Further to my earlier posts and thank you everyone for all your responses - it is very reassuring to receive the feedback.
16 weeks post MVR (OHS) and I have another set back - up to last week I had built up to walking at pace about 5 to 6 miles a day and even up hills at moderate pace - I even tried a couple of very light jogs for the odd 10 yards ...... the next day after having pushed a little harder up the hill (but without a truly elevtated pulse or BP) I have felt wiped out, fatigued and nausea - so now the last 3 days basiclly resting and gentle walking on the flat - has anyone else experienced these set backs - as this is my 2nd one??
Note - my local NHS only offers rehab classes for bypass patients so my rehab is my plan....
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6 miles!! I’m 10 months post op (M.V.R the same as you) and get puffed out just doing chores indoors! I haven’t been able to start my official ‘rehab’ as such yet due to a few complications, but am hoping to commence with the Rehab Team shortly.
Maybe you’re pushing yourself too much, too soon? It can take over a year to recover from the surgery - so at 4 months, to be able to walk 5 - 6 miles up hill, is pretty amazing! I honestly don’t think I could do that currently.
You could always contact one of the B.H.F Nurses and ask for their advice? It’s so appalling that your local health authority doesn’t offer rehab.
Thanks ever so much - I've only done the odd short hill - the 5-6 motly on the flat - I am taking everyones comments to "heart" - wishing you the best also
I think you ought to give yourself rest days for your body to recover, but if you must, perhaps just do a gentle one or two mile stroll on the flat on those days. Perhaps even a rest day on every other day to start. Then as you feel more confident as your strength improves start dropping off some but not all of the rest days. Even athletes allow themselves time for the body to rest in between training sessions.
Hi aviation1. I’m afraid your story is so very familiar to me. Boom or bust my physio friend calls it. ‘You cant just pace yourself and make steady progress, you just have to push it!’
It seems that when we feel good we just push ourselves too fast and/or too far. The great skill is progressing things steadily, but knowing exactly when to stop. IE just BEFORE we do too much.
Down Days were a big part of my recovery, too, and, looking back, I (almost certainly) extended my recovery time a lot, by not pacing myself better.
I am sure you can find a way to do it. I’d be very interested to hear how you manage.
Surely this is a classic case of 2 steps forward and 1 step back? It sounds as though you are trying to do too much and your age will come into it as well as the operation itself.
Give your body a chance to recover and revise your exercise programme
In a nutshell, you are doing too much! Quite bluntly, 6 miles a day is madness after four months. It's pointless trying "light jogs" also. You should also have rest days whereby you need to have just a gentle stroll. You are not helping yourself OR the medical carers. Sorry for the straight talking but you need it!
Thanks Mitch - I need this type of response to handle "my journey" - as I stated in an earlier post above, I have had no rehab classes (not available to me in my area - only for bypass patients!) )and only my GP for occaisional support
Good morning....I felt puffed out reading your post lol. I would say at 16 weeks post ohs you are doing remarkably well but also might be expecting too much of yourself. You have been lucky enough to have only had two setbacks or not so good days so you think you can just do more and more. Your surgery was massive and so were the effects on your body and it will still be trying to accept it's 'new normal'. It's great that you are obviously getting your daily exercise and are able to do so much but I think perhaps your body is just telling you to tone it down a little for a few days which you appear to have done. I'm not an athlete and am not into running but I walk every day, do a daily exercise routine and am always doing something but even now 19 months after surgery I get odd days when I'm not upto it as much. If your heart rate has only been raised slightly and your BP has been ok but you've felt wiped out, it does sound as though you've just overdone it. However, if it continues then have a chat to your gp. It could be something like low sodium, which I suffered from 3 months after my OHS valve repairs. Good luck with the rest of your recovery....carry on keeping fit and well but just keep a mindful eye on yourself. Xx
I think that seems to be the general opinion from other members. Remember... we're not shaking our finger at you....what you are able to do is fantastic and its always good to hit targets but your body had a bit of a bashing only a while back.....don't be too hard on yourself for putting the brakes on for a couple of days. All the best xx
Can you report back on whether the nurse was helpful, please? I've not been able to get a straight answer from anyone about exercise heart rate zones now that I take bisoprolol and was also denied any sort of rehab after OHS 🤬.
It's hard to believe but true - everyone has their own journey to travel BUT in the early days we need direction and help and above all a tailored programme which is monitored (either by rehab specialists or by ourselves) - other areas get you on a treadmill with a monitor to look at thresholds and to create tailor-made rehab
that’s strange about your rehab . I have my last one tomorrow , and we are a very mixed bag in my group . There are a couple like me , who had no HA but stent fitted for blocked arteries , to ppl that did have HA . We have cabg and pace makers
I am a few years down the road on my procedures but I know your feelings. I need my afternoon naps after a workout. I was very fit and prided myself on runs I did around the world where I ended up through my work in Aviation. However through various factors have stopped hard running and started rehabbed myself differently. I was thinking I was in my 40s still and recovery would be within 24 hours so would run quite hard . However that led to hip problems or plantar fasciitis and fatigue. I have learned to build up slowly, increase speed of walk and I started light moderate reps with weights in the gym. I took to cycling a bit more which of course with this miserable weather is likely to be very intermittent. I do find I need a nap in the afternoons after a work out. I think you know you have to be patient but at least you are overcoming your fear post op and are getting out there to exercise. Good Luck.
Yes I suppose at 66 I am no longer a spring chicken, pre-Op I was playing tennis twice a week, badminton once a week and loads of gym classes ...... patience I am trying to learn - good luck
Personal experience - don’t expect recovery to be a straight line - you will have setbacks - and bad days - just keep your long term goals in mind. Bast wishes PLH
There are online classes available that may be suitable for you, try Google. Physiotherapists also offer cardiac rehab but I am sure that will have to be paid for privately. But my experience was that it was well worth the money.
I’m 7 months out from the same thing, I’m lucky I did get given rehab from 8 weeks post surgery for 6 weeks, I also do a rehab class via my local gym, so worth checking if any local gyms run them, unfortunately I do have to pay and had to be referred by my GP. But well worth it as exercise with people in the same position.
My teachers have also set up a program for the main gym that I do once or twice a week and I also walk 2-4 km a-day with our puppy. At the 16 week mark was when I was finally allowed back in our main gym, even now I get tired and puffed walking up hill. What I’ve learnt a part from my daily puppy walk i exercise every other day if I feel like it as you have to let the body repair and get use to it all again. Even now I have to be reminded I’m only 7 months out, I tend to forget and try to do everything I did before. Just take it easy and be kind to yourself you’re doing amazing. Xx
Remember your 2 days recovery! You're pushing it a bit there and I think you're expecting too much and your body is reacting to that. Listen to your body, it's telling you to reel it in a bit.
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