Hi all, I don't start the rehab classes for another week so I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this...... I'm nearing 5 weeks since my HA/new stents. Walking is going well (managed to walk around the shopping mall a couple of times at a good pace at the weekend (too cold to walk outside)). Anyway, I had to walk up the two flights of stairs in my home today, twice, in a short space of time. I ended up having to sit down afterwards as it felt like I was having some uncomfortable chest aching/pain. My wife says my heart is still recovering and I've lost my fitness so walking the stairs twice in that way will cause me the discomfort and not to over think it/stress and wait for the rehab classes, but I'm now thinking that I must have angina and that I'm not going to get back to full fitness and I'm going to end up have this happen every time. I don't feel that I need to use the GTN spray. I know it's natural to have anxiety around this but am I overthinking it? Is my wife right? Will the rehab classes help with the above? Thanks for reading. I really do appreciate it.
Am I expecting too much?: Hi all, I don... - British Heart Fou...
Am I expecting too much?
ask the nurses for their advice. Either the ward nurses or the BHF nurses.
I would not wait for rehab. Do your own rehab as sensibly as possible.
The cold weather is not ideal, but I am sure you can find ways around this….your idea of using the shopping mall is brilliant.
I took 14 weeks to recover, but it was truly worth it. I couldn’t get rehab due to covid.
Go steady, keep at it.
Sooty
Hi, I went through a similar phase, read the BHF magazine as gives you tips, your wife is right your heart is still recovering, if you want to do something whilst waiting for rehab do light exercise, your walking is great , you could to help before one meal a day go for a short walk to end of street and back and gradually increase the distance and one day after a meal go for a walk as well. Cardiac rehab have videos on YouTube for chair rehab. If you do the YouTube exercises remember one thing if you start getting out of breath pause or stop it.
Good luck with your REHAB and all the best for your recovery (Listen to your body)
Rob
Rehab classes can very much help. But you will discuss everything with the rehab nurses first at the end of week 6, so just raise it then
if you broke your leg 5 weeks ago you could still be having issues with walking and that would be after resting it. Your heart hasn’t had much rest after it’s event as it can’t just sit down and do nothing so 5 weeks isn’t that long for it to recover. Walking up hill still makes me feel a bit breathless especially when it’s cold and that’s 3 years after my heart event. I’m still extremely active and exercise but a hill or lots of stairs get me. But the heart event left me with muscle damage and arrhythmia’s. Be patient with yourself and you’ll get to know and like the new you.
Yeh probably think you fitter than you are. Also rehab classes won't make you fitter but will show you how you can get fitter and what your limits are. The thing is to do a little bit more each day. Yes I know it's cold but surely you've got a coat and hat. Go walking round the local streets and increase the distance each day. The object is not to walk too fast that you couldn't hold a conversation. Nice and easy. In the end you'll end up fitter than you were before. Sounds like you're trying to get back to normal too quick. Just remember that the old normal got you in this position in the first place. Time to find a new normal. Nice and easy.
Five weeks is nothing (as a recovery period). Perhaps you are doing too much, too soon? I've only just been discharged from Cardiac Rehabilitation and my heart attack and five stents was eight months ago! We are all different, but listen to your body more, and don't rush things. Anxiety is natural after such a traumatic experience. Mine is only just starting to ease a little - again, it just takes time. You will have good days and bad days after such a major health event. Just accept the bad days and move on, by remembering the good days. Good luck.
agree with the other posters
We are all on a different journey at different stations , there are no set times when and where you need to be
Learn to listen to your body , don’t over do or expect too much , I used to be able to walk 15 miles , now 150m. Months after cabg op still have ongoing issues
Your doing well , keep up the good work
It’s completely normal to feel concerned, but your wife is absolutely right—your heart is still recovering, and it takes time to rebuild your strength and fitness after an event like this. Rehab classes are designed to help you gradually and safely regain confidence in your abilities while improving your overall fitness.
I was in a similar situation—I had a heart attack followed by a stent, and later, another stent was fitted. Early on, I also experienced discomfort with certain activities, and I worried that it might always be that way. But with time, patience, and sticking to the rehab program, I was able to make steady progress. I do my rehab program a few times a week at home.
The discomfort you’re feeling on the stairs could be a combination of your heart adjusting and your body getting used to activity again. Rehab will help guide you on how to safely push your limits while listening to your body. Anxiety can amplify these feelings, so try to focus on small, positive improvements and trust the process. It does get better! Keep moving forward, one step at a time—you’ll see progress.
If you’re getting chest pains then try using the GTN spray. That’s why they prescribed if. It relaxes the blood vessels and helps ease the discomfort. Some people even use theirs prior to exercise which they know causes them discomfort to prevent it from happening.
