use the fitness center at least once per week for a month

My cardiologist gave me the all-clear. While I am experiencing difficulties related to my leaky heart valve, it does not mean that I should not exercise. In fact, I was given a lecture and commanded to, for the sake of my valve in 20 years (provided I can keep it that long). Well, I’m really supposed to take a treadmill test at the cardiologist’s office first, but it was more of a strong suggestion than a requirement. I will think about doing that in March, when I have time again for doc appointments.

However, my schedule has become absolutely insane, and I’m not sure I can even manage to find time to exercise once per week right now. I might try anyway.

I got really busy around the holidays and wasn’t able to work in any time to go to the fitness center. Then a couple of days ago I had my cardiac workup (regularly scheduled to check on my leaky valve) and I got a little bit freaked out by the way the cardiologist was acting at my echocardiogram. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but it was definitely strange. Usually the technician takes the images and then leaves the room to discuss the images with the cardiologist, then comes back and tells me I can go. This time the cardiologist came in himself to take some more images, with some other guy trailing behind him, who was never introduced.

First question out of the cardiologist’s mouth when he walked in the room – “So have you been feeling any different since last time?” I said that I have been feeling pretty much the same, which is mostly true except for when I exercise, but since I wasn’t exercising much two years ago, I can’t really compare it, so I didn’t think to mention it. I should have said something about my dizziness and tingling and asthma symptoms when I’ve been running. Then he said the numbers weren’t matching up the way they expected them to, but he didn’t elaborate, and he said that there was a certain measurement that was being very difficult to capture. I watched him take it, and it was the same thing that the technician was having difficulty with. I am assuming it was a measurement of regurgitant volume, but I don’t really know. My appointment to discuss the results with my regular cardiologist isn’t for another two weeks, so I’m thinking it might be wise to hold off on the exercising until after that appointment. Better safe than sorry.

I suppose I could at least go and walk around the track, but I think that would just be frustrating. I don’t feel like I am getting any benefit from exercise unless I work up a sweat and feel exhausted afterward.

Week One (11/28-12/4): 11/29
Week Two (12/5-12/11): 12/10

I have joined a fitness center (now that it’s cold and I can’t exercise outside) but I’m going to have to find a way to work it into my routine. Besides being new to it, this is a crazy month to try to make time in my schedule, so I’m just going to aim for once per week and be happy if I do more. I want to work up to 3-5 times per week, but that can wait until after Christmas.