting your stamina back it was great mixing with others who have been through the same experiences as you. In the meantime look on the BHF web site you will find lots of info on exercise after open heart surgery.
I wish you a great recovery it does take longer than we think but we do get our lives back,
I’m fortunate to know the head of my local cardiac rehab programme personally so access to lots of support, advice, direction on what to do and when to do it so following programme to the letter but specific to my needs.
At 5 weeks they encourage you on the programme (certainly in my case) to incrementally going beyond the ‘kettle’ equivalent so that is where I’m at. Not doing anything without clear direction of my cardiac rehab team.
Interesting hearing your thoughts about the sternum, good to know I can look forward to a stronger sternum in 18 months.
I hope you are also doing better since your op and have managed a full recovery... it is a journey!
Your program certainly sounds a lot different to mine, I didn’t start cardio rehab until 8 weeks post op. Then saw my surgeon at 9 weeks chest X-ray then discharged back to my cardiologist saw him 6 months later and discharged back to GP. I have echocardiogram yearly ( though not so far this year). That’s to check the pressure my replacement valve is sending out.Thanks for asking I am fine, 4 years on doing ok my pigs valve is being very good so far though I do have a shelf life 😂 but so far so good. Having kidney issues to do with the high dose of furosemide but again they are behaving. Check again next month.
When we have a heart issue, taking our meds can cause us some problems, but they do help our hearts stay healthy. You are now part of the Hearties family and travelling on the road with a mended heart.
Yes, certainly sounds like a different rehab route... maybe the procedure type and the individual dictate which approach they take. Good to hear you are doing well... stay strong.
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Heart Bypass 
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