Hi there!

I recently received an email asking me whether or not I had a link for an aortic valve surgery video. It turns out that there are several heart valve surgery videos up on the Internet. In fact, I recently started a category in this blog (on the right) so that future patients and caregivers can watch all the videos I find.

That said, I will place a few more links, in addition to the link for the aortic valve surgery video (below), in the days to come.

I hope this helps!

Aortic Valve Surgery Video

Keep on tickin!

Heart Valves and Weight Lifting, Jogging, Exercise – Before And After Surgery

Hi everyone,

I just received an interesting email from Luis Ayala that I thought I would share with you. Luis raises a very interesting question about heart valves and exercise.

So, without further ado, here is Luis’ question:

EMAIL QUESTION FROM LUIS AYALA:

“The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery is a great book and I really appreciate you putting it together. I am 33 and was recently diagnosed with a defective aortic valve and an enlarged left ventricle. Currently, my cardiologist has suggested monitoring with an echo every 6 months. I am very active and love lifting weights and jogging. The cardiologist has asked me to lift weights for higher reps as oppossed to heavy weight and low reps. However, as I’ve read articles on the web, there are studies that say no weightlifting should be done at all! I am getting a second opinion but was wondering if you were familiar with any information on the web or articles regarding exercise activity when diagnosed with valve insufficiency?”

ADAM PICK (AUTHOR OF THE PATIENT’S GUIDE TO HEART VALVE SURGERY) RESPONSE:

Hi Luis,

Thanks for writing. And, thanks for the kind words about the book.

Hmmmm. That’s a great question….

As I wrote in my book, I went from diagnosis right into aortic valve replacement surgery (eight weeks later) given the severity of my bicuspid aortic valve. So, I didn’t really have the time to determine an alternative approach to exercise given my valve defect.

But, I can tell you that your cardiologist gave similar advice to my surgeon, Dr. Vaughn Starnes.

Dr. Starnes told me that lifting heavy weights puts additional strain on the valves, which over a long period of time could be problematic – both before and after surgery. That said, Dr. Starnes told me to lift for tone (repetition) not for muscle build-up.

I’ve taken his advice to heart (pun intended).

Jogging, however, should not be an issue. In fact, there are several stories of patients, like Jarret Roberts who had bicuspid aortic valve replacement, that went onto run marathons after surgery. Stories, like these, are amazing and found in the new revision to my book.

However, one of the most incredible stories about exercise following heart valve surgery is Veronika Meyer. Veronika Meyer recently climbed Mount Everest after heart valve replacement (click here to read Veronika Meyer’s story).

Also, just be safe…Stay on top of your echos. Get one every 6 months to make sure that there are no sudden shifts in blood flow through the valve.

As for me, my passion post-surgery is surfing. To read about my return to surfing in the Pacific Ocean after double heart valve surgery, click here.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

Hi everyone,

Earlier this year, Michelle Browning downloaded my book, The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, to help her and her husband better manage the heart valve surgery process. Since then, Taylor, Michelle and I have kept in touch. It has been amazing listening to Taylor as he proceeded through the operation. Actually, it’s been quite inspirational. Every few weeks, Taylor would send out email updates documenting his progress and his humor.

Well, the other day I received the note below. With his permission, I am publishing it here in this blog for you to read and reflect upon his amazing attitude and perspective specific to heart valve surgery.

Keep on Tickin! Adam

HERE IS THE FINAL EMAIL REPORT FROM TAYLOR 12 WEEKS AFTER HEART VALVE SURGERY:

Wow! What a journey! Although it feels like both yesterday and forever ago, it actually was twelve weeks ago that I was trying to fall asleep wondering what my “pre-op” appointments the next day would be like. In the back of my mind, I think I was also wondering when this would all be over! Now I know – It’s tomorrow and I’m going back to work!

After getting through the initial shock and a little bit of fear, I came to realize that this was an amazing and awesome experience. There’s nothing like a small dose of mortality to remind you to never take for granted an amazing wife, an amazing family and amazing groups of friends! Thanks to you all! And never underestimate the power of positive thinking and a world-class medical team. They help too!

Now that I’m feeling pretty darn close to my old self (with a better aortic valve and ascending aorta of course) I’m just looking forward to getting back to normal. But I plan on renewing my focus on two things I was reminded of during this experience: Enjoy every single day and don’t sweat the small stuff!

