Cardiac Rehab Programme v BHF online video support

[Artemlos]

Hi, I am six weeks post op and next week will be discussing whether to attend a Cardiac Rehab Programme which meets twice a week at my local hospital - which is still a bit of a journey away. However I would prefer to undertake the online rehab and fitness courses linked to the BHF website in my own home.. Which would people recommend....though I understand I ought to be assessed by a Rehab nurse before starting any online courses anyway so would certainly attend one session at the hospital at least. Thank you

[Coffeelover2]

Do they only do it at a hospital? That’s frustrating as mine was in a local gym. I would recommend doing it face to face as nurses will be there to help you if needed. If you are going to do it at home, make sure you have the ability to measure heart rate. Your max heart rate should be lower than it is for healthy people with no heart conditions. Stop if you have chest pain. If you have chest pain or unusually high or low blood pressure or heart rate, take medical advice before you start.

[Artemlos in reply to Coffeelover2]

Thank you. Yes, my local rehab is at Crawley Hospital in Sussex. I have a few twinges in the chest area but not real pain, as I've experienced in my leg, where they took the vein. I will give it a go and see how I get on...at the moment my concern is logistical being able to get there each week

[enitsirhc in reply to Artemlos]

My husband attended the cardiac rehab at East Surrey Hospital and it was excellent. Once he completed the 6 week course he was confident of being able to do so much more and this has continued two years later! Yes, it isn't easy getting to hospital but well worth the effort. Lovely, friendly staff who are very supportive.

[Qualipop]

I would 100% go to the hospital rehab. Having a qualified nurse present to keep an eye on you and decide what you should or shouldn't try, beats anything online and will do more for your confidence than anything else could. After my heart attack I really needed that support but they wouldn't let me attend because I'm in a wheelchair and they "assumed" I wouldn't be able to do it.

[RufusScamp]

The on-line course is much better than nothing, but if you can get to the hospital course, that is far, far better still. You will be monitored, and have people on hand to deal with your queries.

[MountainGoat52]

I also think the rehab at the hospital will be best for you. Besides the monitoring of your progress, you will find a kind of camaraderie with others on the course. I certainly found this helpful even though I did not maintain contact with anyone once the course ended. Being in a group makes you realise that you are not the only one who has heart related issues. I was sad when the course ended, but I realised that there were others waiting to join rehab and I needed to move on with my life.

[Billett in reply to MountainGoat52]

I found the stories a d experiences of others invaluable in my Rehab

[BobbyB1962]

The rehab programme is excellent & covers more than just exercise. If it's too far to go maybe check your local gyms, some have physios attached & you can get referred by the hospital or GP

[wjb2]

get to the rehab course, it’s worth it especially from a mental stand point. Seeing you aren’t the only person with worries post surgery , meeting people who may have had worse conditions than you, also if it’s like my class , people who are coming to the end of the course and hearing how they have improved post operation.

Like a fool I nearly chicken out, but pleased i didn’t .

So get it done 👍

[trafar]

I personally would only go to the hospital certainly for the first few sessions.

[Donny64]

After my bypass, I went to an 8 week cardio rehab at my hospital and it worked wonders for me. The cardio nurses were amazing and it really gave me confidence.I can only speak for myself but if you can manage to get to the hospital, I would recommend that.

Those sessions encouraged me to join a gym after my full recovery and I still use the gym now.

Good luck

[uzininemm]

Hello there. I actually did both.

Due to lockdown I had to wait three months to go on mine, but I insisted they sent me on the face to face and got a place. I can assure you it was one of the best decisions I have made.

At the second apt I found out they had started a new session at another council run gym and went there, meant less travel. I joined up and still go there 3 years later.

Benefits of the face to face - You are with a expert, you can talk improve your knowledge and confidence and just as important you get the encouragement to continue and improve. Also at the end of it ask if they could do you a exercise plan for going forward they did one for me. Also I can still speak to them now.

Benefits of home, use the online videos to help to improve why you are away from the weekly session.

