DH home from hospital, heart trouble... how long until he can get out of bed?

[mommycat]

Hi, I posted about a week ago and got some nice replies. My DH has been in hospital with heart failure. The doctors haven't given much idea about what he can and can not do. Other than no cigarettes or alcohol, which is going to be very hard but he has patches and is going to start AA soon.

The docs said to stay home the first week, then let DH see what he "feels" he is able to do. I know several of you who replied last time said your DHs went back to work after heart trouble. And some even fathered more children! (I can only dream of that one!)

But my DHs normal day consists of lying in bed doing nothing. The doctors have said this is not healthy but when can I start trying to get him up and moving about? Obviously not this week as it's his first week home and all the snow, but, should I try to get him out for a walk next week? Sorry, I feel like the doctors give no emotional support, only tablets.

There was no heart attack or chest pain; only breathlesness and tiredness. DH is 48. Stuff I've read online says things "don't pick up your grandchildren", but, we are a long way from grandchildren!

thanks

Def sounds like he needs to do some very gentle exercise like walking on the flat soon.

A quick google found this group who do exercise classes especially for heart patients, and there are links to other groups countrywide - which would be good for your DH on several levels

You need more support with this. Has he been offered no physio rehab or specialist nursing support? Tbh I would try to get him up tomorrow - not to do anything but just to get to another room outside of the bedroom. Then I would go and see your GP and ask for more help. Dietician support could be very helpful - I don't know if he needs to lose weight but even if he doesn't they can help with energy and appetite which can be issues when people have been seriously ill. You may also both benefit from some psychological support - this must have been a terrible shock for you both.

No, they didn't offer any physio, and when I asked about diet they just said " don't go to MacDonald's."

I'm in the process of looking for alcohol counseling, maybe one on one to start with.

DH has got out of bed, he played with DD for about half an hour yesterday and about the same today.

Thanks for the link, cmotdibbler,

And DH has got up for meals and to take a bath. I won't take him his food in bed, the doctors didn't say to do that, they didn't say he should eat in bed, so he gets up to eat.

I think you are absolutely right to get him up for food. I'm sure he is knackered at the moment but he needs to try improving his tolerance of exercise - otherwise he will just stay in one place and that will be very bad for him. I think physio might be able to help with that so definately speak to your GP and see what they advise. What about you - are you sleeping ok etc - this must be a big strain for you - so eat regularly and make sure you get some fresh air and time to yourself.

Hiya, I'm a junior Physio who has done some cardiac rehab classes during my initial rotations. It's great your dh is home and that he didn't have the full on heart attack. If he is trying to quit the alcohol and everything at once on top of having a huge fright with his heart (hospital is scary!!) he is likely well depressed poor thing. I'm glad he has you looking out for him and wee ones to play with (more exercise so well done him!)..

For about a week, lazing about feeling sorry for himself is probably quite theraputic but not longer as you obviously realise! He can safely walk for maybe ten minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon. Gently at first then after a week of that, quicker so he gets home a bit puffed out. Likely at the moment getting up, showered/bath, dressed will take a bit out of him but guaranteed he will start to feel better for it soon. Do you have (or can you borrow) an exercise bike so he can do a few minutes a couple of times a day when it's really bitterly cold out? The exercise endorphins will really really help his overall mood at the same time as improving his circulation.

Hope this helps. Check out cardiac clubs in your area, they go for walks (even hillwalking) maybe the Physio department at your hospital can give you some contact numbers? Lots luck and hugs xx

Thanks, Calyx. Exercise bike? Where would we put it? We live in a tiny flat which really stresses DH out, but we can't move cos I'm not working at the moment, and the mortgage company won't give us another mortgage.

Anyway, I will check the physio department...

Before this happened DH had joined a local community gym last summer. It's used by a lot of people with problems or on physio referrals (ie NOT a gym full of macho city workers building biceps), so it would be good if he could go there. They have machines labelled "not for heart patients" - so i would assume some of the other machines, like exercise bikes, are ok for heart patients. But I think that would be after a month or so?

x

Like calyx said, cardiac rehab classes can be a good way for him to start exercising in a controlled environment. Once he realises what he can actually do i.e exercise bike etc then he'll feel happier to exercise at home or the gym.
exercise on referral might be another route and worth speaking to your GP about.

he's most likely terrified to exert himself right now and it's important he gets some support sooner rather than later. see what his GP can offer.

cardiac rehab classes can offer more than just exercises too and meeting other young people in the same situation can be helpful.

i hope you get the right help.
good luck.

