I hit a wall with Hypertrophic Cardiomyothopthy nothing working

@deniseinflight Others (@brumasterj and @baystater101) gave solid advice and rightfully pointed out that we are all different. Starting the day after surgery there was OT and PT. Eight days after surgery in 2022 at age almost-76 I was walking up and down our long driveway several times a day and around the block slowly soon after. I was cooking - hubby lifted anything too heavy - and a few other light chores, too. I was told to pretend that I had my upper arms in a cylinder, my lower arms did all the work. I was to start cardio rehab 2 weeks after surgery, but no appointments available for 6 weeks. The owners of the gym I belong to had worked at cardio rehab and they were able to get me going on that - without the heart monitor - by the time I did go, I was easily walking 3.1 mph on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Much will depend on your initial fitness, if you can get the OK from your doctor, it will be helpful to work on core strength before surgery. Yes, there were restrictions on lifting, NO DRIVING for 4 weeks - one should listen to both your doctor and your body.

@walkinggirl Thank you so much, this is exactly the type of information I was looking for. I think the idea of being immobilized for a long period of time was frightening but you seem to have been out walking quickly, which is really important to me. I am assuming that if you were able to drive after 4 weeks, that your "arms in a cylinder" had lifted to at least your steering wheel, if not actual heavy lifting. There was so much hope of a good recovery in your message. Thank you, again! (And, yes, I know we will all be different, but it sounded really, really good to me.)

Oh, the arms in the cylinder thing was over in about a couple of weeks. Had to do that bicycle pedal with the arms machine at the gym - slowly. They want you to walk the day after surgery to get your circulation going, your muscles in shape and to prevent blood clots. We drove home from Rochester MN to north of Albany, NY and stopped every 90 minutes to 2 hours at rest areas. They wanted me to use a walker, many don't, if you can borrow one to have handy just in case, won't have to purchase it if it is suggested. I felt more secure at the rest areas and when I was home outside. YES! Many in this blog can attest to generally good recoveries, our differences are interesting, and it just takes time!

@deniseinflight i think the recovery will be a little different for everyone but the pain is bearable i never took any hard medicine after my second day in the hospital! Im very active 57 year old so i think my muscle mass may have hindered some of the healing! I could bench over 300 before my surgery! Now i have not even attempted a single pushup:(
4 weeks hurting getting in and out of bed, lifting with arms forget about it, keep it close to your chest when lifting anything and use ykur legs,
Im 3 months out and still struggle lifting anything with just my arms!
Listen to your body and you will be extremely tired just doing simple tasks for the first 6 weeks

@rebaheizer i really believe thats all different for everyone?
My EF was always good but my gradient resting was 48 Hg and valsalva was 122
So because of my active life style surgery was recommended:)
I hope that helped answer your question:)

I had my septal myectomy Sept 26th.
I was told that Medicare wouldn’t cover Cardiac Rehab. They checked twice to see if it was a mistake.
I’m a 73 year old female.
So I’ve been walking 6 minutes, four to five times a day. I’m getting stronger each day and am pleased with my recovery. Just wondering why rehab was denied.

@mbi , that is frustrating isn't it?
This was my experience, maybe it is true for you:

I was sent to cardiac rehab six weeks after my open heart surgery.
It was approved by the hospital coordinator and insurance for six weeks.
On my fourth week the nurse told me there was an issue with insurance and I was not approved afterall.
What? Why?
I had a choice, I could pay for the rest out of pocket ($248 per visit, or something like that) or not come anymore.
Because I felt fine I chose not to go anymore.
Then several months later a bigger confusing insurance issue arose, and even though I was told there would be no charge, it was the hospital's mistake...I was sent to collections.
Grrr!
That made me mad.
Long story, longer...I was told because of the diagnosis used, insurance would not pay.
It's a congenital condition in their opinion because it's genetic.
Totally messed up response in my opinion, because open heart surgery is the reason for the rehab. It should not matter why... your chest was cut open!
I was not on Medicare at the time, Blue Cross of Texas.
Never-the-less it was never paid. And I fought the collection agency and won.
Good thing I kept good records about all the misinformation!
Anyway, that's my little rehab fiasco story. It had to do with the ICD-10 codes used and they ultimately did not approve it.

@mbi the administration is making dangerous decisions. Insurance is a racket. That’s just my opinion.
Walking and swimming helped me after bypass.

@mbi I feel ya re insurance issues.

I'm 73, had my septal myectomy in late July. At the time I was still covered by employer health insurance. I switched to Medicare Part B, plus supplemental (aka Medigap), effective September 1.

I discovered that neither employment-related insurance nor Medicare with supplemental covers cardiac rehab after a septal myectomy, but I had a mitral valve repair at the same time as the myectomy, and both insurances cover cardiac rehab after the valve repair. So I am 3 weeks into the 12-week cardiac rehab program and find it very helpful, not least because I'm wearing a heart monitor at the rehab sessions, which I find reassuring as I build up confidence that my newly reconfigured heart can take the stress of exercise.

I personally don't know the medical/insurance justification for treating the two differently, but I see karukgirl Debra sez she was told post-myectomy rehab is not covered because HCM is congenital.

I agree with Debra that that is a distinction without a legitimately justifiable difference, as anyone undergoing open heart surgery could benefit from a structured, guided post-op program as they return to active physical activity.

I'm a member of the HCM Association. Writing this makes me think I'll suggest to that organization that they lobby for coverage of post-op cardiac rehab for all septal myectomy patients (or maybe the HCMA already recognizes this issue; I'll at least look into it with them). In any event, the HCMA is a great resource for a host of reasons. Find them at < 4hcm.org>.

@mbi I cannot understand why insurance companies do not focus on the cheaper and preventative measures for healthcare. I cannot imagine what could/would happen if we all did not get off our duffs and get moving! I have a nonprofit Advantage Plan, a PPO, that focuses on prevention and there was no copay for cardio rehab as long as I needed it. (I fear changes in this company's plans are coming, definitely for the non-Medicare age subscribers and maybe Advantage subscribers due to our present national health care status, we will have to deal with that). I was referred for cardio rehab to two different places; one by my cardiologist (6 week wait) and the other by Mayo (6+ week wait). Imagine! Meanwhile, the owners of my gym used to work at the one the cardiologist called to set me up. Their employee did her internship at the other (a better facility). So, I talked to them and got started under their direction - without a heart monitor - when it was time according to my cardiologist, 2-3 weeks after surgery. I had been walking since the day after surgery and by that time I was up to a slow half mile several times a day. By the time I did go to cardio rehab, I was doing a mile in 20 minutes on the treadmill as well as able to do many other parts of my routine at or close to pre-surgery levels. So, I went 3 times, no heart monitor issues, then cancelled the rest of my appointments to use the gym only.