Anyone here ever go? I just got an RX to go and not to sure what I will be doing. Is it like going to a gym?
Thanks

Yes I was ordered to go after I had my heart attack with stent implanted. My opinion is that if you are the type person that gets up and does what they say to do and are not afraid....you do not need to waste the money. It is an EXPENSIVE gym with trainers for people that are scared to exercise due to a heart attack or stroke. I did it on my own and had no problems but I was not afraid. Make sure you are the kind that will do the exercise on their own if you don't go.
Good Luck

I don't know that rehab is such an unnecessary thing! I had rehab after my stent. If it had not been for my being on a monitor while exercising my stent failure may not have been found before something bad happened. I was a 41 year old woman then and thought I was in excellent health before the stent. I believe that rehab saved my life!
It is very much like going to a gym except you will be monitored. At first you may wear a holter monitor and then if you continue after a few weeks they will probably get to the point that they just check your bp, heart rate and possibly oxygen levels while you exercise. They will also teach you about heart disease, and a healthy diet. Also the mental side of heart disease is discussed in support groups. Check with your insurance company to see what they pay. Rehab can be very expensive.

I don't know that rehab is such an unnecessary thing! I had rehab after my stent. If it had not been for my being on a monitor while exercising my stent failure may not have been found before something bad happened. I was a 41 year old woman then and thought I was in excellent health before the stent. I believe that rehab saved my life!
It is very much like going to a gym except you will be monitored. At first you may wear a holter monitor and then if you continue after a few weeks they will probably get to the point that they just check your bp, heart rate and possibly oxygen levels while you exercise. They will also teach you about heart disease, and a healthy diet. Also the mental side of heart disease is discussed in support groups. Check with your insurance company to see what they pay. Rehab can be very expensive.

YOU have a valid point...that is something that did not cross my mind.

Anyone here ever go? I just got an RX to go and not to sure what I will be doing. Is it like going to a gym?
Thanks

Yes and no. I am a big fan of cardiac rehab. I had my heart attack and two stents placed in 2002, at age 35. Thanks to the exercise physiologist in there (we later became friends and did some exercise, e.g. "stadiums" outside of work hours), I was able to drop a bunch of weight and change my lifestyle. I started phase II in April 2002 and completed that in July 2002 (3 days per week monitored). My insurance covered 36 visits. After that is phase III here, which costs me $8 per visit because there is no insurance coverage. I go once per week, every Thursday. I will be leaving shortly to do this week's workout.

I suppose I could be fine without it now--I do run just about every single day. The nice thing about keeping up with rehab is not only the variety of exercise machines (like a gym) but more importantly, the records that are kept on you. If something changes, such as a decrease in exercise tolerance, or reproducible pain such as angina upon heavy exertion, they will have those records for you. This can potentially catch a problem, as Ninelives pointed out in her case.

Ubie,

That $8 a visit if FAR, FAR cheaper than my plain vaniilla gym with a trainer for an hour...like $50.
Even WITHOUT a trainer, my gym costs me $15 a week.
(but I DO use it 5 times a week.)

Ubie,

That $8 a visit if FAR, FAR cheaper than my plain vaniilla gym with a trainer for an hour...like $50.
Even WITHOUT a trainer, my gym costs me $15 a week.
(but I DO use it 5 times a week.)

Zip:

I feel like I am getting a great deal out of it also. Granted I only use 4 machines there, but I can set my own pace etc. I run on the treadmill for close to 30 min, the bike for 10 min, do some weights, arm egometer, rowing machine, etc. I get free juice (or water) and could add some other machines in if I chose. I spend about 2 hrs there each Thursday. All things considered, you are right, $4 an hour, supervised, instruction...great deal.

U

You need cardiac rehab whether it is the program that has been prescribed for you, or if you do it in your own home, on your exercise equipment. After my mi, I was prescribed this also, but I would have had to pay for 20 % of the cost. Instead, I went out and got me a good treadmill. Then I proceeded to actually hurt myself, by overexercising, lol. You really need to know how to go about the rehab exercise. Take baby steps, as they say. To do it the safe way, where you can be monitored, do the prescription thing. But just do it. Get on an exercise routine and never stop. Good luck on whatever you choose :)

What do the excercises usually consist of at these places? What is the workout routine?

Jack,

A treadmill is a Treadmill is a TREADAMILLE (if Chaucer had one:D)..it's legs, legs legs...and a heart workout.

I HATE one dimensional exercises like that. We were made with 500-odd muscles...legs are only a small part of the picture.

(Im thinking the marathon wiinners...NYC soon...with legs like hammered steel and chests like tiny pullets!)

LOL Zip, I have heard about the boredom of tmills, and years ago in a public gym, I felt the very same on a tmill.

My tmill has these wondermous ski poles, with adjustable resistance. I mean real ski poles attached to the frame with cylinders. The motion is identical to cross country skiing. I haven't seen any like them on the newer models. Someone must have tripped and sued, lol. Some of the newer models have these deals that you pull on for an upper body w/o. I don't know how well they work, but my poles are great.

Since I am alone when I exercise, I can do all kind of wierd things w/o fear of scrutiny (or being arrested). I roll my head in circles. I listen to the pops in my upper spine/neck from the hard head licks while playing linebacker and wearing a leather football helmet. Twist my head around 230 degrees in one direction, then 230 back in the other. That is of course an exaggeration, but I find that it improves my ability to change lanes when driving, w/o hitting someone due to the ole blindspot (which I have done once).

I experiment with perfect posture. I meditate to a point where I am in a trance. My mind is totally concentrated on feeling the clean air enter and fill my lungs every 2 to 3 steps, and I concentrate on a warm feeling in and around my heart. I visualize my blockages going away and blood flowing freely and warmly to my heart muscle. I work my leg muscles with various different types of stepping (polka?). It just becomes a religious experience :yawn:

Hey and anudder thang; this should be fun and avaiable for all; find a kitchen or bathroom counter top. Place your hands on it and back your feet out until you're ready to fall. Straighten your back and start to knock out some pushups. What does banned mean around here?