Frustrating.

[Zzr93]

Hi everyone, hope your all managing in these difficult times.

So, I had a triple bypass last Aug 20. Have had no re-hab but have been doing a fair amount of walking and stretches.

These last few weeks I’ve been trying to catch my breath when even going upstairs talking on the phone!!!!! Sitting down and general walking feels ok. Any exertion and it’s a shortness of breath.

Have seen doctor last week. All the numbers are good, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels even when I feel a bit breathless are good 98/99%.

Had my chest checked out and x- rayed, everything good.

Last on the list is a echo at the hospital, which having had the doctor put urgent on the request it’s not till JUNE!!!!

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas to try?

Would mention, this has only been over the last 2-3 weeks, before that I’ve been really good.

Many thanks.

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Zzr

I too have been without rehab, and its a right pain.

Certainly don't want to overdo anything. So i am trying to increase my exercises by a tiny fraction each week. 2to3 weeks is nothing, so maybe you could just ease through the next month or two.

I am not walking well, so i take a walk six days a week. I am walking past two extra houses per day. Amazing how the legs have managed to get going, with just this slight increase. I am doing about a mile.

Maybe a remote physio class one to one could help. I did seated yoga , which is a very gentle yoga and it helped me a lot.

Finally, maybe you could opt to pay for your echo at a private facility. I think i would wait for June to roll around, but maybe its important to you to get it done sooner.

Covid is a menace of huge proportions.

I went private last April and it was pretty wizzard. I had the echo at Cromwell, west london, as part of a package deal.

Best wishes

Colin

[Zzr93 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Hi Colin, thanks for your swift reply. Are you having problems with your leg because it’s was a donor leg?Getting up to a mile is still good going Colin.

Reading a lot of posts on here, it really highlights how different we all are when it comes to recovery.

I’ve had quite a few issues with my donor leg, but overall I can do a few miles on it, but I have a few issues when I’m going up or down hill.

Trouble is things can change quite quickly in the recovery,

Especially in the early weeks for myself. I’m very much just want to do as I can to improve things.

My wife says I’m just impatient!!!!! I probably will wait Colin till June unless things go really down hill.

Seated Yoga sounds different, will have a look at that.

Wish you all the best with your recovery Colin.

Barney.

[Blackcatsooty in reply to Zzr93]

Dear Barney

I had AVR so no donor parts required.

Your positive attitude will guarantee success.

I have had endless problems such as gout and sciatica. I have heard of others when the donor location causes more problems than the heart.

Seated yoga was fabulous. She was a brilliant physio and picked up my problems so very well. Shows how we need one to one but we can not have it.

It was a group of six and half of us stood up/ laid down because we could do that. The other three remained seated.

How quickly i have forgotten how to do the yoga positions.

I recall the nurses were amused to find me doing yoga after the op and before my discharge.

Please listen to your body. It will tell you when to rest and when to shift. This morning my body is itching to get walking up my road. I need a walking stick and my feet dont really want to come along, but its great when it all goes well.

Bestvwishes

Colin

[Chappychap]

I sympathise with anyone having a bypass at the present time. The stress of being in a hospital is one thing, but missing cardio rehab in person is the main reason.

For me, and I know for many others, face to face cardio rehab was the great turning point on the long road to recovery. That was when it really struck home that I needed a root and branch review of my lifestyle, including a much more serious approach to exercise.

A bypass is an amazing opportunity, it re-sets the clock and genuinely gives you a second chance. But it's sobering how quickly the good can be undone. So stick with it, dig deep and stay with the programme. In the absence of cardio rehab it may be worth phoning one of the excellent BHF cardio nurses to see if there's any specific advice for a personalised exercise regime.

Good luck!