My cardio rehab progress continues well – at least what I believe to be rehab and feel is progress – I have no one to substantiate it though. So I don’t know exactly what I am doing, but I started slow, began to increase time/distance, and then increasing intensity.
Friday I did a 4-mile walk and I pushed myself – not crazy hard but I pushed. I did all four miles under 18 minutes per mile: 17’54”, 17’04”, 16’39”, and 16’16” respectively. Now granted, this is road walking, not hiking, but still great pace times for the entire four miles.
Today I did 6.5 miles; about half was road walking and half on trails at a local nature preserve. This preserve includes a lot of oceanfront acreage so it was some trail hiking and some beach/rock hiking – all good!! I did not push the pace because I was increasing the distance, but the pace was still decent overall. I think I should be pleased…it’d be nice to have a cardiologist to back that up!
I am trying to look less and less at all the cardio data my Apple watch offers up for review; I am not sure how accurate or valid any of it is, especially for someone just six weeks post-op and on a litany of cardio meds that alter pulse rate, blood pressure, and who knows what else. Instead, I am focusing hard on how I feel and am recognizing that I am actually doing well and that I am getting stronger. Every CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) article I read states that we humans do not fully recover from the surgery for approx. three months. The respiratory system – mainly the lungs – heal quickly but can take up to four to six months to completely recover full capacity. The heart’s recovery varies greatly, heavily depending upon the strength and condition of the heart itself before surgery, as well as the strength and condition of the person. Happily, I have been told that both my heart, and myself in general, were in great shape beforehand.
Saw my GP yesterday and she is pleased with my progress. She did an EKG and noticed what I have suspected for a few weeks now – I have an irregular heartbeat. Specifically, I am throwing a PVC (premature ventricular contraction) every third beat of my heart. It is completely benign, nothing to worry about, and may well go away as it is rather common post-op with my surgery. I am really quite relieved because I knew there was something going on with the heart beat but through researching was fairly certain it was nothing to worry about. But still…you do.
During the visit she basically confirmed that the cardio rehab plan I pulled together off the internet is sound and is working. She did get a little dicey on the last intense walk I took, even though she recalculated my zone two target heart rate and confirmed I was right on target with my own calculations. She laughed and said if she gave more leash I’d run with it so she insisted that on my next intense walk that I push myself for five minutes and then back off for five minutes, and repeat.
Next on “the list” is my kidney. During a presurgical chest X-ray they noted a lesion on one of my kidneys and made a note of it in my file. My GP contacted me when she saw the report but we both agreed to leave it until the CABG surgery was done and I was “good” again. And that is now. I will have an ultrasound next week, which she feels will then warrant an MRI. So more to come on this over the next few weeks. The fun continues!
My GP emailed me today that she had requested a copy of the EKG my surgeon performed a week ago. She then compared it with the one she did and discovered that both my PVC’s and T-waves were worse on his EKG than hers. I am surprised – actually dismayed – that he never said a word about it. I know it’s very common post-op and is benign, so perhaps he figured why alarm me? And that is likely why he said my cardiologist should have me wear a heart monitor.
All that aside, just a week apart and there is an improvement. And now I understand the icon on my blood pressure monitor: it was picking up the PVC’s but not being a “smart” machine, could best only report as an irregular heartbeat. However today, I’ve taken five readings with no “irregular” icon so I think I am seeing even more continued improvement! All good news!
There is little left I cannot or do not do with regards to post-op restrictions. I would say splitting wood and lifting weights are about it. I am able to pick up either grandkid without discomfort, I have cut the lawn with no issues, and I can carry in the groceries without a problem. There may be a couple of things but if there are, I can’t think of them. And that makes sense as today marks seven weeks post-op. Most research indicated that the first week or two would bring a marked reduction in pain and that proved true. And then many patients see a dramatic return to normal in weeks 6-8 and that is absolutely proving true. I still get some pain in the chest (muscular / skeletal and all residual from the surgery) but not often. My lungs / breathing feels to be back to normal, my overall strength and energy feel back to normal, and my daily routine finally feels… routine!
Time to close out this post; we went to the County Fair yesterday. Normally we’d have our grandkids with us and it’d be a hot fun day, but since they’re in Maine now, we couldn’t do that. And the other two are too young at ages 3yrs and 1yr – maybe next year. Accordingly, our Fair time was shorter than normal. We did a couple of laps of the grounds; I had a slice of blueberry pie and a dough boy (talk about poor food choices). But it was still great to go – so much to see and experience! I hope you can find your way to a Fair near you dear reader! Stay well!!