Bicycling after open heart
wild1ncrazy1
Posts: 15 Member
im 51 had quad cab bypass 4 months ago. Been doing treadmill from three weeks after, at one month started light lifting. I've trimmed the waist enlarged chest, arms and legs since op. Went out today did a 10 mile in the woods moderate difficulty ride with a 1/4 mile section of 12% uphill. I feel great can't wait to start pushing it hard. Anyone that goes thru surgery work out to recover
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That is amazing! I'm glad to see you up and about after such a tough surgery!
My mother had a major heart attacked four years ago on her 50th birthday with a 99% blockage that almost took her life. She quit smoking and started moving more. They told her she wouldn't have another heart attack and that the chances were slim to none. She slowly stopped working out. Last year, the night of her 53rd birthday, she had another major heart attack, this time with two blocks over 95% on both sides.
Needless to say, she survived and soon after purchased a bike. She began bike riding and walking a few months after the surgery when the doctor gave her the OKAY to move around again. She joined a gym, too!
I know both of your stories are different but she used working out as a recovery and she is healthier now then she was before! Keep it up!1 -
Keep up the good work; slow and steady as they say. I had what I thought was a heart attack about four years ago and it turns out it was just really bad high blood pressure. Anyway, regular biking and using MFP to drop fat was the best thing I did for my health. So I am glad your are on the right path and working out and getting stronger is the way to go! Lifestyle change! Just keep your doctor and cardiologist on-board with what you are doing. There is the too much, too fast thing to be cautious with.wild1ncrazy1 wrote: »im 51 had quad cab bypass 4 months ago. Been doing treadmill from three weeks after, at one month started light lifting. I've trimmed the waist enlarged chest, arms and legs since op. Went out today did a 10 mile in the woods moderate difficulty ride with a 1/4 mile section of 12% uphill. I feel great can't wait to start pushing it hard. Anyone that goes thru surgery work out to recover
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wild1ncrazy1 wrote: »im 51 had quad cab bypass 4 months ago. Been doing treadmill from three weeks after, at one month started light lifting. I've trimmed the waist enlarged chest, arms and legs since op. Went out today did a 10 mile in the woods moderate difficulty ride with a 1/4 mile section of 12% uphill. I feel great can't wait to start pushing it hard. Anyone that goes thru surgery work out to recover
That is truly amazing. Saw too many of the open hearts I took care of (used to do post-cardiac surgery nursing) enter a cycle of non-compliance and complications, the ones that took it as a new lease on life were few and far between. Keep at it!0 -
OMG where do I even begin! Well done out there in the woods & with a 12% hill to boot! I bet it felt good & scary at the same time. One of the Best ways to build up endurance on the bike is to keep your HR within a doable pace, say..60%...a pace that feels like you could ride all day long.
Not being nosey, I s'pose you are medically cleared, right? When did dr say you can start pushing hard? Suggest wearing a heart rate monitor with a chest strap to keep an eye on your HR while you are out there if you don't already. I just have to ask, does it hurt to work your heart after a heart attack? I mean...do you feel pain? I'll go anaerobic for several seconds making a mad dash in a dicey section, sucking wind like no tomorrow, but it doesn't "feel" like it heart-wise. Till I glance at the HRM and be like Whoah Baby! lol0 -
Hello Wild person. I can identify with your pain, surgery, and rejoice in your recovery. I had major back surgery in February. (Replaced 3 discs, fused 4 vertebrae, and a laminectomy in my lower spine.) I am in the process of healing. I walk several times a day (inside and outside) and have been given the ok to use an exercise bike. I have my own fitness-club quality spin bike in my work-out room. I can't bend from the waist or arch my back so I do easy upper body exercises. I have my own rowing machine and used it daily for total body toning and to strengthen my core, but I don't think I'll be able to do that anymore. It may take up to a year for the new bone to regenerate, so I am off my outside biking for this season. I am still not sure if I will ever be able to bend from the waist far enough to get into the low drop position on my road bikes. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I applaud your dedication and motivation. If I was an envious person, I would envy you in your ability and courage to get out there and bike. I feel a twinge every time I see someone out biking. Keep it up. Bike a few miles for me. (Nice easy, slow ones, without any big bumps....) I'll be back on the road, just not yet. Go, Wildman, go!!!!!0
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Thank you everyone, I was cleared by dr, and surgeon. I had 100 % block in one and 97 in another the other two were 80. I biked up to a few weeks before surgery. I thought the pain I was having was normal pain for going over my heart rate. Every time I got up above my max rate it felt like a truck parked on my chest and pain up my neck. I would slow down and pain went away so I would ride another 20-30 miles. Dr said I had numerous silent heart attacks. After operation he told me I had the heart of a 20 yr old small and strong. Once cleared I told him I was doing treadmill and keeping my heart rate below 85% which is 144, he told me to go farther that my heart is healthy keep pushing it slowly up to 170-180 just pay attention to any pain. I've done that and now it seems I'm working harder and harder and my rate keeps getting lower. A month ago walking 4 mph for an hour my rate was 150 now 4 mph for an hour its under 100. Three days a week for my job I walk over 20 miles a day... And I love life again, I feel better than I have in 20 years...0
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Wildman & BCM congrats to both of you! Nothing's easy, but health is worth it. Keep up the great efforts!0
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wild1ncrazy1 wrote: »Thank you everyone, I was cleared by dr, and surgeon. I had 100 % block in one and 97 in another the other two were 80. I biked up to a few weeks before surgery. I thought the pain I was having was normal pain for going over my heart rate. Every time I got up above my max rate it felt like a truck parked on my chest and pain up my neck. I would slow down and pain went away so I would ride another 20-30 miles. Dr said I had numerous silent heart attacks. After operation he told me I had the heart of a 20 yr old small and strong. Once cleared I told him I was doing treadmill and keeping my heart rate below 85% which is 144, he told me to go farther that my heart is healthy keep pushing it slowly up to 170-180 just pay attention to any pain. I've done that and now it seems I'm working harder and harder and my rate keeps getting lower. A month ago walking 4 mph for an hour my rate was 150 now 4 mph for an hour its under 100. Three days a week for my job I walk over 20 miles a day... And I love life again, I feel better than I have in 20 years...
I never would've known what the symptoms would be unless you had posted how the heart felt. Having a truck parked on your chest then pain up to the neck is really an eye-opener! Thank you so much for this post.
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