Did anyone skip cardiac rehab and do their own exercises at home? If so did it benefit you or do you regret not going to cardiac rehab?
john roland My doctor told me to stay away from cardiac rehab in New Jersey. I was operated on March 25th, 2020. ... Read more
john roland My doctor told me to stay away from cardiac rehab in New Jersey. I was operated on March 25th, 2020. The virus was ripping thru NJ at the time. I did the 10 exercises CC gave me in the book 3x a day and I walked 3 times a day in snow, hail, rain, and ice. It worked out well for me. My wife was with me the whole time for the first 2 months which made it more comfortable. Remember every couple of days you get stronger, don't look back. Good luck
Jared Takeshita I'm currently doing cardiac rehab at the heart hospital that I had my procedure at. I wouldn't trade ... Read more
Jared Takeshita I'm currently doing cardiac rehab at the heart hospital that I had my procedure at. I wouldn't trade it for the world. While I'm exercising, you're hooked up to a portable EKG so that they can see your heart rate and rhythm while you exercise. While I was somewhat comfortable walking at home on my own, there was great piece of mind knowing that if I felt something, I could ask them what they see. I can ramp up my activity and know if I'm pushing it too hard too fast. If anything looked funny, they would send my EKG strip to my cardiologist. There's been a couple of times when some of the other people who were in cardiac rehab with me were sat down and consulted a doctor for further testing. I highly recommend cardiac rehab where I'm at. We have to wear masks while working out and wipe down the equipment after every use. We have our temperature checked before entering the hospital and the number of people working out at a scheduled time is limited. It might be different at other clinics though.
Darrin Vohs I am with Jared on this. I think cardio rehab is priceless. It made all the difference to me.
Barbara Wood I did 2 weeks of " official" cardiac rehab where I was hooked up to the ekg. Then I switched over to ... Read more
Barbara Wood I did 2 weeks of " official" cardiac rehab where I was hooked up to the ekg. Then I switched over to a cheaper option of a cardiac program at the hospital where there were nurses present, but no ekg hookups. My copay on cardiac rehab was high, so it was simply a money saving thing, but yeah, cardiac rehab is great, helps you feel more more secure, was a tremendous benefit for me.
I did not do Cardiac Rehab, at the time I started the virus started up again and I didn’t want to t ... Read more
I did not do Cardiac Rehab, at the time I started the virus started up again and I didn’t want to take a chance. I have been exercising at home, I’m now including weights (5 lbs) I walk outside weather permitting and I’m doing well, Praise God. No regrets about missing Cardiac Rehab.
Jim Archer I was in Cardio Therapy for 12 weeks, 3 times a week. It was 30 minutes on a treadmill and 20 minutes ... Read more
Jim Archer I was in Cardio Therapy for 12 weeks, 3 times a week. It was 30 minutes on a treadmill and 20 minutes of weight machines. This was in the middle of the pandemic, so the staff kept a close watch on spacing, and the patient count was reduced 50%. Besides the positive comments above, being around other patients and comparing stories was good therapy. I continue at home doing about 90 minutes daily.
Rose Madura I did not do cardiac rehabilitation. I had too many complications. I don't have any regrets about ... Read more
Rose Madura I did not do cardiac rehabilitation. I had too many complications. I don't have any regrets about it. I am doing fine without it.
Herb Greenberg I did five sessions. My surgery was March 4 and rehab was closed for my first 3 months home. By the t ... Read more
Herb Greenberg I did five sessions. My surgery was March 4 and rehab was closed for my first 3 months home. By the time it restarted I was back to my old exercise schedule, and then some and feeling great and strong. I felt the monitoring at rehab would be worth the time. But after five sessions, I felt there were better uses of my time. My cardiologist had no issue with me stopping. I think I would have genuinely benefited, and enjoyed it more, if I had started at week 4. What is clear: There is no right or wrong to this.
