First day at Gym

[bagsypartime]

I've been trying to get to the gym and been thrawted for some time.I have an over protective partner.She didn't like me going to the gym pre op and now even less so.However an overnight trip to Manchester with her chum means that while she waits for the Coronation street tour to start i am able to go my gym.

I kept my membership going even though my wife asked me to cancel.I think the membership is £22 a month.This gym has a sauna and that is my favourite.They(scientists) say can never have a heart attack if you go to the sauna.So for three months i haven't used the gym.£66 wasted my wife thinks.However i'm not sure they'd have me as a member if i tried to rejoin because of my CABG op.

I didn't expect miracles and didn't get any, but i wasn't in any pain or discomfort which was reassuring.I was most interested in the treadmill because you can measure your effort.Before the op i could run at between 4 and 5 mph.If i tried to go above this i might have to stop for a rest.

I decided i was going to do 30mins walking with as many one minute intervals at 5mph running as i could manage.I did about seven.The first twenty seconds of the minute was quite easy and then i had to hang on and dig in.Finishing the minute i was exhausted and well into anaerobic debt and would take two minutes or longer to recover at walking pace.The only other problem was i had to hold my chest on the left side.The muscle or lump of fat there jiggled and hurt, but not when held steady.I Noticed that my top heart rate was only 100.My limiting factor is seemingly my lungs not my heart.I used to have powerful lungs and i'm hoping they are going to make a comeback at some point.

When i had got my breath back it felt so good.I felt very normal.

After that i went around the weight machines ,legs extension curls squats at modest weights.And then i went into the sauna.Normally i just wear my shorts but i kept my t shirt on to hide my scars.I sat on the bottom bench (normally go top) just in case i couldn't take it.Saunas drop your blood pressure because they dilate your arteries and in the past i have felt light headed, so i always treat the sauna with respect.However the Sauna was fine but i still stayed on the bottom.I took some oil in and was complaining it didn't work but the other people said it was amazing so maybe my sense of smell has gone too.Normally would have cold showers every 15 min but just sat there to ease my way back in.

So overall completely useless but it felt so good afterwards.Don't tell the wife.

[Captain_Birdseye]

Speaking as a scientist 😉 saunas are not always good for cardiac patients, especially if there's been a recent cardiac event.

I'm not saying this applies to you, and I'm glad you're feeling alright- but for anyone else who might stumble across this post, please check with the doctor before using saunas/hot tubs/ jacuzzi, etc.

Have you been offered cardiac rehab at all? It might put your partner's mind at ease for you to be exercising in a controlled environment, especially so soon after a major operation. They can then "sign you off" as gym ready.

[bagsypartime in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

I agree with what you say about caution etc and apologies to anyone stumbling on this and then using a sauna when they shouldn't if they are in an at risk category.

There aren\t many miracles in modern life but some people think that sauna when applied to cardiovascular disease is one of them.When i was trying to get out of my op it boiled down to eat plants not meat, exercise and sauna.My plan was dismissed, the cardiologist noting that i had done my own "research" .But if anyone does care to look into it some of those who are knowledgeable in the subject say that Sauna will at some point become a standard of care.A lot of arguments support its use in delaying or preventing dementia too.

There was a big study and the correlation between sauna use and lack or coronary events was overwhelming without any grey areas whatsoever..

My risk assessment for myself is that i am going back to things i did pre op, not trying new things.My wife takes me on long walks but i don't like long walks,

[Dessert in reply to bagsypartime]

Thanks ! I don’t think Saunas are for me but I’m interested in what you posted and will look into it . I always used Steam Rooms more than Saunas before heart disease . What about Steam Rooms?

[Dessert in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

Thank you . I was a bit confused by this post about Saunas being good for heart patients as my GP and my Cardiologist have both told me to never go to a Sauna , Steam Room or Hot Tub

[Captain_Birdseye in reply to Dessert]

Short answer is that it's not - excessive heat and humidity increase the workload for the heart and lungs, so if there's been a recent cardiac event/surgery it's to be avoided until fully recovered.

I've not seen the studies bagsy has referenced, but I imagine they were run on a small group of healthy people and there *may* be something in this kind of lifestyle being beneficial for prevention of cardiovascular disease, but once the event has happened, the horse has bolted, so to speak.

[bagsypartime in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

easy enough to do a google search.Like all health statements that are broadly true-jogging is good for you- examples can be found where it is not.

[Yumz199725]

Aw well done sounds like a very productive day! Hope your feel good after going I have recently joined a gym bout 2 months back and it's great! Wish I had your membership though 😅, mine is 26.99 which is still a bargain, I only use the exercise and treadmill it's great for cardio. I did want to use weights to build up my flimsy muscles but consultant said that's a big no no it would raise my blood pressure too much which they don't want obviously so I make it work by doing the exact same thing every time I go 😅😂😄 still find it fun though I try and switch it up a bit treadmill first then bike and vice versa lol 😄😂😅.

[bagsypartime in reply to Yumz199725]

What we need is more testosterone.Women get replacement therapy we don't .Supplements are good (i mean minerals that all old people lack and sunshine) but an older man with already declinling levels and with the added burden of statins which further reduce them, and then stuck in bed foe weeks following an op. only makes things worse.That's exactly why i do weights, as far as i know it is the only way of boosting testosterone, especially when you use the large muscle groups such as the legs.My chest muscles have pretty much atrophied and i can't exercise them too directly because the sternum area is still tender.

For me this was day one and even if i was capable- which I'm not that strong at the moment i still use caution.

Regarding rehab i got a letter it said something about service being reduced and not being operated but there was a phone i could ring if i needed advice.I doubt anyone answers that phone and if they do i think they'd be more bothered about saying anything wrong.Such as carry on go to the gym and knock yourself out.On the ICU the lady said to me-i'm the rehab nurse i tend to help the people i spot as needing it, you seem robust so unless you specifically want me to help you i'm probably going to spend more time with some of the others.I agreed that was fair.

[RufusScamp]

Have you been on a rehab course There, you are monitored so that you can work out the best programme for you.

[bagsypartime]

So 2nd viisit to gym but before that nurse gave the phone call from the local hospital where they ask you questions and hopefully hand you back to the GP.She asked about meds and thought i should be up titrated because i still have fluid and breathlessness.I had instructions on what panels i need and the surgery blood test is five and half weeks from now.

She asked about walking and i said i used to but i haven't really bothered as i have gone back to work.She said half an hour a day would be good to encourage my bypass to takeShe thought i might have gone to the gym too soon.I complained that my resting heart rate had gone from 52 to 72.She said she liked it 60-65 and hoped it would come down.

The main dizziness i seem to get is when i bend down, unfortunately my job entails picking things up from the floor a lot.When i've done five or six bend downs i feel woozy.I'm wondering if this is something to do with the new plumbing.

Anyway at the gym which is one week after the first visit 30 min treadmill with 1 min slow run intervals.Again exhausted and two min recovery.After that i went on the stationary bike which i don't normally use.I did ten mins and my heart rate was 142-5, i wasn't significantly out of breath and this pleased me.Also i did not have to clasp my chest as i do when i run so i think i'm going to start using the bike.After that weight machines and sauna.They've put a new sign on the sauna saying you to have a shower.Health and safety gone mad.