Hello folks! I hope you can address a question I have. I decided to join a gym, and then wondered if it’s okay if I use weights—machines, not free weights—for ...Read more
Hello folks! I hope you can address a question I have. I decided to join a gym, and then wondered if it’s okay if I use weights—machines, not free weights—for strength training. I had aortic valve replacement and aortic root repair about a year and a half ago. Can the valve and repair withstand the pressure? I have this crazy thought that I will dislodge the valve! Many thanks!!
Robert Miller Talk to your doctor but basically for the first few weeks you need to take it easy. The rest of the r ... Read more
Robert Miller Talk to your doctor but basically for the first few weeks you need to take it easy. The rest of the recovery is mostly about the bones recovering. It's similar to having broken your a leg, arm, etc. 6 weeks for pretty much full recovery incl. lifting free weights. I was told 12 weeks for things that are really hard on your chest like golfing (which I don't do). As for a valve dislodging, I have never heard of anything like that.
Rose Madura Hi Cherie, I agree with Robert to ask your cardiologist. There were some guys on here a while back w ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi Cherie, I agree with Robert to ask your cardiologist. There were some guys on here a while back who lifted weights. Maybe they will see this and chime in.
Brady Busch My rehab,about two months after surgery,was using the treadmill.The technique was to get the heartbea ... Read more
Brady Busch My rehab,about two months after surgery,was using the treadmill.The technique was to get the heartbeat above 118 bpm,somewhere in the 130's,for about a half hour.Then lift light weights,5-10 lbs. That was done in a supervised situation,at a hospital.They want to get the heart working.I joined a gym afterwards and continued a similar thing. There are videos and photos online,showing the amount of sutures,holding a valve in place and there are a lot. My aortic valve was replaced and the mitral repaired.
Rita Savelis No worries Cherie. You won't "dislodge" your valve. Exercising is good for you! Keep at it. Take care ... Read more
Rita Savelis No worries Cherie. You won't "dislodge" your valve. Exercising is good for you! Keep at it. Take care.
Allen Carkner I've had a Ross aortic valve procedure about 6 months ago and my cardiologist essentially said I have ... Read more
Allen Carkner I've had a Ross aortic valve procedure about 6 months ago and my cardiologist essentially said I have no fitness restrictions but that "I shouldn't get into contact sports like boxing". But my surgeon recommends lighter weights higher reps in the 20-30 rep range for strength training simply to try to prolong the life of my pulmonary homograft and aortic autograft.
Cherie Fry Thank you all so much! This was really very helpful. I appreciate your taking the time to respond, an ... Read more
Cherie Fry Thank you all so much! This was really very helpful. I appreciate your taking the time to respond, and allay my concerns. Stay well, everyone! And again, my thanks!
A quick question. Ever since my aortic valve replacement in April 2022, I find that my hands shake a lot, especially my right hand. That was never an issue ...Read more
A quick question. Ever since my aortic valve replacement in April 2022, I find that my hands shake a lot, especially my right hand. That was never an issue before. Has anyone encountered this? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
Rita Savelis This may be related to some new meds you are now taking. I'd ask my doctor. Side effects are varied. ... Read more
Rita Savelis This may be related to some new meds you are now taking. I'd ask my doctor. Side effects are varied. Take care.
Marie Myers It is possible that the tremor is completely unrelated to the surgery. Have you consulted a neurologi ... Read more
Marie Myers It is possible that the tremor is completely unrelated to the surgery. Have you consulted a neurologist?
Cherie Fry Thank you, Rita and Marie. No new medications. I will be seeing a new family practice doctor in a cou ... Read more
Cherie Fry Thank you, Rita and Marie. No new medications. I will be seeing a new family practice doctor in a couple of months. I was going to talk with her about a neurology consultation. I’ll keep you posted.