Cardio rehab is a hidden gem of the NHS, never talked about, never publicised until you have done it.

[CyclingTime]

I did the home version, they provided me the links to the videos, exercise straps, heart monitor and away I went. Worked a treat for me, quick improvements. As you really need to do the exercises 4-5 times a week a twice weekly class doesn't cut it.My only word of caution is that I am a disciplined person with a lot of self motivation. You don't want to be in the position of doing it from home but keep saying "not today, I will do it tomorrow...."

But other than that it was brilliant at home and saved me a 60 mile round trip twice a week.

[Hidden]

I would have jumped at the chance to have face to face rehab despite how difficult it was to get the here and back. My rehab was in lockdown periods so only by Zoom and one session the leader had internet troubles so we lost the whole session. Hope it all works out so you can attend.

[survivorsguilt]

go to the clinic, absolutely. It might be inconvenient getting there but the atmosphere is one of encouragement, positivity, inspiration and, above all, safety. Your pulse will be checked throughout each exercise cycle so you will know if you are putting enough into it , if you can safely push yourself a little more or if you need to slow down. At home there are too many distractions and not enough positivity. I had to really push myself to go this week because I have had a nasty bowel screening result but the class helped me to feel better about that. I still have to face those tests but Indon feel stronger mentally. There are quite a few staff keeping an eye on you whereas at home with only a screen for company you won’t have the comforting safe feeling. I urge you to go and soak up the atmosphere.

[Traveldreams]

No decision for me as the earliest my cardiac team could offer me started at 15 weeks and I returned to work at 13 weeks!

They still did the fitness test and I’ve had a lovely cardiac nurse phone every two weeks for check ins and to tweak the activities. The walking part of it has been easier like this but some of the other exercise would have been easier with demonstration. To be fair, although by no means a gym bunny, I’m at the younger side of rehab and may have not found much benefit from being in a group.

[Sav100]

Hi, I did my rehab at worthing hospital for 6 weeks, I then moved to rehab class in the local gym. Best thing I could have done, at first having support from the staff was brilliant they showed what I could and couldn’t do.

I’m been at gym rehab for 2 years, go once a week and it’s just fun, we’re around people who get us, understand our journey, we’re lucky we exercise with fun, we laugh, joke and are just there for each other, rehab isn’t just about the body but the mind as well.

So my thought is this process is better with people around you, that get you and what you need, this would have been a hard process without people around. Give it ago, see how you get on what’s to lose, you’ve got this and remember it’s meant to be fun, good luck 😊

[Drummer20]

I’m attending cardio rehab and it has been so beneficial.It has boosted my health confidence and I’ve had a lot of good company of other people in a similar situation.

I know myself that I wouldn’t have worked so hard left to my own devices if I had done an online one.

They check your pulse and oxygen saturations and advise you as an individual.

[Nelson71]

100% attend in person. You get a face to face induction and they measure all your vitals. They check up on you to make sure you’re carrying out the exercises correctly. Not much point in doing them wrong. They’re there to monitor you to make sure you’re doing enough/ not overdoing it. If there is a problem they’re medically trained to deal with any issue. This helps build your own confidence tremendously. Good luck with your continued recovery

[gorillaqueen]

Hi I agree with all that’s being said on here. Doing your rehab at the hospital would most definitely be the better option. You are monitored, given advice if and when needed, they also provide talks on medication, diet, exercise etc. Whatever option you choose I wish you well with your recovery. Good luck 🍀🍀😊X

[cappachina]

At the hospital it gives you so much after rehab I now go to a healthy hearts class at the local gym

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I had my surgery during lockdown and the only re hab they could offer was online with the BHF videos. It was fine but I think it would have been better at the hospital at least to be able to speak to a nurse about anything. I stay near the hospital but I understand that if there is a lot of traveling to get there I would definitely go for the videos. The rehab nurses will be able to tell you what ones to use, they are designed so that you start slowly and gradually build up fitness. I hope it all goes well.char