Susan Lynn Julia - My surgeon didn't think I needed to go to cardiac rehab, but I asked for the prescription any ... Read more
Susan Lynn Julia - My surgeon didn't think I needed to go to cardiac rehab, but I asked for the prescription anyway. Unfortunately, there was such a backlog at my facility, I didn't get to start until four months after my surgery. I ended up loving it and went to the extended class for almost two years until they closed for COVID. As valuable as it is, you have to weigh the pros and cons of attending during a pandemic. I know that all these facilities are being very vigilant about cleaning and other safety protocols, but it is possible to exercise on your own and maybe consider enrolling a little further down the road. Good luck!
Dan Baltazor Highly recommend Cardiac Rehab. You have the confidence of immediate medical back up to push yoursel ... Read more
Dan Baltazor Highly recommend Cardiac Rehab. You have the confidence of immediate medical back up to push yourself. I would have been scared by each fluctuation of my heart and would not have increased the intensity on my own. I greatly improved by going mentally and physically.
Well everyone it’s been 2 weeks since I was discharged from the hospital. In there a total of 25 days. I must admit I’ve had some good days and bad days. ...Read more
Well everyone it’s been 2 weeks since I was discharged from the hospital. In there a total of 25 days. I must admit I’ve had some good days and bad days. I start cardiac rehab Nov 4th. The metallic taste in my mouth is starting to go away. My legs are still holding a huge around of fluid. I’m still experiencing atrophy so I’m using a walker to get around. But other than that I’m just grateful to live to see another day.
Marie Myers Wow, 25 days in the hospital! I am sure you are glad yo be home. Hopefully starting cardiac rehab wi ... Read more
Marie Myers Wow, 25 days in the hospital! I am sure you are glad yo be home. Hopefully starting cardiac rehab will get you stronger and help lose some of that water. Keep us posted.
Susan Lynn Julia - Thanks for the update! It sounds like you're making progress. Your strength and stamina wil ... Read more
Susan Lynn Julia - Thanks for the update! It sounds like you're making progress. Your strength and stamina will increase with each passing day. There's no substitute for time - just keep your spirits up and keep looking ahead! You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel in a few weeks. Please keep us posted - we're cheering for you!
Jared Takeshita Glad to hear about your positive outlook. While there will probably be more bad days ahead, focus on ... Read more
Jared Takeshita Glad to hear about your positive outlook. While there will probably be more bad days ahead, focus on the good ones. There's a lot more upside than downside for me. One step at a time.
Steven Methot 25 days! My but you must have been pining for home. Glad to see that you are recovering.
Barbara Wood So glad to see your update, didn't realise you had such a long hospital stay! Things can definitely b ... Read more
Barbara Wood So glad to see your update, didn't realise you had such a long hospital stay! Things can definitely be a little trickier with us radiation people, so I'm very happy to hear you are on the mend. Cardiac rehab will help you feel more confident in pushing yourself a bit...keep using the walker, that will help to get rid of the fluid. Take care Julia & keep us posted on your progress:).
God bless you Julia. Stay focus, one day at a time, don’t do too much, rest when you feel like it. ... Read more
God bless you Julia. Stay focus, one day at a time, don’t do too much, rest when you feel like it. You have been through a lot but you are in recovery now and we are here to encourage you and listen to your progress. Be well
Lee Wright Glad to hear you are home, take your recovery slow and steady.
Hello everyone. My mitral valve surgery is in 2 weeks. I would like to know if anyone can recommend some books regarding Coumadin/Warfarin books to read or ...Read more
Hello everyone. My mitral valve surgery is in 2 weeks. I would like to know if anyone can recommend some books regarding Coumadin/Warfarin books to read or any websites? I will be getting a mechanical heart valve since I’ll be on blood thinners for the rest of my life I would like to read or get all the advice/wisdom anyone can offer. Thanks
Pat Bluemel Hi Julia, when I started in November, my Drs office gave me a 1 hour educational tutorial on it. I've ... Read more
Pat Bluemel Hi Julia, when I started in November, my Drs office gave me a 1 hour educational tutorial on it. I've got more information from more online forums like this one.
