exercise after bypass surgery

[Jambypass]

had bypass a year ago and finally getting back to the gym - been taking it easy (possibly too easy) this last year as concerned that something may go “wrong” - but got to get back on with life - so does anyone can say that my heart/arteries are good as a normal heart and can push myself as much as I like ?

[Happyrosie]

Your cardiac nurse, who would have given you cardiac rehab, should have told you how to increase your exercise.

Talk to the cardiac nurses at BHF

[Jambypass in reply to Happyrosie]

Some people saying just get on with it but think a call to the cardiac nurse even to just put my mine at ease is sound advice - thank you

[El-Tel1990]

Hi Jambypass,

I’m 62 , I go to the gym 3 times per week, play golf at least 2 per week and walk quite a bit in between. I do high intensity work outs and my gym buddies are at least 20 years younger than me. However that said I do listen to my body and if it says slow down or lift lighter weights or on the odd occasion don’t go, well then I do that. We are all different so don’t be afraid, do some exercises and build up from there.

Best of luck

El-Tel

[Jambypass in reply to El-Tel1990]

Going to double check with a cardiac nurse but hearing your story gives me some confidence - well done you !

[CyclingTime]

After I reached the 12 week point post quad CABG I asked my consultant the exact same question.

He told me to just go for it as all was fine now. So I built up from there and zero issues.

Do it in a phased way don't go mad straight off, build up confidence. buy a chest heart rate monitor they are cheap and accurate. Use that as your guide as well as how you feel. There are guides online for what your max heart rate should be for your age and I exercise now right up to the limit

[Jambypass in reply to CyclingTime]

I’ve got a Fitbit and monitor my heart rate which is good. Good to hear from people like yourself getting on with things - going to keep going at gym but will speak to a cardiac nurse too which all together will put my mind at ease - keep doing what you do - thanks !

[Herestous]

Hello, may I suggest you tell the gym you are a recovering cardiac patient & they might put a programme together for you. That will be safer than DIY programme. Also BHF has an online programme. Good luck.

[Jambypass in reply to Herestous]

My gym guy is not a cardio trainer so going to check with a cardiac nurse AND having a look online for post surgery exercise and think I’m already there doing what I’m doing 👍 thank you for your reply

[DWizza]

Hi, had my quadruple bypass in July this following Nstemi heart attack. I was fit and strong prior to this, but noticed how fatigued I was feeling. Went to GP, tested me for B12, testosterone, thyroid , all came back normal.. 6 weeks later heart attack.

Regarding exercise , did you attend any cardiac rehab classes post op? Usually get enrolled as a matter of course (2 weeks after discharge ?)

I found the NHS phase 3 underwhelmingly easy. I am now working with a coach (cardiac rehab specialist in resistance training ) to achieve 5km run and get back to weight lifting (bench press, OH press, squat , deadlift ) . It’s a great gradual introduction, only 3 months since surgery and already on 2x 8min treadmill runs in same session and lifting weights , plus a full 1hr vinyasa flow yoga class a week.

I’d say you that were f you use the Borg scale of perceived rate of exertion for your exercise intensity do not exceed level 4 to start with. Is aldd at o get some oversight from a specialist who can consider they type of cardiac event by you’ve had an can program an appropriate rehab training schedule . If you have t trained on a year you’re obviously starting at the bottom with no residual fitness.

Check out Mark Campbell, Clinical Exercise Service on the net/Instagram. He writes papers and trains NHS in cardiac rehab .

Go well buddy 👍👊

[Jambypass in reply to DWizza]

Starting from scratch but been there before so know to take things easy at first but think my issue may be more of a mental thing worrying too much ! Was a gym guy before and on the Borg scale I’m around a 13 which I feel is fine ? Going to speak to a cardiac nurse who can hopefully assure me that is okay - thank you

[DWizza in reply to Jambypass]

Funny, the Borg scale I had went up to 10 ,if you’re already on a 13 sounds like you don’t need any help 🤣👍.

[petrh63]

Hello, Pete H here. Build up again from your new level. My return to exercise dominated by exercise bicycle (home or gym) and following the energy or Watts produced. Great for confidence building.

Cyclists call it polarised training - basically go easy (endurance level around 60-70% heart rate) for long time periods and many sessions and combine with one or two sessions per week of short but vigorous periods (90% and over for the heart). Then once every month or two go to a maximum - the same as a stress test in the rehab clinic. This gave me good confidence in what I was doing at home or gym and one could see progress during the process. Note, I did this prior to surgery - stress tests around 350 max and FTP of 260s. 10 days after surgery stress test only 140 max. My FTP after 6 weeks only 120 but from that base it is now back to 200 (sometimes more)!

Regarding the weight lifting aspect, it just felt like restarting again after a lay-off (or closure due to covid!). Also you notice how your sternum has been reassembled. Cheers

[Wooodsie]

My consultant told me a couple of years back when I had my bypass, that I can't undo what they have done. I now train as normal (for me) 2-3 hours a week, mostly muscular, but about an hour a week on cardio. I walk at least 10,000 steps a day too. I just think I'm cured, and I keep an eye on how I'm feeling.

[Jambypass in reply to Wooodsie]

Yeah I’ve learnt to listen to my body - it is daft but I just worry something will come “unattached” or “burst” when I exercise hard !!!! Think it’s just mental but great to hear your story - thinking back to my surgeon who said “you haven’t had a heart attack, your heart isn’t damaged we’ve just replaced your arteries - and everything went well” …….. maybe keep that in my head eh ? Thanks for your positive reply !

[Wooodsie in reply to Jambypass]

Absolutely, I didn't have a heart attack either, so apparently no heart disease. I blame the fags 😂😂

[fixedrider]

You need to speak to your medical team. As with some others here, the consultant who discharged me was relaxed about whatever I did to push my heart rate, and just impressed that I could get it to where I could. So I've gone back to occasional cycle racing (for which I still have no talent, just like before the operation), 100km and 200km rides and Zwift participation. But every person is different and you can't really take individual experiences here as applying to you.

[Jambypass in reply to fixedrider]

Good to hear yours and others responses - mostly positive but yes I will be speaking to a cardiac nurse/doctor to get their opinion - thank you