Home > Heart Surgery Blog > Recovery > After 57 Cardiac Rehab Sessions, Charles Feels Very Fortunate

After 57 Cardiac Rehab Sessions, Charles Feels Very Fortunate

By Adam Pick on May 31, 2009

When talking with patients and caregivers about heart surgery recovery, I can never say enough about cardiac rehabilitation programs. I hear from patients over-and-over-and-over-and-over again about how valuable cardiac rehabilitation programs are for their physical, social and mental well-being after heart surgery.

Here's a quick note I just received from Charles Harrall, an active 65-year old businessman from Nevada, about cardiac rehab, goal setting and medication management. Charles writes:

Hi Adam,

I am one year past my aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair and a triple bypass.

Oldler Man On Treadmill Doing Cardiac Rehab

Patient At Cardiac Rehabilitation - On Treadmill

I took your advice to heart (pun intended) and I went to cardiac rehab... 57 times!!! I think I am doing great now because I had my goals and achieved them.

When I came home from the hospital I was taking 9 medications. Plus, I was on oxygen. Now, I am down to 3 medications with dosages that are 50% less than they were. I am 65 and very fortunate that I had a great doctors and excellent care. I also realized doctors can only help people who are willing to help themselves.

Your heart valve surgery book helped me take charge of my health and have successful results.

God Bless!

Charles Harrall

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Written by Adam Pick
Patient & Website Founder

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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