[BicuspidBloke]

I did 6 weeks rehab in the makeshift hospital gym and then several months under supervision at my local gym (run by Council staff fully trained in cardiac rehab). Both were great. The hospital stuff was quite easy (I'm used to gym circuit classes) but were most definitely worth it for the confidence-building in pushing myself and pushing the limits of my flexibility & agility. Three cardiac nurses were always there for advice & support and then there is the peer support. I came home each time on foot, initially walking and then by the last week I jogged home (maybe 4.5, perhaps 5 miles). And there was a Bleep Test in the first and final weeks which I wanted to absolutely smash - and did! I would recommend it, if only to ensure the funding continues (only around a third of eligible people actually agree to the sessions and given how useful it is to them, not everyone has another option, I would always try to support the NHS that gave me the life-saving operation). Ultimately the hospital sessions proved vital because after several months the Council scheme stopped (after many years) due to a funding fallout between rehab staff and Council bosses who wanted to use some of the ring fenced funding elsewhere. So us patients are still bearing the brunt of that, twelve months on. Unlikely to happen to you but I raise it in a "you never know what may happen so take up every opportunity". Good luck and enjoy!

[Stentrunner]

I live very near Crawley, had my stents done in East Surrey. I did my rehab in lockdown, so no choice but to use the videos from BHF. But I did have support by telephone.

I’d be tempted to go to the first session at Crawley and see if you can discuss using the videos instead of/as well as the organised sessions. Not sure you should try it unsupported.

I may be able to help, I’ve opened a chat with you. J

[Benfin4]

Cardio rehab was great .A year after two stents and awaiting hip op on both hips I'm averaging 9/10 mile walks a day.I hadn't exercised in years due to pain but the rehab team worked miracles.People there are in the same boat and as it was at hospital medical staff available to answer any problems.I am not a group type person but cardio rehab was invaluable .I alo do online B❤️.Good luck with your decision.

[Jedi14]

It seems that each hospital has it's own rehab program. In my city I had to go for initial assesment then online 1 hour weekly sessions at home (after my stents) however for bypass patients there was a weekly clinic with physical exercises.

[tangotese]

I understand that you'd prefer to do this at home but as someone who had to fight to get any exercise programme due to limited mobility (stroke after bypass) please do attend a class. You will get so much mutual support from others as well as proper supervision of what you are doing, its invaluaable. i tried the on-line but it's hard to keep motivated (as well as moblility difficulties at the time was also carer for husband with dmentia with no support) hence no choice. I now atend a neuro class as a means of keeping as fit as possible and love the joy of meeting others with difficulties like me, it's a mutual support group.

[Laworders]

I wish i had cardiac rehab on island, but they don’t, I would have to get a ferry to get to the nearest which is on mainland, would be so good to get guidance, i see my diabetic doctor once a week, and heart failure nurse every 2 weeks, ive got an online exercise that was done during covid, but haven't felt well enough to do, my confidence is gone, I would love the support of a cardiac class

[quirk13]

I think the live rehab programmes vary widely.

Mine was with a physio team at a gym.

No assessment of my ability, everyone seemed to do the same programme, about 30 minutes on the treadmill/bike followed by some light free weights. The only variation was speed or resistance.

I had problems most sessions, severe breathlessness or dizziness. On the penultimate session I ended up on the floor with my feet raised for twenty minutes while all the team flapped around me. They still reported to my GP that I completed the course successfully.

My advice would be if you go live check the team you work with. My experience left me way less confident.

[Billett]

Speaking from experience after doing 2 rehab courses i think you get more benefit from attending your hospital course the nurses are very knowledgeable and the comradery between the patients listening to the stories and their experiences is rewarding

[SlothOnSpeed]

Very personal decision. I think if you are someone who liked exercise previously, you can probably do it online. Some people find the social support very valuable. I was never that way inclined. Some people loose all confidence in their physical abilities and thus need the support of a nurse in the room. You will benefit either way. Good luck with your recovery.