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newbie
Hi Guys, I have just had a stent fitted and trying to come to terms what has happened and what I can do next to better my life and my families life styles, I would like to start with a reasonable menu for myself and other family members.What if any snacks can we eat between meals or if we dont really want a meal.
When can I go out I have been told to stay in doors for a week and then progressively take more exercise I have two dogs which I miss taking out but these two dogs do pull badly so would this cause me more stress. are there any exercise's I can do in the house
Your suggestions will be gratefully recieved and acted on
Many thanks
Alan
Hi Claire
The dog non pull harnesss it that the type that fits over the face of the dog does it affect there eyes I have thought about those but they look very close to the eyes if these are the same harness I have seen Oh thanks for the quick reply
Cheers Alan
Hi Alan,
At the top of the page you'll see a row of 6 tabs - the 1st of which is 'Heart Health'. If you hover your cursor over it, 3 columns will appear: the right hand one has a helpline number; I suggest you give them a call for specific advice about diet and exercises that you can do in the house.
That said, I was told just going up and down stairs will be beneficial and is a simple way of taking exercise in the early days. Not much use if you live in a bungalow obviously! Regarding your dogs, if they are very strong and are going to pull you all over the place - would it be possible to walk one dog at a time, or get a friend to come with you so you have one dog each?
Tim.
I did think fo getting a skate board but were is the exersise in that ha ha although the dogs are small a cocker spainiel and x about the same size.ifr they deciede to go different ways ouch, I do have have a friend who has asked if need anything, thats one way of testing our friendship thanks for the top of page tip (feed up with dry wholemeal bread)
Alan
HI Alan,
I hope your friend is up for walking the dogs with you? I'm definitely with Claire, dog walking is such good exercise from a physical and emotional point of view. My dog can be difficult (he's got an aggressive streak, so we have to be alert to who is around, and he's always on the lead - the joy of rescue dogs!) - but he seems to understand that I'm a bit wobbly and has been behaving really well. I only went out with my husband for the first few weeks, but now (8 weeks post heart attack), I take him on my own for up to an hour and it definitely improves my mood.
It sounds as though your stents are very recent, but have you been referred to cardiac rehab? I'm in week 3 of it and am finding it so helpful with getting confidence to raise my heart rate, something I was very scared of before. I've not been so well this weekend, but on the whole, I'm finding that I can do more and more.
Good luck with it all, and hope you can soon enjoy dog walking again.
best wishes
caroline
Hi Caroline
I have not heard of this it has taken me nearly two days to get hold of my gp surgery plus one walk on the day I was addmited. Cardiac rehab is there any advise on the fourm about this as I do feel I could benift from this
Alan
Hi Alan,
What a shame no-one's talked to you about cardiac rehab - I'm not sure if it's in all areas... But cardiac rehab, at least hear in Nottingham, is an 8 week programme of structured exercise and information. How it works is that we do an hour of 'circuits' type exercise, led by a physio, nurse and rehab assistant. They check how we are doing and check our pulse at the beginning, in the middle and at the end. Then there is a cuppa and a talk about various aspects of heart problems. I started mine 5 weeks after my heart attack, I don't think they generally recommend that you start before 4 weeks, so maybe you'll hear soon. I think there's lots of discussion about cardiac rehab on the forum and there's also information about it on the main site.
when i first came home from hospital (just before Christmas), I felt very lost and wasn't sure how much to do etc. I found this site very helpful and watched a short film about coming home from hospital - I think it's under 'recovery' on the main site.
The general advice seems to be all about adding in a bit more everyday, but only do as much as you feel comfortable with...
Hope you start to feel better soon and also get some support.
best wishes
Caroline
Hi Alan & All BHF members following this item,
I had a Cardiac Arrest over 4 years ago and the whole recovery thing was very frightening as with the ICD I had fitted exercise was something I had always done but wasnt sure what and how to go about it all.
I was not told about Rehab and really wish I had been. However I won a 1 year Gym membership which really got me moving! they understood my health issues and were very good.
I recently found a local "Cardiofit" group who do the warm-up, then circuit type exercise then warm-down style of class and talking to the young lady who runs it about not having been told about Rehab she told me she thinks its only offered to patients who have Heart Attacks, this seems such a shame. However I am now enjoying this weekly class and meeting the friendly group who attend, all ages and problems, not all heart patients but some who have high blood pressure etc.
I would recommend anyone to find out if they have a local group in their area.
Keep fit & well all, regards, Margaret in Worcester
Hi I'm new to this too! Just a thought 4 years ago I had to cut back on the amount of strenuous exercise I took as I was diagnosed with ARVC, for someone who's always gone to the gym that was difficult, so I bought a puppy and now walk for hours, he pulled a lot and someone recommended a non-pull harness which I bought on line and it wasn't expensive, it's amazing he's actually unable to pull at all and it's so easy to put on, I have to say coming to terms with a heart condition is quite scary but walking is by far the best exercise and being in the fresh air is a great stress reliever
Hope you feel better soon
Claire