Activity after implant

I was looking over my files from after my implant and found some interesting info. I've posted my recollections a few times here, but found the real thing.

My discharge instructions from the hospital written by the cardiologist are "Regular walks, exercise at least 30 minutes 5 times a week. Do not lift left arm above shoulder until seen in the clinic in approximately 1 1/2 weeks. May remove sling after tomorrow. OK to shower after removing sling. Bandage will fall off in a few days". I don't have any record of further limitations.

Then I found a record I kept of my activities on returning home.
Day 1 (returned home): Walked 0.5 mile in 30 minutes.
Day 2 Walked 1.7 miles in 31 minutes
Day 3 Walked 2.9 miles in 1 hour
Day 4 Walked 3.0 mile in 1 hour
Day 5 Took the day off. HIgh winds (50mph)
Day 6 Walked 3.25 miles in 1 hour
Day 7 Exercise bike for 30 minute. Kept hitting 120 bmp limit
Day 8 Walked 3.75 miles in an hour and 15 minutes
Day 9 Walked 2.2 miles in 45 minutes in wind
Day 10 Walked 2.0 miles in 1 hour in 30 mph wind.

So that's the way it was. At this point I had the upper limit raised to 140 the walks were more intense and longer.

I took all this in to my appt and as I was leaving the cardiologist told me to be sure and exercise. I think he needs a hearing aid.

best for 2010,

frank

2 Comments

LOL

by Angelie - 2010-01-04 03:01:01

I've as well, gone back and read some of the things they've given me in the hospital or clinic, and also read some of my stuff. Crazy.
If I ever need a pep talk, I can always go back and read what I wrote back then. Some where the writing ends and life begins......the difference is astounding.

But what I didn't see was where you ended up by day 10,

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-04 03:01:49

What actually happened was that I walked to the post office about 1.5 mi away and mostly down wind. Then I headed for home into the wind. At about a half mile I found that to even walk slowly was making my HR hit that 120 limit they had set so I called my wife, Mary, to come and get me. I made it a few more block before she arrived.

At that point I hadn't had my first checkup so didn't know about the 120 limit. When I got home I threw together my experimental ECG and got on the exercise bike and pushed up to the limit. I could see on the ECG that the *&&^%$ pacer was giving up on me at 120 and making a mess out of my heart. I then found and downloaded the Medtronics technical manual on my good old Kappa 701 and there is was! Next was a letter to the cardio demanding the the upper limit be set to 140. A couple of days later I had an appt and he did it.

Since then I have walked the 6 mile round trip to Walmart in high winds.

Here in the desert we are used to high winds. 70mph gusts aren't unusual and we just carry on regular activities, The main problem is blowing sand. Sure is gritty in the teeth.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.