I was wary of cardiac rehab when my surgeon recommended it. So did my cardiologist. She said people who lived longer have far fewer heart attacks and strokes than people who don’t.
I’m not sure about all the medical details, but it has something to get the heart strong and functioning after surgery when it needs strengthening.
I believe them now cardiac rehab is important to me, an incentive, a supportive environment, and a chance to measure my own progress. I really look forward to going.
This week, I’m listening to Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift on my ear pods; they make good music to bike too. On the bike, I’m up to 35 minutes ending at a great speed (for the first week) at level 8.
I ride easily and comfortably, no pain, no shortness of breath.
And I felt good enough to do 15 minutes on the hand and arm exercise machine. A nurse constantly monitors my heartbeat and checks on me.
This has transformed the experience of walking, which I have always loved, and is, in fact, one of the very best ways to exercise the heart soundly. Without struggling to breathe, I can hold Maria’s hand and see the beauty all around me.
It was wise to leave Zinnia at home; for now, I am freer to focus on moving and seeing the world all over again. I am getting confident about it, seeing the world anew once more.
Yesterday, I was caught exceeding my suggested times. This is my blessing and curse; I always try to do more each time; they are on to me and come and pull me away.
Each morning, I walk a mile or so up my hill. I no longer need to pause, take a deep breath. I feel my heart and legs getting stronger every day, and this will help me get ready for my e-bike, which is waiting patiently for me to get back on.
My doctors are “encouraging” me to wait a while before getting on the bike. Get strong, get confident, they say. Exercising is no longer a dread chore for me; I really enjoy it. I love the feeling of taking better care of my heart and my body. I feel good.
I am learning about patience and maturity. It took a while for me to get so completely out of shape; it will take a while to get truly healthy. I’m not quitting this round, they gave me an excellent heart, and I will not waste it again.
I think it helps my writing as well; I have more feelings about what I write.
Life is what you make of it, said Grandma Moses. It’s on me now.
Jon, it sounds like you are in a good place right now. Not that many people in their seventies with heart problems get a second lease on life. When you feel better, life gets better. I’m happy for you.
Happy heart, happy Jon. So glad you are doing well. I’m finding your reflections useful pointers towards taking care of my own health. Thanks!
Like you I have an adulthood strewn with disrespect and broken connections between my body and spirit. That is not to say that I have never tried but I have only succeeded for periods of time vs adopting a new lifestyle.
I was approaching my body as if it were a unruly child. I could only subdue myself for so long before the unruly part broke loose in a destructive way.
I didn’t know two things. One is that relating to my unruliness WAS interacting with my physical self but interacting based on fear and subjugation. If I was afraid I couldn’t do something I drank Coke to soup me up and ate sweets to make me feels less fearful. Two I didn’t know that the relationship between my spirit and body needed to be based on joy and support and being “seen”. Learning this has come about after two surgeries. One that will challenge me for the rest of my life. Very challenging to incorporate into an active lifestyle. The second, a lower back fusion, has been liberating. It has been relatively easy and painless. Few opiates. Surprise! Exercise has been emphasized from the beginning but I have been given a great trainer. I am exercising three times a week and walking 3 miles or or most dats. I LOVE it. What a miracle! I will never give it up.