Exercising with Heart Failure?

Hi everyone,

I'm 35 and had a pacemaker fitted in September last year. Things were fairly normal for a few months and then I was admitted to hospital with a 23% left ventricular function, so heart failure, then arrhythmia, and have been in and out of hospital, and basically housebound since January.

This is due to miocarditis, probably caused by a virus, though months of tests have brought no clues as to possible culprits. As there's been no change in my heart function. I'm going to have CRT with a defibrillator within the next couple of months.

I live in Argentina, so there's no rehabilitation available and I feel I need to help my body not turn into a muscle-less blob.

Does anybody know of any exercises for people with heart failure? Or if it's even a good idea to try?

It's hard to know my body's limits, as there are days when I clean or cook or go to see doctors and I'm fine, and others where the same amount of activity gives me liquid in the lungs and ankles.

Any advice?

Thank you

2 Comments

talk to your doctor

by Tracey_E - 2018-04-02 09:36:02

Once you are well healed, it's good to do as much as you can. Ask your doctor for a regimen if cardiac rehab is not available. I hope the CRT helps your function! 

makes you normal

by dwelch - 2018-04-09 01:22:54

The purpose of the device is to make you normal or at least closer than you are now.  So you should be able to do more than you can do now or at least do it with less risk.  Talk to your doc about what the device will let you do with your condition. 

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