hi all,
I am at the point where I am about to start the cardio rehab process. I have a telephone assessment next week.
I was just wondering if anyone could talke through their cardio rehab experience so I know a little more of what to expect.
In particular I will be undertaking sessions at Leicester Glenfield so if anyone has been there that would be a bonus.
thanks
I start mine on the 19th September but I have been to look and have a chat. Basically mine is action heart at the local hospital and it’s a full gym, the first 3 visits your hooked up to an ecg and shown how to use the equipment, which I think will be great to know just what I can do and the pain is post op not cardiac. After the first few visits you just treat it like a normal gym, you can go 3 times a week for the firs 6 months then twice a month for the next 6 months then if you want to carry on you have to pay. I hate gyms because I look like Mr weed and I’m 55 so a bit old, at this gym everyone is in the same boat, it’s for our hearts, not to look like my muscles.I think there are a few around like this I hope yours is the same I’m looking forward to it.
I live in Scotland so my cardio might be somewhat different. I did 2 sessions week. One of the sessions the first hour we were given a talk every week, specialists in drugs diet exercise and the on going research in to heart issues. We had cardio nurses who kept an eye on us taking blood pressure and our pulse before and after each exercise,
There were a range of different heart issues, from heart attacks, stents and open heart surgery. You only go at your own speed there is a huge age range from 30 somethings to those in their 80s. As I said each area have there own rehab. I found it invaluable, being around others who had been through the same thing meant that if someone said I have this niggle you might think wow I have that too and you stop worrying!
Best wishes Pauline
Wonder if these rehab sessions have started up again in Scotland ? I’ve had nothing due to Covid … had to just muddle on my own … testing how far I could walk and build it up from there. Check ups were only done because I had heard from nobody. Fallen through the cracks in the system I guess … must be loads more like me
My experience was four years ago, before the pandemic struck, in the SE England, following an NSTEMI about six weeks previous. My recollection was that I was assessed on arrival by the specialist nursing team who ran the group. There were about six sessions of about 2 hours duration, attended by about 20 people of very mixed ability and mobility. The youngest was about 40 and the oldest probably into their 80s. Each session was split into a short presentation by one of the team covering a different subject each week e.g diet, exercise, followed by an exercise session, with the objective of safely raising the heart rate all within an individual's capability, with a warm down at the end, all under the watchful eye of the team. So some managed far less than others. And there was opportunity to ask questions throughout. There was also a presentation by a group offering their paid for follow up rehab services. I never bothered with this. All in all a very useful exercise for me, but some people clearly didn't agree, because they dropped out, which is a shame because that then denied others of a chance of an earlier course. And at the end of the course I was discharged.
During the pandemic the BHF set up a Rehab At Home link. It might prove useful to you:
Hi. I finished cardio rehab a few weeks ago. I attended 9 weekly sessions that lasted a couple of hours each. Before I started I had to do a fitness test which involved walking between two points as many times as I could within a set time. I also did this when the rehab ended. The sessions had a 15 minute warm up followed by an hour structured workout in the gym followed by a 15 minute cool down. We then had a 20 minute educational talk. Between sessions you are told to do the workouts on the BHF website. After rehab finished I was given details of a local authority fitness instructor who was trained in cardiac rehab. This was so that I could get a personal gym routine set up. I found cardiac rehab very useful and it gave me the confidence to exercise again. I hope it goes well for you too.
For my rehab, I had a preliminary session where I was monitored doing various activities.I then had 8 weeks of twice weekly exercise classes lasting an hour - warm-up, exercises, cooldown and relax. Each week there was a talk be different people on meds, coping with the worries, diet, etc. There was then the chance of doing subsidised gym sessions, spiked unfortunately by the Dread Plague. I would strongly recommend it.
I have my first session on Tuesday and they take place in the local Leisure Centres rather than hospitals.I'm 4 months post op after Aortic valve and root replacement and then a couple of weeks after I had a pacemaker fitted.