Taylor

I recently received a question from Roger Sudbeck about heart rates after heart valve surgery. Roger recently had open heart, valve surgery and noticed that his heart rate was still elevated several weeks following his procedure. FYI, Roger had aortic valve replacement in Lincoln, Nebraska by Dr. Ed Raines.

HERE IS ROGER’S QUESTION:

I want to know if you experienced an elevated heart rate post op. I am sure you have seen my posts indicating that I am running higher than pre op normal which was about 60. Now it seems I am running at about 80 to 90 which feels strange. I am just curious if you experience that as well and if so, how long did it take to come down? Also, did Dr. Starnes have you on BP med post op or a Beta blocker?

HERE IS MY RESPONSE:

Thanks Rog. And, it’s a great set of question about heart rates following heart valve surgeries – repairs and replacements for mitral valves, aortic valves, pulmonary valve, and tricuspids.

FYI, my heart rate has always been high but, like you, it spiked considerably following my aortic valve replacement.

However, it has come down a decent amount since the surgery. So, be assured that what you are experiencing is normal. No need to get worried. While I do not have any scientific data to share with you. I have spoke with several patients about this. In fact, in the new printing of my book, there is a survey of 75 former patients about many issues of the heart valve surgery process – from diagnosis through recovery. The survey results are fascinating.

That said, it’s interesting to watch the heart rate decline, over time, both at
rest and during exercise.

Actually, it’s amazing to watch.

I monitor my heart rate primarily when I’m riding the bike. (I think it would quite hard to do when I’m surfing… )

When I started cardiac rehab, my heart rate would rocket to 160 at
the slightest increase in tension on the wheel. The nurses at Torrance Memorial Cardiac Rehab were very sensitive about not pushing the heart too quickly following my Ross Procedure.

Now, however, I’m fifteen months post-op and I’m peddling away at level 11 with my heart rate hovering just over 170. I even pushed it the other day and got above 180.

I guess my point is your brain and body are still coming together, still integrating, still healing. In time, I believe you will see a drop.

Plus, I think you are only post-op 40 days or so, right? Give it
some time.

So you know, although I considered my physical recovery complete when I surfed in February, I still have a tough day here and a tough day there.

I still listen to my heart with a stethescope every once in a while. Maybe I’m crazy. Or, maybe I’m still mentally healing from open heart surgery.

I hope that helps.

Keep on tickin!

Adam

CHUCK NOLAN FROM GEORGIA WRITES IN…

Adam,

I read and enjoyed your book last month. Since then, I decided to have a heart valve replacement with a Medtronic stentless valve implanted on Feb 28th by Dr Ed Chen at Emory U hospital in Atlanta…..along with a section of my dilated aorta….5 weeks today. I decided against the RP mostly because I am 54 yrs old, but would have gone Ross Procedure if I were younger.

I have some questions for you. I got off the pain meds quickly but, I am having problems sleeping….Any suggestions? Also, I am on Toprol XL 100 Mg 1xday….not a big deal, but I have noticed that I am very fatigued for several hours during the day and seem to perk up late afternoon or early evening, so I’m wondering if the Toprol could be the culprit….any thoughts?

Chuck

ADAM’S RESPONSE TO CHUCK:

Chuck,

Nice to hear from you! Glad to hear you enjoyed The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. And, congrats on your procedure and the quick departure from pain meds.

You raise a great question about sleep. I had serious problems with that as well. As you might recall, I needed Halcion to get me through the night for the first 6 weeks. I don’t suggest going that route. Any dependent pill behavior can trigger or compound cardiac depression.

Instead, I would suggest that you try to tire yourself out during the day so that you sleep at night.

I know you might be thinking, “Tire myself? But, I’m fatigued during the day?”

This is the problem with the first few weeks for some patients… You’re fatigued in the day but can not sleep at night.

That said, you need to push through the fatigue, avoid napping, and get back to your old routine pre-surgery. As I know and you know, that is much easier said than done. But, it will work! (I have to thank Nurse Chris from Dr. Vaughn Starnes office for this therapeutic guidance. )

So that you know, the “fatigue” you reference is very common. I was fatigued for the first eight months following my Ross Procedure. And, I was not on Toprol

Keep on Tickin!

Adam