LOL I know what you mean about the space problem with the bike, my flat is hanky sized too.

The gym sounds great and he could start with for instance: 3 mins on bike at easiest level, then 5 mins on the treadmill at relaxed walking pace, then 3 mins on stairmaster thing, then 3 more mins on bike, then home. He can do that 3 times a week then add say 30 seconds on each thing per week. Every 3 weeks put the bike/treadmill/stairmaster thing (or cross trainer or whatever they have!) up a level until he's sweaty at the end.

Probably a month would be too long to wait... Maybe start in a week? Hope this helps

The exercise on referral through the gp that dragonbutter mentioned would be brilliant, if it was me that would be less scary and better than going it alone. I should have thought of that LOL!

in sainsburys today they had a heart leaflet with a leaflet inside you could send off to the british heart foundation to sign up for their cardiac care programme (or something like that, can't remember name off the top of my head) or you could sign up on the BHF website.

I picked it up for my dh to sign up as he has had problems, one of the things that looked good about it was that they have a help line with a cardiac nurse you can ring up for advice. Also a mag several times a year and various other bits and bobs relating to heart health.

but definitely worth looking out and signing up for, as is looking at the bhf site for help, they have lots of leaflets and info.

According to the sainsburys leaflet, feb is heart healh month so worth keeping your eyes open as there might be quite a lot of info floating around places like GPs and supermarkets...

good luck - hope you are ok as it is easy for you to get forgotten in all the upheaval!

and hope your dh gets motivated on the way to recovery too.

calyx, that's why i'm not a junior anymore

at dragonbutter, I'll remember everything one day dreams it's an amazing job isn't it, keeps me going!

for a long time i didn't enjoy it, but now i think i've found my niche in mental health/community and now love it.

Heading for bedding now, mommycat and zipzap big hugs your dh's are lucky to have you Nice meeting you dragonbutter (mental health and community... respect!) xxx

nice to meet you too calyx.

And nice to meet both of you, thanks for all the tips - I can't believe how little the hospital did for us. I mean, they saved DH's life and I shouldn't underestimate that. But there was zero emotional support and zero info on after care other than 'stay home for a week' and then come to outpatients after a month.

I'll make a GP appointment. I've done 'exercise on referral' for past back problems, at the same gym where DH goes. It's brilliant. They give you the right exercises for you and are supportive.

thanks!

have a look here for a local programme Depending on the area you live in, some cardiac rehab programmes offer classes specifically designed for patients with heart failure, and some places will take HF patients onto their regular programmes. They may also be able to give you details of your local BHF heart failure nurse.
It's important for your DH to gradually build up his level of exercise over the coming weeks. From what you describe, he hasn't done any physical activity for a long time, so is probably very deconditioned.
Start off very gently, say doing 6 minute walks to start off. He should start off at a gentle pace for the two minutes, walk more briskly for the next two minutes, and then back down to a gentle pace for the last two minutes. The aim is to incorporate a warm up and cool down into his exercise sessions, this way you avoid any sudden fluctuations in heart rate which can stress the heart. He should also be walking at a pace where he is a bit short of breath, but would still be able to talk (so no huffing and puffing!) If anything is causing any extreme breathlessness or chest pain, then he needs to stop, and see his GP. He should aim to increase the length of time he is walking for gradually each week, so that by about 6 weeks, he's managing 30 minutes per day.
Re the local gym, you may find that they are unwilling to let him exercise with his diagnosis, he should let them know what has been going on health wise before embarking on any exercise regime at the gym. Let us know if you need any more info!

Thanks, I still I think I ought to wait til the GP gets the hospital letter before we start anything. Even walking. The hospial will write to the GP, then we can go see the GP.

As for the 'local gym', it's mostly used by people with medical conditions anyway. DH won't be just going along; he'll get some info from doctors first and possibly a referral plan. It's a community gym and many users have health problems. But of course he won't just start going without a plan from his GP or a physiotherapist first.

Don't get me wrong, it's great having all this support here, but I'm not going to just say "some people online said you should do this and that etc etc." - it's helpful to hear that he should do SOMETHING, and I will get on the case for the GP so we can start.

very sensible.