Two months after my open-heart surgery, through my
cardiologist's referral, I was cleared to begin a
physician-sponsored cardiac rehabilitation program - a program
of exercise and risk-factor education for individuals recovering
from serious heart procedures and heart disease.
Some patients are healed enough to begin sooner, some later. The
gym facility where I live in Santa Fe, NM, called the Center for
Living Well, is spaciously housed in the basement of our one
hospital. In the last thirty years, thousands of cardiac
rehabilitation programs have sprung up far and wide in the U.S.
alone, all featuring similar characteristics.
In my book, The Open Heart Companion: Preparation and Guidance
for Open-Heart Surgery Recovery (Open Heart Publishing, 2006) I
advise, "systematically increase your walking every day, to the
point where you can visualize and look forward to the strength
retraining and aerobic stamina offered in a good cardiac
rehabilitation program. Once your doctor finally approves you
for cardiac rehab, you will discover what may be a new
experience, or the reawakening of an old pleasure -- going to
the gym!"
Beginning a cardiac rehabilitation program is truly an exciting
moment. I was finally up to moving my body for real. I knew I
had made tangible progress or I wouldn't be there. I was
assigned an exercise physiologist, or case manager. After a
general orientation (completing a detailed questionnaire,
learning to take my pulse, oxygen usage and rhythm monitoring
guidelines) I was given a personal exercise worksheet.
Preferably three times a week for one hour, I was to track my
gentle progress forward in a customized program -- using the
treadmill, bike, stairs, UBE machine (aerobic ergometer), and so
on. Adding weight training to the regimen was to come later, at
the discretion of my case manager. In addition, numerous classes
(stretching, therabands, free weights) and support groups
(smoking cessation, stress management, osteoporosis and diet
education) were all available in the package. Once a month there
was an "Ask the Cardiologist" Q&A hosted by one of the New
Mexico Heart Institute cardiologists. Most of all, the staff
were caring, devoted, highly attentive, good-humored
professionals. There was a palpable air of camaraderie and
developing friendships that evolved into a memorable support
group experience for me.
I was accepted into the program provided I agreed to wear a
wireless heart monitor during exercise. What a good thing! My
heart was still ricocheting in and out of irregular rhythm
(atrial fibrillation). There was always someone at a computer
screen monitoring my rhythm. If, as is more likely with
exertion, my a-fib returned, even if I didn't notice, a nurse or
exercise physiologist would check in with me. How was I feeling?
Did I feel lightheaded? Did I need to slow down? Maybe end my
session for the day? Your pulse is x, let's check your blood
pressure.... Since a patient's inclination may be to push
through (my common approach in the past), the permission to
simply stop, give yourself a break, can be welcome. I felt
completely taken care of. With so many dedicated professionals
around me, and the new friends I was making, I could never run
too far into trouble. Although physically challenging at times,
the cardiac rehab environment made for a positive,
confidence-returning experience.
In the book, Heart Attack: Advice for Patients by Patients (Yale
University Press, 2002), most of the eleven contributors go out
of their way to rave about their cardiac rehab program
experience. "The highlight of my day...", "I credit the program
with getting my life back on track...", "I've been a member now
for ten years and I know it is keeping me healthy...", "My wife
is now in the program with me. We've made some great
friends...." The social and emotional support received can be
priceless. Rather than returning to one's previous gym or yoga
class, many heart patients take advantage of ongoing membership
in their cardio-directed program.
Copyright (C) 2006 Maggie Lichtenberg. All Rights Reserved
About the author:
Maggie Lichtenberg, PCC, a recent open-heart surgery thriver, is
an open heart coach to heart patients and their loved ones, a
professional speaker, and frequently published author. To
subscribe to her free online newsletter, Heart To Heart, send a
blank email message to HeartToHeart-On@zines.webvalence.com. To
learn more about Maggie's free phone support group and other
programs go to
http://www.openheartcoach.com. Article is free to
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