You have had heart attack. Your heart and it's muscles have likely been damaged to some degree and will take time to recover. So, particularly during the recovery period, when you overdo it you will get a reaction. Listen to your body. If you exercise, what ever it is, and the outcome is pain, wind it back for next time. We are all different and our response to major trauma and the recovery time will also be different so there is no one size fits all. Nonetheless exercise is an important part of your recovery and ongoing self care plan all provided it is done within limitations in keeping with what your body will allow.
Rehab is so good because the cardiac nurses give you the confidence to exercise as you need to. Confidence and anxiety are a huge issue after such a shock. After my husband's stemi he wanted to maintain his fitness so we bought a treadmill as we live in a very cold and windy region. It has been fantastic as he can walk whatever the weather and fast walking is a brilliant way to stay fit. Good luck.
Hello. I’m 65 and I had my HA in Sept but didn’t start my rehab sessions until beginning of November. In between I was waiting on results of a CT scan and my anxiety went through the roof. This resulted in me having chest pain and back pain. As soon as I got the all clear from the scan the pains disappeared. I’ve now finished my six week course of rehab but I still don’t overdo things. On the days when I don’t go outside for a walk I do Walk at Home exercises which you will find on YouTube. They start from easy right up to more strenuous so you do what you feel comfortable with. I hardly ever get niggles in my chest but it’s always in the back of my mind to not overdo it. I hope this helps you. Good luck.
Before my heart surgery I was running 5km weekly. 12 weeks after surgery I still couldn't run the length of my short garden. Your heart is going to be p*ssed off at the interference for a while, even if you were fit beforehand. I couldn't run 5km again until 7 months after surgery.
Before the intervention you're told you'll have done the bulk of the recovery in a few short weeks but in many cases it's many months. Don't worry, keep using your heart, exercise comfortably and pace yourself. You'll get there.
I didn’t get offered rehab after heart attack in 2022 and it took me about 3 months to get back to normal. I still get a bit breathless when I rush but if I take things at my own pace I can walk for miles and I live in a second floor flat with stairs. It is still early days for you. Be kind to yourself. I used to always be in a hurry so maybe this was natures way of making me slow down.
Did you get a guide which sets out the recommended amount of exercise and how to gradually increse. One piece of advice I was given and it's true is don't overdo it. It sets you back you'll feel tired for longer than before.
Once you start the rehab you'll get advice specific to you.
Everybody recovers at different paces and climbing stairs can cause breathlessness for people months on from a heart issue. Some people always get breathless using stairs they are one of the things you are suggested to avoid or tackle at a slower pace as you are recovering.Give your body time to recover, but also discuss it with your Cardio Nurse or GP if you feel the symptoms keep happening on being active. They can assess if it's just normal progress in recovery or if you have Angina that needs treatment.
Even if you have Angina , or have lifelong medication as you recover and get stronger it doesn't mean you won't be able to be active , do well paced exercise or even do the things you did before .
If you need your GTN spray use it. But if you don't feel you need it then you probably just took things a bit too quick and needed to catch your breath.
Even people with no heart issues can have that happen, especially after they've been ill for a while.
Some people, depending on their fitness level use the spray before beginning exercise or doing something that has more Exertion than usual like walking up hills or doing a class. They do this to prevent the symptoms occurring.
If you are already regularly walking you are definitely improving.
If you do Cardiac Rehab you will improve more.
Eventually stairs at a sensible pace and even more strenuous exercise is not out of the question forever.
Just listen to your body and be patient with yourself , recovery takes time.
We all feel less confident, feel anxious if we feel any symptoms, and overthink things that wouldn't have bothered us before after a big illness or cardiac event. It's totally normal and understandable, especially if the symptoms are similar to ones we had before an attack.
It a protective instinct , and overtime it will reduce as you desensitize to every feeling in your body again.
Eventually, as you start to feel fitter you will be more confident and you will get used to feeling things without being anxious.
The mental health effects of having a cardiac event aren't talked about as much as the physical ones or enough, but we all get them and you need to recover your positivity too.
You'll get there , take care , Bee
Your Wife is right your Heart muscle is damaged its your Bodies way of holding you back Stairs are worse than on the flat and when you do Rehab it will show you how hard you can work you will be surprised it is done under supervision so it helps with your confidence
Hi there. Everyone is different, you have to go at your own pace and let your body do the talking. I was very luck with early intervention and 3 stents I was walking a mile on day 4. But things got worse later on due to my medication. I takes a long time to work this out and quite often it's the meds that slow you down. The rehab is a must and follow the book to the letter it really helps and they will keep an eye on your stats and pace you. Do the whole course. Unfortunately I got Covid 4 weeks in and missed the end but I was way ahead of them anyway. You will do this and get back to the new you. As the weather improves you can find some nice scenic walks they do wonders for the mind.
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