Joseph's Heart Valve Journal

Was wondering if anyone had done the P90X Exercise Routine After having Valve Replacement. Some people at work are raving about the workout and was looking to try it. Appreciate any thoughts.

Joe

Thought I would share how I celebrated hitting the 1 year mark, and feeling fully back to normal.

I had a 'bucket' list item to do bobsledding in Lake Placid for a number of years. When I was in the hospital last year, one of my buddies made me a deal, if I survived the surgery on the 1 year anniversary, he would take me to Lake Placid to try it.

I had a blast! Weather was minus 10, but was able to do both Skeltor and Bob Sledding. Nothing like seeing how a new valve performs that riding a small sled down a 1 mile track at 60 mph!

I wanted to give everyone an update on my progress. I saw my Cardiologist and Surgeon recently for my 1 year checkup. Both thought everything looked great and that I was back to normal. Echo, X-Rays, and other images all showed heart was working normally with good refraction rate. My heart rate was good as was blood pressure. Overall the consensus was I was back to normal and could go off and do everything I used to, in fact was told to push myself a lot more exercising!

The testing showed a tendency to quickly jump up in heart-rate when exerting myself, but this was offset by how quickly my heart-rate plateaued and dropped. Both the surgeon and cardiologist felt this was just my bodies way of adjusting to the valve and was not something to be concerned about. They also felt that this would lessen over time and with more intense exercise.

The last year has been an incredible journey, and very glad to have the support of family, friends and the people I have met here. Thanks to Adam for putting this site together, and to the community for encouragement and tips before, during and post surgery.

Joe

Saw my Cardiologist for checkup this week, and he was concerned about my heart rate being too high. He is going to monitor for a 24 hr period, and decide about how to handle it (increase the drug I am on, or switch to a new one).

Unfortunately he curtailed increasing my activity level or starting rehab, until that is resolved. I also reduced my caffeine intake (mainly chocolate and ice tea) to see if that would help to reduce my number.

On the plus side, he thought the heart sounded great, and ekg results looked good.

It looks like some of my internal stitches (I didnt know I had any) are coming out thru the scar. The incision was glued on the outside, so not sure where these are coming from. I am checking with the hospital to see if this is normal or an issue. No pain associated with it, but looks a bit scary to see several threads poking out through my scar.

Something that might help recent patients. I started doing some Tai Chi at home a few weeks after surgery, and found that seemed to ease some of the chest pain. It is very gentle movements, so no concerns about over excursion. Doctor said Yoga was not a good idea (yet), but Tai Chi sounded fine.