rich's Journal

SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN BENEFITS OF ISOMETRIC EXERCISE
Dear fellow HVS community members, I recently read a post regarding resistance training exercise and the post asked about the community's experience with resistance training. The answers were diverse as we all have our own thoughts and experiences with various life situations after heart valve surgery.
Nine months ago I was introduced to isometric resistance exercise. It has been life changing and transformative. Besides the virtual elimination of mechanical joint stress from heavy weight lifting there were so many scientifically studied systemic benefits that I felt compelled to share with the community.
Isometric training lowers SYSTOLIC, DIASTOLIC and mean arterial pressure.
Isometric Exercise Training for Blood Pressure Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis - Mayo Clinic Proceedings
 The Mayo clinic did a study on this. Isometric training improves strength and function, maintaining muscle bulk (which diminishes with age and disuse), increase bone density and can help with weight management. Another beautiful benefit is the time factor. You can do a daily 10 minute workout in place of an hour at the gym with an absolute minimal risk for mechanical injury as opposed to weight training/running. You can do the isometrics at home with almost zero equipment required. It has been an incredible addition to my training and life. As heart surgery patients the maintenance of functional muscle and the blood pressure benefits are in itself a monumental benefit. Just a thought for the community in response to an earlier post.
Thank you all
Rich Monoson

Back stage getting ready to go out there. So grateful to be healthy with a wonderful surgical outcome. Now I only have the mitral valve to keep an eye on and hope to avoid surgery for awhile. Thank you HVS for all your support and sharing your experiences. Masters Class 60-69 Laughlin NV

Dear HVS sisters and brothers, I truly had a wonderful experience at Cedar Sinai Hospital and received a blessing of only needing an AVR only instead of a 2 valve surgery. The doctors, nurses, PA's, nurse assistants were truly sent from heaven. I never experienced such expert and tender care from people who love what they do. I hugged everyone I could catch up to while walking the hallway laps in the cardiac care unit. Its tough to express the emotion for the appreciation I had for them. This was an amazing experience that I can almost say I actually enjoyed. To have a perfectly functioning heart restored to me in a period of 5 days can almost feel like a miracle. Hyperbole aside, I know its a process that I've been so mentally prepared for. Walking a mile each day since I've been home Sunday, Monday and today has been easy and meditatively enjoyable. My first cup of expresso today was equally good! The post op PT exercises have also been helpful (DO THEM!, they are a must and help get things moving again). The sternal pain is minimal. The difficulty were the posterior rib attachments and laying in bed make it difficult to rest comfortably or sleep so I continued walk the halls and visit with station nurses. I never anticipated feeling this great 6 days post op. It feels essentially normal. Just a little grumpy because I'm not used to being so physically inactive but I'm going to "sort" of follow doctors orders. If anyone from Cedar Sinai reads this I truly want to express my love, appreciation, respect and deepest gratitude for your care, compassion, expertise and pride you take in what you do. I give Cedars a 10+. It was such a positive experience I'd love to go to med school specializing in cardiology if I wasn't such an old guy. The only complaint was that only 50% of the Stanley Cup Playoffs were not viewable on the TV system. To all you guys on this HVS site, THANK YOU for sharing you care, concern, fears, experiences and triumphs. I am proud and honored to be a member of this group. Anything I can ever do to help I'm all yours. With much love, Rich

I got the tap on the shoulder that it's time to get busy. Angiogram on the 19th with surgery to be scheduled shortly thereafter. The Aortic Insufficiency is severe and Mitral regurgitation is moderate to severe. My echo yesterday demonstrated an enlargement of the heart. Ironically, I have not felt this good (absence of all symptoms) for a long time. Thank you everyone in the HVS community for your open and compassionate sharing of your experiences and progress. Time to rock and roll!