The Cardiac Care nurse had to wait for my surgeon to confirm that my sternum was stable so that she could add me to the wait list and it's finally happening. I get 10 weeks free membership which should include the classes supervised by a trained Cardiac coach rather than a nurse and then if I want to continue membership is at a reduced rate. I had an assessment last week when the coach checked my BP and resting heart rate and I had to complete a walking bleep test so that he could assess what level of fitness I was at.
The classes look to be a low impact circuit type of thing although I can also go in the gym. I've been told no to swimming for another couple of months which surprises me as I thought it would be a lovely gentle way to exercise. Apparently not 🙄
I hope that you get cracking with the rehab soon and enjoy it.
Joanne
😊
Good morning Carlg. Its basic exercises. of walking. Step ups. And arms exercises to get your lungs working and expanding more to keep them working. Usually there's 3x sets of 15 in each exercise. Your there about 60 to 90 minutes. The majority of people find it helps them. If you check YouTube and put Pulmonary rehabilitation exercises in the search you will get some examples of what you do. Good luck Brian
Hey Carlg, I had a triple CABG back in Jan 2020 and got released from hospital just before the dreaded Covid hit. Due to this my initial rehab consisted of one assessment session with cardiac trained nurse at a local gym as part of a group and then 'bamm' lockdown. The weekly sessions then where at home on a trust basis walking around the house / the street and lifting tins of beans etc etc.Eventually when things opened up I attended a supervised gym session 3 times a week for 1hr for 2 x 3mnth courses this ended up taking forever and finally got released from that about Jan/Feb 2021. These sessions are made up of general exercises set to your ability at that time and can be changed with consent if you are wise of the cardiac trained instructor.
I did as I was told and took thing's at a slow pace as if left to my own devices still thinking I was 20 and not nearly 60 I would have injured myself.
To give you an idea of where you could and I am sure will end up, I now hit the gym 5-7 times a week for 2hrs per session. My sessions consist of Mon/Wed/Fri 12k erg rows+lower-body resistance machines+stretches, Tues/Thur ellyptical crosstrainer+all resistance machines+free weights+stretches, Sat whatever I choose, Sun 1hr-1.5hr Pilates.
Just do what makes you feel good and happy, and listen to your own body signals.
Not much more to add, but I did mine last year and loved it (used to absolutely hate gyms).
Mine was done at a local authority gym and at the end as I wanted to carry on they arranged a big discount for the first 9 months or so, I also asked if they would do a gym plan for me based on my circumstances and they were more than happy to do so. If you don't ask you don't get!
Still going now 4 times a week, and still loving it.
Think it depends where you get them, mine was once a week for 6 weeks basic exercises in a church hall, warm up and cool down, a couple of talks about medications and exercise, and that was it.
Hi Carlg,
I'm not far from you, Glenfield was where I was taken to have my stents fitted after my HA.
My rehab classes are at the local leisure centre gym for an hour a week with a cardio trained instructor. We just provide our BP readings before we start each session, if you haven't got them they'll do them for you before you start (to make sure you're good to go each time) There's a proper warm up/cool down period with breathing exercises to control heart rate etc, and structured exercises to utilise all major muscle groups, cardio, lungs etc.
As it's not at the hospital we've no help with diet advice, but there's plenty on the BHF website for that. We're charged £4.15 each session, but way more convenient than travelling/parking etc. Hope this helps, shout out if you need any more info.
Interesting to see how Cardiac Rehab has changed (or not) over the years. My rehab was a 2 week residential course at the London Chest Hospital in 1988 (home for the weekend). We had exercise, steps in a public hall, lectures on diet, nutrition and heart health, relaxation techniques and breathing, question and answer about how quickly you can resume normal activities, swimming at the nearest public pool in Limehouse, and a daily walk in Victoria Park, which was nearby and started up as 1 mile and progressed to a 4 mile walk. I also had an opportunity to go up to the wards and offer reassurance to a man waiting for surgery and his wife who was visiting though this was a voluntary part of the course. The course was run by three specialist nurses (Erica, Rendell and Cynthia for anyone else who was at the London Chest) and was excellent - I think I still have the course info booklet and some notes. Wish everyone well post op, if you are offered rehab please accept as it is worth it.