Good morning! I have a medication question that I’m hoping someone may be able to help me with. I have a mechanical aortic valve, put in on April 1. I have ...Read more
Good morning! I have a medication question that I’m hoping someone may be able to help me with. I have a mechanical aortic valve, put in on April 1. I have been on metoprolol for since. A few weeks ago the doctor increased it to 100 mg from 50 mg to see if it would help muffle the clicking of the valve. It did help muffle the clicking noise. But it also created some swelling in my ankles, but that went away eventually. The problem that remains, and in fact has escalated, is breathlessness. I had some breathlessness on the 50 mg of metropolol, but on 100 mg I can’t make it across my very short parking lot at work without stopping several times to catch my breath. I called the office to see if I should reduce the dosage, and the staff there just told me to go to the ER. I do not have breathlessness when I am at rest; I don’t think I need an emergency room visit. Especially since we are crawling with Covid cases in my area. Will this breathlessness eventually abate on this 100 mg? Or do you think it ought to be reduced? I was just wondering if anyone had encountered this, and how you handled this. (I am an asthmatic. I used my rescue inhaler in order to work out last night. I had not worked out the 2 evenings prior because I didn’t want to deal w/the breathlessness.) Thank you!
Marie Myers I would speak to your doctor about the increased dosage of metoprolol. It is possible that you may n ... Read more
Marie Myers I would speak to your doctor about the increased dosage of metoprolol. It is possible that you may not tolerate the increased dose due to your asthma. Did the doc increase it simply to decrease the noise of the valve? The larger dose may not work for you. The older beta blockers had an adverse effect on asthma, but it might be that the 100 mg dose Is too much for you. Hope that helps!
Cherie Fry Yes, he increased the dosage to help decrease the noise of the valve. It helped with the noise, but t ... Read more
Cherie Fry Yes, he increased the dosage to help decrease the noise of the valve. It helped with the noise, but then breathlessness became more of an issue than it had been. I was thinking of decreasing the dosage on my own (back down to 50 mg) until I see him in a couple of weeks. And thank you for taking the time to respond!
I found this website a few weeks ago, and am glad I did. April 1st (yes, April Fool's Day!) I had to go in for an aortic valve replacement and aorta root repair. ...Read more
I found this website a few weeks ago, and am glad I did. April 1st (yes, April Fool's Day!) I had to go in for an aortic valve replacement and aorta root repair. The surgeon replaced my bicuspid aortic valve with a St Jude's mechanical valve. The surgery went well overall, but I had no idea what a struggle it would be to return to "normal." For some reason I expected a faster recovery, but then I'm always in a hurry....ha! The problem I'm really struggling with is the constant pounding in my chest and the clicking noise of the valve. I have to have music or the TV on to distract myself. Reading doesn't help because I can't concentrate on the words -- I read the same paragraph over and over before giving up in frustration. Is there anything else I can do to cope with this never-ending pounding/clicking (aside from the occasional Ativan!) and does this ever get better? How long before it gets better, if it even does? Quality of life is a big deal to me, and this has certainly impacted it. Help! Any suggestions??
Adam Pick Wow Cherie! You've been through a lot in a very short amount of time. I know what it's like to strug ... Read more
Adam Pick Wow Cherie! You've been through a lot in a very short amount of time. I know what it's like to struggle through the early recovery. Please take it easy. Try your best not to rush the need to feel normal. It does get better. As my wife told me when I was struggling with the early recovery, "Adam - You just need to hurry up and wait." She was right. Curious... Has anyone recommended cardiac rehabilitation to you?
Cherie Fry Great advice from your wife! I’m trying not to rush, but this breathlessness has really gotten to m ... Read more
Cherie Fry Great advice from your wife! I’m trying not to rush, but this breathlessness has really gotten to me. I did about 20 sessions of cardiac rehab, and was working out at home as well. At first I thought the rehab was torture, but then I began to make huge improvements. Even after I finished rehab, I continued to work out at home. Over the past couple of weeks that has become more difficult when previously it had been easier.
That was done in a supervised situation,at a hospital.They want to get the heart working.I joined a gym afterwards and continued a similar thing.
There are videos and photos online,showing the amount of sutures,holding a valve in place and there are a lot.
My aortic valve was replaced and the mitral repaired.