Had my last assessment with the cardio physios today and pleased to say there has been an improvement since I started the cardio rehab a few months ago.
I have now been referred on to the next stage 'the exercise referral scheme' which is a scheme mainly funded by the Welsh Government but participants will pay a modest sum for each session.
The participants are not just cardiac patients but could be referred for a wide range of medical reasons.
I have been recommended for 16 weeks, 2 sessions per week. Just have to wait for a call from the gym opted for.
I really enjoyed my cardio rehab so looking forward to upping the sessions.
As an aside I told the physio I would be taking up the free swimming sessions for the over 60s and she gave me a leaflet for safe swimming which is interesting. I know someone asked on here a few weeks ago about hot tubs/Jacuzzis so I photographed the relevant paragraph. Something I didn't know!!
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Heather1957
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Wow sounds great. You are so lucky. I had my HA and emergency stent on 25th February and had an assessment with a cardio nurse about 3 weeks later. She put me on a waiting list to speak to the physio over the phone. There is no rehab groups etc. She said I will be told to download an app and that’s about it. It’s very disappointing to say the least. Not even sure I will hear anything at all now. I am just going walking each day and hoping for the best. I darent do anything else because the nurse said it’s not up her to advise me it’s up to the physio. Sounds like the area you live is a great place to have a heart attack etc. Good luck with your exercise.
Your reply in some ways makes me sad, it shouldn't matter where you live we should all have access to similar rehabilitation schemes.
Sadly though we know that is not true, it is a post code lottery when it comes to treatment not just Cardiac rehab.
I do believe that Wales has a high proportion of diabetes and cardiac problems including deaths which is why more money is being poured into these schemes over here, I wouldn't be surprised if the same isn't the case in Scotland.
Trying hard not to be Political, poorer areas do indeed have a higher than average number of cardiac cases so I suppose more money is invested in those areas.
That said I know we have members on here from England who have excellent cardio rehab facilities, my brother who at the time of his burst aneurysm lived in Bristol and later attended rehab sessions.
I know how lucky I am and will take advantage of what is on offer, I looked at the sessions on YouTube and would never have stuck at it if they were all that was on offer.
I sis send a complaint- got nowhere. JUst "We don't have the facilities" I discovered 2 years later that if I'd seen a different nurse, I'd have got more help.
That is dreadful! We have had 2 people in our class who have to sit down for the exercises as they have mobility issues and the physios have adapted the exercises so they can participate.
Granted they won't be the same but IMHO it is laziness on the part of the Cardiac team and they should be ashamed of themselves!!
I don't think they have adapted anything for disabled people but I'm sure it was based on teh decision oft ht nurse who saw me on my mobilty scooter and instantly decided "Oh she can't do it". I can't stand for more than a minute or two and I have badly damaged shoulders but I'd have had a darn good try. Two years later the head of dept did suggest another group that had no training in heart problems but did work with wheelchair patients. But what I badly needed at the beginning was the confidence of having a trained nurse present to make sure I was ok. I was on the waiting list for the second group but then you know what started so it got cancelled.
I have been told it’s because of Covid. Money saving I think. Shame because the hospital in Cottingham, Castle Hill is the best in the area for Cardiology.
I am extremely happy for you and I hope that you just now go from strength to strength x
This is such good news 😊
Very pleased to see that your physio has been so successful . It’s lovely to see you’re looking forward to the increased gym time & swimming too.
Enjoy both 🤸♀️🏊♀️
(Am sure you will since your post is giving off many positive vibes )
I never realised that if you didn't approach swimming carefully it could be quite bad for you.
Just some pointers from the leaflet.
Your heart works harder when you are immersed in the water because more blood is returning to the heart. As you begin to move the work of the heart increases further.
The deeper you are in water the greater the effects e.g. being in water up to your neck has a greater effect than to your waist.
I was advised to enter the water from the shallow end and slowly work my way up.
After open heart surgery wait at least 12 weeks to allow for good healing of the breast bone.
You should always discuss going swimming with a member of your cardiac rehab team, I guess your GP if you don't do Cardiac rehab.
If you have had a pacemaker or ICD you should wait for the device to heal and then be careful what swimming stroke you use, breast stroke is suitable for all devices while other strokes could be potentially dangerous.
You should warm up and down the same as all exercises including entering and exiting via the shallow end.
There are a few other things but mainly, slowly does it, don't hold your breath and don't put your head underwater, avoid extreme temperatures 26c to 33c are best for your heart.
Luckily I am a slow swimmer anyway and only use the breast stroke. I passed the Bronze medallion life saving award in 1977 but I doubt I could do it again!! 😅
So pleased you enjoyed the Cardio Rehab and its great you are continuing with your exercises in a gym setting with more choices. I did the cardio Rehab just before covid lock down and never got called back for gym work so just brought a rowing machine and do exercises at home on that now. Good luck hope it goes well Brian
What was even better for me is that the exercise class, run by a trained cardiac nurse, is at a gym within easy walking distance.Doing both sessions each week probably costs more than a gym membership, but at least I know I'm being properly monitored. Course is open-ended. Some of the people have been going for years. On days when I'm not fit enough to do the full class (usually due to stress) you can go down and just use the equipment in the main gym at an easy pace.
It's also quite a nice social event, since a small group hangs around in the café afterwards for coffee and a chat.
The class I have just completed run by the cardio physios and cardio nurses last only 6 weeks and it is a rolling programme so the participants start and finish at different times and while you do chat while you are doing the circuits you don't really have time to get to know people.
The Physio yesterday told me that they will be in touch from the gym in the next few weeks telling me when they start so I am hoping it will be a block start so we'll get to know each other. None of the options are close to me so I'll have to drive, I have picked one with a pool so I can take a dip after.
Not sure what it all entails but there are classes on a Tuesday and Thursday with 3 choices each day:
Level 2 Circuit class (I am hoping it is more of what I've been doing)
Strength and Balance (level 2)
Gym session
They are all an hour each with a break in between so I am not sure if you can do more than 1?
I was told the nominal fee is about £1.50 each class.
Interesting comment about not using the cold plunge or shower. I read only this week that a seemingly healthy person had died after jumping into an icy cold river. Apparently cold swimming is becoming quite a fad. I was very concerned when watching "Breaking Dad" earlier this year when he jumped into an icy river in Norway.
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Cardio Rehab class
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