Doris Fowler - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

2210 days ago

Lisa Guinan, Bradley Dunn, Dan Baltazor and 4 others reacted to this

Started cardiac rehab on Monday. Today was my third session. It's not bad at all. I'm working out on 4 different machines and then doing some stretching ...Read more

Started cardiac rehab on Monday. Today was my third session. It's not bad at all. I'm working out on 4 different machines and then doing some stretching to cool down. The tech's determine how many minutes on each machine and what range of WATTS I need to stay in. I actually like rehab and feel that I'm doing something to help myself heal by using my body and getting stronger. The endorphins don't hurt either ;)

Rob Sparling Awesome! Good for you! Looking forward to starting it.

Dan Baltazor Good job!

Dan Vechiola Great news Doris! I am enjoying it as well. Its nice to do other things than walk on the streets. ... Read more

Dan Vechiola Great news Doris! I am enjoying it as well. Its nice to do other things than walk on the streets. I am still doing my walks on the days I am not in cardiac rehab.

Doris Fowlerposted a journal

2249 days ago

Mark Wilbur, Shannon Gray, Valerie Herndon-Vitarella and 1 other reacted to this

I have my 4 week post surgical followup with my surgeon tomorrow. (I had a mini sternotomy with aortic valve tumor removal (papillary fibroelastoma) and repair) ...Read more

I have my 4 week post surgical followup with my surgeon tomorrow. (I had a mini sternotomy with aortic valve tumor removal (papillary fibroelastoma) and repair) I am hoping like crazy that he releases me to drive my car. I feel very fortunate to say that being stuck at home without transportation for these 4 weeks has been the worst part of this ordeal. I've had minimal pain and only took a Tylenol to help me sleep at night. Went grocery shopping Day 4 after surgery and I have not had any complications other than some tachycardia which I am wearing a heart monitor for. Was able to start sleeping on my side Week 3 so I'm hoping for a release from any precautions, dismissal from the surgeon and a referral to a decent cardiologist. **fingers crossed**

Judy S Good luck Doris. I hope you get your wings tomorrow!

Doris Fowler Thanks Judy! It went very well and I am free to drive and do whatever I wish as long as I don't lift ... Read more

Doris Fowler Thanks Judy! It went very well and I am free to drive and do whatever I wish as long as I don't lift heavy things for a couple more weeks.

Judy S Excellent. I was thrilled when I was released!

Doris Fowlerposted an update

2255 days ago

Susan Lynn reacted to this

Question about cardiac rehab - I had aortic valve repair done 8/24 and will have my followup appointment with the surgeon next week. I had to see a cardiologist ...Read more

Question about cardiac rehab - I had aortic valve repair done 8/24 and will have my followup appointment with the surgeon next week. I had to see a cardiologist (assigned one as I did not have one) and get a heart monitor put on me to check for arrhythmias. The cardiologist seemed to be a real flake and warning bells are going off in my head so I thought I would run this by you all and see if it rings true or not. Saw cardiologist 15 days after my surgery to be fitted with a heart monitor. He wanted me to do a stress test and wanted to schedule it right then. I'm like "NO, I'm not doing anything until my surgeon clears me". Cardiologist argues with me and says that I have to have a treadmill stress test to be cleared to start cardiac rehab. That sounds crazy to me....I thought the point of cardiac rehab was to EASE into cardiovascular exercise while being closely monitored for safety. Can those with experience chime in and let me know what their experience was with qualifying for cardiac rehab? Did you have to do a stress test prior to rehab?

Susan Lynn I didn't have a stress test and I'm not sure I could even pass one nine months later. Rehab very slo ... Read more

Susan Lynn I didn't have a stress test and I'm not sure I could even pass one nine months later. Rehab very slowly eases you into walking on the treadmill especially the incline. I believe my exercise physiologist said that the stress test incline is the equivalent of 10 on the treadmills we use, and I have yet to walk at that level for 10 minutes even after 6 months of rehab. I do recommend that you go to rehab because it's great for building endurance in a controlled environment. I also applaud you for pushing back with your cardiologist. You are your own best advocate. Best of luck to you, Doris!

Jeff V. Yes, I did a low impact stress test with my cardiologist to baseline and get cleared for rehab approx ... Read more

Jeff V. Yes, I did a low impact stress test with my cardiologist to baseline and get cleared for rehab approx. 3 weeks post surgery.

Bill Gillam Call your surgeon's team and run it by them for reasonableness. I may be the wrong guy to give advic ... Read more

Bill Gillam Call your surgeon's team and run it by them for reasonableness. I may be the wrong guy to give advice, though. I'll fire a cardiologist (or surgeon for that matter) if they don't shoot straight. I'm about to start cardiac rehab myself. No mention of stress test.

Willie Radl It would probably be good to get more details on what is meant by "stress" test. This would likely b ... Read more

Willie Radl It would probably be good to get more details on what is meant by "stress" test. This would likely be very low speed, low intensity to get a baseline level of fitness before starting rehab. I did sort of a stress test to start at rehab, they basically just had me walk around the track a few times at a moderate pace where I was comfortable and timed how long it took, beats per min, bloodpressure etc. You aren't going to do anything with high intensity for a while.

Rita Savelis Yes. They do a test to see where you are before you begin. You are monitored during this "test". It's ... Read more

Rita Savelis Yes. They do a test to see where you are before you begin. You are monitored during this "test". It's how you start. Mine was on a treadmill, but no one pushed me to do more than i could.

Marie Myers I did NOT have a stress test before rehab.

Thomas Brusstar I am 9 weeks post. I had an echo a week ago, and I'm on day 6 of 7 wearing a chest monitor for arryh ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar I am 9 weeks post. I had an echo a week ago, and I'm on day 6 of 7 wearing a chest monitor for arryhthmias. But nobody has talked about a stress test at all, and I do my rehab intake next Monday.

Robert Bach During the intake session for cardiac rehab after I'd already been accepted, they had me walk for 10 ... Read more

Robert Bach During the intake session for cardiac rehab after I'd already been accepted, they had me walk for 10 minutes on a treadmill while they monitored me. No one called that a stress test, but maybe that's what it was. They definitely had me ease into the program. Cardiac rehab has been great so far -- I'm starting my second week. I do 40 minutes of aerobic exercise on the machine of my choice while the nurses and physical therapists monitor my heart. The intake session treadmill test lasted just 10 minutes, and it wasn't stressful at all.

Doris Fowler Thanks everyone for your input. I'm standing my ground and will follow my surgeon's recommendation. ... Read more

Doris Fowler Thanks everyone for your input. I'm standing my ground and will follow my surgeon's recommendation. Pretty sure I'm done with this cardiologist and looking for a replacement.