Wow, that is interesting Classof1988.
I love that you got to go chat with someone waiting for surgery! That is wonderful! Well done to you!!
It was absolutely brilliant for me. Gives you confidence. Deals with a lot of the fear surrounding everything ‘heart’. Cardio has moved on since I did it. It concerns the confidence issue a bit better. I think that is good because I had a bit of a wobble when it finished. Only six weeks at that time. I suddenly felt I was on my own again and my confidence slipped. It’s well worth it - even if some of the time you are being taught to suck eggs!
My rehab consisted of one meeting with a nurse who handed me a book about diet and exercise then refused to put me on the exercise course because I use a wheelchair. I was desperate t o try doing things under supervision to boost my confidence but she absolutely refused.
Hi Carla,I had my heart bypass in February 2021 right in the middle of the pandemic. At the time all rehab was suspended. I eventually was referred and started my rehab in June 2021. It’s Great ! Very friendly, and everyone there is all in the same boat. Not there to impress, just there to try and improve their fitness. I was supposed to go for 12 weeks, but I have made so many friends there that 15 months later I am still going once a week. I have to pay £5 each week now to attend, but it’s well worth the money, not only for the health benefits it brings, but also for the social interaction with people who have been through similar treatments to yourself.
Only thing to keep in mind is to be patient. Its a slow process but gets you a good recovery
Hi Carlg
I am just about to complete my refresh re-hab I had my first sessions back in 2015 after having a Aortic Valve replacement they were at my local leisure centre and after the 8 weeks was also able to join the Gym which I did following the same programme I had being doing in re-hab and building up over the years, unfortunately last year I developed AF which has now been regulated by tablet method and for the past 4-5 wks been going to a leisure centre to re-hab sessions with the plan of going back to my own gym which hopefully I will be signed off next week, and will be able to do. At the moment I do warm up on the bike 5 mins rowing 5 mins tread mill 10 mins arm weights 12 1kg and 12 2kg and then cool down on the bike 5 mins all very low input i.e. level 1 on the bike but after going I feel so much better my joints were starting to not work and was struggling to get up after being on the floor not good as I am only in my 60's!!
I say go for it, it will be good for your mental health and meet others who perhaps have the same conditions as yourself and will be able to chat to I had never been to a Gym before re-hab but wish I had sooner
Best of luck
I start my rehab in 3 weeks but had my in-person assessment this past week. I'm a runner of half marathons so I wanted to set my goals and they're confident I should be fine to do so by Spring. The first rehab will involve a Bleep Test and treadmill work for them to calculate my maximum safe heart rate. From then it will be treadmill and circuits each week (6 weeks at the hospital gym then a further 12 weeks at my Local Authority gym). Once I can run regularly within my maximum heart rate (under their supervision) I will be allowed to return to running myself.
Sounds like a great plan. Gives me confidence I will be able to return to teaching and participating in group fitness classes I ran prior to the operation. Thank you
My rehab was nearly 4 years ago., aged 78. It started with very gentle exercises, taking care not to stretch the chest muscles. Over a period of about 12 weeks this progressed to cycling and gentle rowingI had never been a gym shark, but took to the exercises and joined the gym at the local health centre, just had to give it up as knee needs replacing.
Do as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, but most important enjoy
This is wonderful to read! Well done you!!
Cardio Rehab is fantastic. The cardio nurses put your mind at rest and if you are having problems then they will help you. You will find that you are all in the same boat, no question is silly and the sessions will help build your stamina and confidence.
Remember, you can ask anyone any question there as they all know how you feel.
Your a fighter Carlg, I too inherited heart disease so know how you probably begrudge it.
Onwards and upwards,
Jane
I underwent cardio rehab three years ago after a mild heart attack and having two stents fitted. We did ten weeks of circuit training, each session being followed by discussion groups, led by qualified staff, covering various topics concerned with cardio health. The rehab was followed up by voluntary fitness classes (circuit training) run by the local council, at a cost of £2.50 per week. These classes fell away during lockdown. I have moved out of the area and have not continued the classes.
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