Hi everyone! I’m new here. I found this website because I was trying to research everything I need to know about my heart valve surgery coming up next month. ...Read more
Hi everyone! I’m new here. I found this website because I was trying to research everything I need to know about my heart valve surgery coming up next month. I just want to say thank you and I enjoy reading your journals. It’s helping put some of my fears to ease. A little bit about my health journey. I was diagnosed with Non-Hogkins Lymphoma in 2001. I had a tumor (a little bit larger than a softball) pressing up against my left lung. The tumor damaged blood vessels in my heart and I had a pinky finger left of room in my left lung. I had to do 12 weeks of chemotherapy and 4 weeks of radiation. My team of doctors told me I would be on heart medicine the rest of my life and eventually my left lung would stop functioning. Fast forward to 2020. I went in for my annual cardiologist appointment. The echo revealed my heart was weaker (although I wasn’t showing any symptoms). I can run up stairs, exercise, walk, ride a bike, etc. I had another test where they go inside your heart and take a look and it came back I had 3 severely leaking heart valves (tricuspid, mitral, aortic) and would need to have heart valve surgery. After researching I decided to do the mechanical valve since I’m only 42. I am extremely scared and nervous. At one point I decided not to do the surgery and just live my life until my heart gave out but I decided that wouldn’t be fair to my 2 children and family. So my surgery is scheduled for September 21. I would appreciate ANY words of wisdom or advice to help prepare for the surgery. Thanks everyone!
Darrin Vohs Welcome Julie. You have already been through so much and I am wishing you the very best on this mult ... Read more
Darrin Vohs Welcome Julie. You have already been through so much and I am wishing you the very best on this multiple valve surgery. My only suggestion would be to get a second opinion from one of the top heart valve surgery centers if you haven't already done that. It may be way too much to ask but if you could get your valve's repaired versus replaced that would certainly reduce the amount of recovery required.
nancy arnold Hi Julia, welcome! I just joined on Aug 12th so I'm a newbie, too. I can understand you being scared ... Read more
nancy arnold Hi Julia, welcome! I just joined on Aug 12th so I'm a newbie, too. I can understand you being scared and nervous. What a lot you've already been through! Stick around, ask questions and accept the support offered, even if it's just a "Hang in there!"
Julia Griffin Unfortunately I can’t get them repaired due to the scar tissue in my chest. They said eventually I ... Read more
Julia Griffin Unfortunately I can’t get them repaired due to the scar tissue in my chest. They said eventually I will need another heart valve surgery if the scar tissue continues to grow.
Barbara Wood Hi Julia & welcome. I'm a breast cancer survivor- 10 years. There are a few of us on the site that ha ... Read more
Barbara Wood Hi Julia & welcome. I'm a breast cancer survivor- 10 years. There are a few of us on the site that have had valve damage after cancer treatment, all have had successful surgeries. I completely understand the nervousness, but you are absolutely doing the right thing in going forward with your surgery. It sounds like you are in good physical shape - that will help so much in your recovery. Open heart surgery isn't a walk in the park, but it's very doable & this isn't your first rodeo! Take care, hang out here, ask any questions...sending positive vibes your way:).
Carlos Banuelos Sounds like you’ve been and are going through a lot. Hang in there. I agree with Darren. My advi ... Read more
Carlos Banuelos Sounds like you’ve been and are going through a lot. Hang in there. I agree with Darren. My advice would also be to make sure you trust your surgeons and get a second opinion from a major cardiac hospital if you have any doubt or concerns. And if possible, have your procedure done at a high volume hospital. I went to Cleveland Clinic from San Diego. The process for a second opinion is relatively easy and the contact information for all the major heart hospitals is on this site. Good luck.
I am from: Saint Louis
Rose Madura, Adam Pick, Steven Methot and 1 other reacted to this
