We have both cardio and pulmonary patients in our rehab class. The cardiac patients have to be monitored with heart rate monitors, they have me on pulmonary rehab where they check our blood pressure and oxygen levels before and after each activity we do. When on the treadmill I have a heart rate and oxygen level finger monitor that I can see the whole time. If I try interval exercises they keep a tech with me to check my blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels immediately afterward. I tend to recover quickly with my oxygen level but it takes extra time for my heart rate to go back under 100 when finished with full workout. But that seems to be normal for me. They did have me on a heart monitor for a couple of weeks just to be sure since I do have non-obstructive coronary artery disease because my blood pressure was going high, found out with the monitor it was me going back onto my immunosuppressant that I had been off of for almost 7 months, just needed to start more slowly. Cardio/Pulmonary rehab does help if you can get access to it!!

Sounds like you've got a great team and treatment in place

On thunderbird? I heard their program was different than at the University Hospital.

Heather, if you're responding to my post it's Banner North (NCMC). The Drs. are very good and have ph specialty clinics. Other than cardiology staff I think some of the Banner support staff are less polished. My general and other specialties are with UC Health .

What location of Banner did you go to? My experience at Banner was at University Hospital off of 9th Street. My experience was the opposite of yours! Lots of breathing and stretching, one on one, flexible scheduling!