Fascinating, not the reaction I expected! I am guessing that a few other regulars here, including Brett and Vic, may have a differing opinion.
Marylin – early on my cardiologist said that I probably wouldn't benefit from it. I think he understood that my personality combined with the time lapse were – plus my overall physical shape – were not a good match or use of my time. He was hoping pre-Covid that I would go into a more experimental group program he had helped develop. I wrote him an email the other day with my concerns but have not yet heard back.
Mary - I stuck with the low weights but really wanted, needed any stretching to open my chest without hurting it. Their view is that you first have to warm up, which is 30 minutes on the machines. The frustration is that by that point I already exercised (fast walking) earlier in the day. I've been very concerned about hurting my sternum and the one good thing I got from rehab, via phone with the nurse when it was still closed, was NOT to do some exercises I really wanted to do until certain intervals. I find the stretching on the weight machines helpful, but after a quick instruction you are pretty much on your own. And you can't use the machines until you have "warmed up" on the machines. (After the first visit I specifically said I would not do one of the machines - a sitting stepper - b/c I found it ridiculously boring. I'm not sure my insubordination as appreciated.) ;-)
Ira – you're a special case! (In a good way!) I've followed your experience and your rebound is inspirational. If I were in your shoes, no matter what shape I was in pre-op, I'm sure I would eagerly be embracing rehab. The fact that they started so soon would have appeared to be a big plus. Also, I'm very lucky I did not have a heart attack. The artery that was surprisingly 80% blocked (marginal obtuse 1) would have likely given me angina or a heart attack. I think a heart attack and major CABG has a totally different impact than what I had, which was CABG light. How light? They removed a vein from my leg using an endoscope, so no long scar, nothing taken out of my chest. Cleveland suggested rehab (pre-Covid) start at 4 weeks. The protocol out here was closer to 8 weeks. Pre-op I told my cardiologist (at Cleveland's behest) that I wanted to start at 4 weeks - and suggested I get on the waiting list
then, which was 4 weeks pre-surgery. I'm not sure he agreed, but we will never know! (Thanks, Covid!)
Cole – I remember that you started late and was interested to see how you would respond. I could see, if I were into weight training the way you were, why I would stick with it. You were getting back to your pre-op program under supervision. I got home from Cleveland on Day 10 and started walking here Day 11. There are varying degree of hills in my neighborhood, from very mild to intense. After a day or two I stretched to the mildest of hills and immediately realized I couldn't do them at my immediately post-op regular walking pace, so I slowed to a snail's crawl walking up a very minor upgrade.) Over the weeks I continued and then varied the path to different levels of hills, listening to my body. One day it all clicked and I could go up one of the mild hills without slowing down. That was a huge victory. I celebrated 8 weeks by walking up the steepest hill!! Rehab now feels like stepping back.
PS, I forgot to mention: Exercising wearing a mask is a non starter. It's not fun and I suspect not necessarily healthy. In one of my early rehabs my BP was high. The nurse said take off the mask. It then reverted to somewhat normal.
Best,
Herb
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Herb Greenberg
San Diego CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-21-2020 07:56
From: Cole Morrison
Subject: Cardiac Rehab - Waste of Time
Hi Herb!
Glad you are doing great!!
I too started cardiac rehab a bit late, maybe 2 months post op. I was already walking 30-45mins a few times a day but wanted to get back to my strength training/HIIT training. I was lucky to have an incredible rehab team that helped me feel comfortable starting to push it more and more each week. I completed 12 weeks but it did become sort of redundant after a while, I had to keep telling them to let me work a little harder each week.
I wasn't sure how I would feel or if my heart would handle the high intensity training again so being monitored helped me feel comfortable ramping things up week after week. Each week they would program a little more work load for me so I was ready to go when I was done.
I am now doing a training template where I am strength training 3x a week and jogging/running 3x a week(from sprints to 5k runs) and feel confident that everything will "hold up."
So to answer your question, rehab did become quite stale for me especially taking time 3 days a week out of my schedule. I did however find it necessary for me to get on track to move toward my fitness goals.
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Cole Morrison
772-215-1621
Saint Simons Island, GA
Original Message:
Sent: 06-20-2020 23:49
From: Herb Greenberg
Subject: Cardiac Rehab - Waste of Time
*Meant to have a question mark on the subject line.
At the risk of sparking some disagreement....
I'm 4 months post-op and started cardiac rehab about 3 weeks ago, once things reopened. I had my aortic valve and root replaced, my AA repaired and, as a bonus, CABGx1. I've been pretty gung-ho and positive about everything related to what I had done and went into rehab with a good attitude. However, after my handful of visits: My take is that if going into heart surgery I had terrible eating habits, didn't exercise and in general didn't take care of myself – I could see where rehab would beneficial. And I would add...especially if I had suffered a life threatening heart attack. I also think I could have benefited if I did rehab starting 4 weeks post-op. But even before I started rehab I was walking close to 4 miles daily at my pre-op pace, which is fairly quick. Yet when I go I feel like they have their protocol and it doesn't really matter what you had or when you had it: Start with a warm up, go on the machines, then (and I asked for this) head to the weight machines. Blood pressure pre-and-post. Heart monitored throughout. Honestly, the weight machines and weights/stretching are all I'm interested in in a way that doesn't hurt my chest, which seems pretty much healed. I get my aerobics at home. And later in the summer hope to restart with a pilates/stretching trainer I was using pre-op. If it wasn't for the scar I wouldn't know I had surgery. I consider myself lucky to have been in pretty good shape going in. I started walking immediately once out - including hills. I've just been listening to my body.
I realize there is no one-size fits all, and I've spoken with some terrific folks here who have encouraged rehab and served as great sounding boards pre-surgery. But starting months out seems pointless and I will likely bow out. It's two hours out of my day an I am not retired. And I just don't see the benefit for me. And I stress...me.
I welcome any comments and discussion and respectful disagreement. I fully see the benefits of rehab. But after researching the topic, I realize I'm not alone with these thoughts and think it deserves air time.
Thanks for listening.
Herb
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Herb Greenberg
San Diego CA
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