Hi Guys, any advice on what I should be doing now? I had HA 23/10/21 which lead to CA and stent fitted, discharged on 26/10.
First week or so I just rested then with the wife started short walks, now have a treadmill to do around 30 minutes walk most days. Changed diet to more of the stuff meant to eat and monitor calorie/nutrient intake, no more coffee or alcohol don't smoke anyways. But where do I go from here?
All I've had is an email of doctor with my fit note which finishes 30/11 which states "I will not need to assess your fitness for work again at the end of this period" and just had a generic "new start" booklet when discharged.
Thanks James.
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jamesnufc
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Hello James, welcome to the forum. The first thing to say is that your focus on improving your life style means you're already well placed to be a long term survivor of heart problems, so full credit to your positive attitude!
You should be eligible for a place on a "Cardio Rehab Course", these are roughly six week courses run by the hospital that treated you. I don't know if these are back now to face to face or are still online. If they're on line then the British Heart Foundation also run one which you can sign up for.
Cardio Rehab is an excellent resource, it aims to equip you with the knowledge to adjust your lifestyle and to explain the role of each of your medication. For example you'll receive a tailored exercise programme that includes the precise heart rate that you need to get to and to then maintain for 5x30 minute sessions each week. It will also spell out the reasons why thorough warm-ups and cool-downs are doubly important for us heart patients.
These are critical points. About 90% of heart attacks are due to atherosclerosis, sometimes called Coronary Heart Disease. Unfortunately there's no cure for this, even stents or bypass operations aren't actual cures, so it's all about slowing the progress of the disease to an absolute crawl with life style changes and medication. The good news is this is eminently achievable, and with a little bit of luck and a lot of application you can probably reduce your risk of a future heart attack down to the levels of the general population.
Hello James, I agree with the other poster. Did your hospital say anything to you about going on a cardiac rehab course when you were 6 weeks post op ? if they didn't I suggest you ring your designated cardiac nurse and ask if it's going to be arranged. Good luck !
Newcastle is normally quite good when it comes to rehab, but, it depends if the NHS Trust is back up and running group sessions or not across their centres. I'm under Gateshead, and as of 6 weeks ago,I was still advised to do exercises via YouTube and had a weekly call with the rehab physio.
"I will not need to assess your fitness for work again at the end of this period" Well, that's as clear as mud. It sounds like they are saying you are OK to go back to work after 30/11?
Aside from finding out about cardiac rehab, you should speak to your GP about a phased return to work. If I remember correct, I initially returned to work for 4hrs mornings, and for only 4 days a week, gradually increasing back up to full time. I think the standard 'fit note' has the option to outline the hours, which I discussed with my GP before she completed it.
If I'm totally honest, I quite liked the idea of getting a bit more time off work (my GP had broached the phased return), but then when I went back I realised why my GP had been so insistent on it. I hadn't realised that going back to work at my desk would in fact be quite so tiring, and the slow return was really helpful. I took extra time off for cardiac rehab sessions.
Hi Nellie thanks for the reply. My fit note had the phased bit struck out, so maybe Gp feels I'm fit enough for return? My EF at echo was 55%, guessing I need to contact them as seem to be slow contacting me. Thanks again
Still the same form then. Yes you definitely need to contact them. It seems that since Covid things have changed dramatically, and GP's are leaving it to patients to contact them. I think your GP was wrong in this instance, and should have sent you an appointment to discuss, if only by phone.
Has your GP organised blood tests (ie Liver/kidney function, creatine kinase) to check that all the new meds aren't causing any damage? Mine were done about 3 wks after HA.
You need to remove the image, it has your name and the surgery name. I think this can put you at risk of identity theft.
Hi James, I think the doctors note is saying you won’t need to be seen by him/her but you would automatically get an extension of it if you do not feel fit and ready to return to work.You just need to phone the doctors and ask, that is what I have done as mine said the same and I just had a new sick note given.
As others have said you should be entitled to cardiac rehabs sessions as they will set a safe level for exercising to benefit you the most, just contact the hospital for details.
EF of 55% very high as my Cardiologist told me that the average for non HA people is around 60 to 67 % . After my HA and a stent my EF was 31%. I had almost a year off work due to the HA , having an ICD fitted and then covid guidelines. However, I am glad of the extra time as it really aided my recovery. I had to wait 13 months for cardio rehab due to lockdowns starting and having my ICD . By the time I got round to it my cardio nurse said I was too fit really, as I got as high as they could go on the bleep test without breaking a sweat. This was down to going out walking every day. Like you I had a week doing nothing , then was advised to do 5min walks the first week and up it by 5 mins each week until I hit 30 mins. I soon got up to walking 5k, then 10k. I'm out every day walking 5k before work and usually do up to 10 k on an evening too when I can. My cardiologist said that if I felt OK then to carry on doing what I was doing. I'm back to running 5k but that's as far as I dare run. Before the HA I could run very long distances. I also changed my diet, cutting out meat 5 days a week and eating veggie or vegan . I only eat meat 2 days a week, dont drink and have never smoked. I still have a treat but everything in moderation these days. Good luck with your recovery.
You check out Dr Ken Berry on youtube and you take control of your life....I came out of Royal Papworth last October, looking back I was given so much garbage on diet from so called nutrionlists..who knew nothing about real nutrition I would be worse now. ..I binned the lot. Followed Dr Berry"s advice and havnt looked back. I got rid of diabetes 2 that I'd had for 7 years, I'm fitter now than years ago. Buy his book "lies my doctor told me" it was a revelation to me. And no I dont have any association with him...good luck..⁰
Hi James, keep plugging away till you get some answers. Contact BHF they are very helpful. I had MI in January this year and now have heart disease. I get telephone support from a cardiac nurse and a cardiac nurse specialist. I did have physio advice but the cardiac physio retired and they have not appointed a new one. Also my clinical pyschologist left and I am waiting for that. Don't give up keep asking questions until you get the help you need. Everything here in Wales seems to be so different since COVID and no one gets seen face to face and there are no cardiac rehab sessions. All the best, in getting what you need.
Take a look at the link from Newcastle Hospitals.. ?? You slipped through their net!. Some services are up and running NE as I have been allocated a space with County Durham & Darlington but, not all..
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