Strength training as a heart failure patient
As the title states, I’m easing back into strength training. Nothing crazy- just at home Pilates and light weights sort of stuff.
I’m 29, 7 months postpartum, diagnosed in Dec with 10-15% EF. I feel a whole world better, due for a repeat echo in a few weeks, and I’ve always been an incredibly fit person, so it feels great to be doing this again.
I lost a lot of muscle in the pregnancy, so I’m somewhat starting from scratch. And the phrase ‘bigger before you get smaller’ is starting to apply, as I bloat somewhat as the muscle is recovering, adding some fluid weight. I’ve been approved to take creatine again, but I think I’ve put on a bit of fluid from that.
I’m also trying to manage my PMS fluid retention. Which I’ll end up probably needing a furosomide in a few days, as I have every month on the last few days of my cycle. Thanks hormones.
My question is, will the extra fluid from muscles be bad for my heart? And if I end up taking a fluid tablet (even if just for PMS), will that be bad for my muscle recovery?
When I was diagnosed I was very very worried I would have to completely change my active lifestyle but they assured me to listen to my body and that hopefully I’ll be able to get back to it.
But aside from that, they gave me a pamphlet about exercise that had only pictures of elderly people and encouraging at least half an hour of activity, and beyond that, I haven’t had much more advise. The advice has felt far more tailored to encourage activity over inactivity, whereas I had to completely stop everything I was doing, and build up slowly.
Does anyone else manage a fit lifestyle and have any advice?