Post heart procedure exercise problems

I am a 54 year old male and had a heart attack late in December of 2005.  An angiogram revealed a 90% blockage in my left anterior descending artery.  The doctors put a catheter in my right femoral artery and put a Taxus stent in the blockage area.  The area in my groin where they went into the femoral artery was tender and bruised for a couple of weeks (I understand this is normal), but seemed to heal fine.  
My cardiologist prescribed the following medications:  Plavix, Lisinopril, Toprol XLL, and Zocor.  I have been taking the meds faithfully along with one 81mg enteric coated aspirin per day.  I also determined that I was going to start exercising each day, so I started walking 20 to 30 minutes daily.
About a week ago I decided to go with something that would give me a better cardiac workout, so I purchased an elliptical trainer (Vision Fitness X6200HRT).
Well, maybe that wasn't such a great idea because when I use it for only 5 minutes on the setting with least resistance my legs feel like they are on fire and now I am experiencing pain in my right groin area.  The pain is mild to moderate, but it won't go away.
Should I see my doctor about this pain?  I was hoping that it would be temporary and just "work out" on its own.  But now I suspect that there is a problem with a nerve or the femoral artery where the insertion was made during surgery.  
Also, I realize that all exercise requires conditioning, but is it normal that my legs should feel like rubber after only 5 minutes of exercise?  Should I continue to exercise on the elliptical machine?

[Cleveland Clinic]

quent,

Sorry to hear about your events. At least youve made good progress since the heart attack.  

I would see a physician about your pain. Sometimes patients do report some symptoms at the entry site of the artery after several weeks. Some of this might be realted to the specific exercise o n the elliptical since you dont get too many symptoms with walking. Different exercises place different stresses on the body. If your physican doesnt find anything wrong with the site you might try either varying the intensity of the workouts on the ellipitcal or trying a different exercise. Either way keeping a exercise program is important so find something you can do. If you havent had a regular exercise program until now, it wouldnt be surprising to have some pains and fatigue in the legs. Progress slowly and overtime it should go away.

good luck

[rayg]

i had the same blockage. i had about 12 caths in 2 years. if theres a lump you should get it checked. a big lump is bad. i took the same medicine and after the frist blockage i had 4 other stents and a double bypass. look after yourself, i block up alot and now trying to find laser angioplasty for a blockage in the septum. anyone know of a good place in maryland for laser treatment since the doctor dont want to open it with a stent???

[rayg]

check out blockage with no important from me i am 54 also

[chrisr]

Could you explain what is laser angioplasty. Never heard of it but interested to know what is it and how its done.
Thanks.
ChrisR

[Quent]

Thanks for your response.
Yes, so far my progress has been good since my heart attack.  It was a "silent" heart attack.  I awakened in the morning feeling nauseated and having a "heavy" feeling in my chest.  Because of the nausea I decided to drink some ginger tea, and my wife suggested that I take two baby aspirins--which probably helped to save my life.  I went in to the medical clinic and they did an EKG--nothing obvious showed up on the report.  But my doctor advised that I have further tests done because the symptoms sounded heart-related.  When they checked the co-enzyme levels (taraponins)in my blood it came back at .79 and the normal level is .05, so they told me that I had a heart attack.  When they did the angiogram they pinpointed the blockage and inserted the stent.
I've really been watching my diet.  Lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, and other low fat foods.  I've lost around 10 pounds (down to 165 lbs.) just from eating right and getting exercise.
I have an office job and spend most of the day sitting on a chair, so that is why exercise is really important to me.
I will definitely take your advise and see a physician about the pain.  I do agree that elliptical machine works different muscles and am hopeful that the pain will subside over time with the combination of healing and building muscle strength.

[rayg]

laser angio is like a cath instead of stenting or angio they use a laser to remove the plaque that has built up in the artery. they say its a better way to go so i am with my doctor in finding the closet place to go. thats what he now recommends. i see the university of maryland offers it. i have called for appointment to have this done. i am tired of the pain and discomfort. good luck to you.

[Quent]

Yes, I am wondering if this elliptical is the right thing for me to be using.  Even at the resistance level 1 (lowest setting) and not pushing hard my heart rate is up to 130 bpm and it stays there.  My "target heart rate" (approx. 220 minus age) is around 166 and from what I understand I should maintain around 60% to 70% of that which would be 100 to 115 bpm during exercise.
It would probably be better to go a steady 115 bpm (i.e. on a treadmill) for 30 minutes than 130 bpm for 5 minutes on the elliptical.
OK, that does it.  I'm going to check in with my doctor and get their recommendation.

[Jimmer]

I am post single bypass(very minor) and ascending aorta/valve replacement 5 weeks. Serious marathon/ultra runner 66 yrs old. Had pvc,s found AA, thank you very much. Here are my questions:
1. Why am I having trouble running more than 5(5-5.5 mi/hr) mins, at 145 bpm, at a time? Need 1 min. walk then able to resume for a total of 5 miles in 65 mins.Feel upper chest sensation, irrregular beats no pain.
2. Is there myocardial sensitivity post surgery that will subside?
3.Why do I feel irregular beats at rest and in bed then they smooth out?
4.Is anyone else experiencing this?
5.Is there a post exercise program to follow? How long before continous running is possible?

Need your experience!!!!!!

    

[foobar]

I had a quadruple Jul 05.  Step aerobics soon after release, but in the 4th week my heart rate jumped to 160+ during the cool down.  Two other episodes (treadmill) where my heart "ran away".  This made exercising rather scarey. I'm now up to walking 30 minutes a day with no problems, so I'm hoping things have settled down.
  Loud heartbeat when I first lay down - then quiet when relaxed.  Maybe I'd never noticed that before, or maybe its different now.  Recently problems with panic attacks - had them years before, but not many in the last 10.  Point is, a major surgery will shake up your life a bit.  I've seen elsewhere: do exercise, don't overdo it, progressively build up.  So I'd recommend you start where you're comfortable and gradually increase rather than worry about not being where you were before. Give yourself a while to get back in shape (like maybe a year).

Check with your doc on arrythmias, may be surgery or medication-related, too much caffeine, or even too much worry.
No such thing as a minor bypass - still a big deal to your body.