Stephen Berry - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

658 days ago

Subject: Unable to return to running after mitral valve repair

I am 67 years old and underwent a successful mitral valve repair 9 months ...Read more

Subject: Unable to return to running after mitral valve repair

I am 67 years old and underwent a successful mitral valve repair 9 months ago for severe regurgitation. I have recovered very well and am back to doing my pre-surgery level of pushups, pull ups and abdominal exercises. I can do any work around the house that I want and my Fitbit tells me I walk between 5 and 8 miles every day. My problem is that I still quickly get short of breath going up more than 2 flights of stairs and have been unable to return to running. I have been a runner for almost 50 years including doing 7 marathons. I was running my usual 6 to 8 miles, 3 times a week, 6 months before surgery. Now I can only slowly run 1 mile before I have to walk due to dyspnea. I do continue with walk-jog for a total of 3 miles, 3 times a week, but barely see any improvement over the last several months. I have gone through cardiac rehab without any help with this. All cardiac tests including echo-cardiogram are normal. Both my cardiac surgeon and cardiologist thought I could return to hard running and mountain climbing after surgery, but that seems hard to imagine now. Any body with similar experiences or any advice?

Thank you,

Stephen

Rita Savelis After having 2 valves replaced and one repaired 7 years ago I still get out of breath on stairs and i ... Read more

Rita Savelis After having 2 valves replaced and one repaired 7 years ago I still get out of breath on stairs and if I walk quickly. I continue to be very active and take dance classes but my endurance is not what it used to be. My heart is perfect in all exams, but I do have some liquid in my lung linings (pleural effusion) which is almost always there and doesn't allow me to get as deep breaths as I used to. It's very very difficult for a runner or someone in as good shape as you to find that after OHS they can't do all they want to do for an extended time. But 9 months is still very very early and your body is still healing. I would keep at it and see if you don't slowly improve. Being athletic you expect more from your body but it may need more time. Keep running and walking when you can't run. Take care.

Richard Munson Just curious if you tried a stress test to check your heart during exercise. I guess its possible tha ... Read more

Richard Munson Just curious if you tried a stress test to check your heart during exercise. I guess its possible that returning to such a grueling schedule may take more time or may never be attained. Being involved in athletics my entire life and having my share of injuries and surgeries along the way ( mostly knees), that once i reached my 60’s, bouncing back became more of an issue. 70’s even worse and now at 80 returning to pre mitral valve surgery workouts are a thing of the past. Am i way better than most of my buddies in the same age bracket, yes, but my young stud days are over. My heart feels better than my knees however. Maybe i dialed back my expectations a little.

James Hall My best advice would be stop doing all that exercise !!

stephanie arnold this sure gives me some insight. yes, steven, 9 months is still a short time post op. i had the same ... Read more

stephanie arnold this sure gives me some insight. yes, steven, 9 months is still a short time post op. i had the same feeling, expecting normal, quick recovery. my athletic self ,bike riding, outdoor hard work, saved my butt,but it still has taken 2 years to be sorta normal. i ride my bike regularly, which feels so good..fun and cardio. but just now finding my repaired mitral valve is not 100% spooks me,too. 78 yrs going on 40..but, gee, when is it oldness and when is it a heart problem with my rebuilt heart?

Deena Elani It’s one thing to be more tired at only 9 months. I am more tired after exercise at 16 months and ... Read more

Deena Elani It’s one thing to be more tired at only 9 months. I am more tired after exercise at 16 months and just turned 65. But being out of breathe is a different situation. I think Richard’s idea of a stress test is sound. Cant hurt!

Richard Munson I’ll lend him shadow for a weekend. True test of whether your valve is working.

Stephen Berry Oh my goodness. Thank you so much everyone for your experience and advice...even the humorous one t... Read more

Stephen Berry Oh my goodness. Thank you so much everyone for your experience and advice...even the humorous one to stop doing all that exercise.

I feel much better and supported after reading your responses.

I did have a stress test that was normal. I think I just need to be a patient patient. And if I am honest, the running is a little better now than it was 2 months ago. My heart rate and breathing recover quicker after I have to stop running and walk for a bit, then start running again. I will continue to follow my cardiologist's recommendation and not give up...might take another year. And it is OK if I don't get a whole lot more back for running and mountain climbing. I am grateful for feeling so good now.

Thank you,

Stephen

stephanie arnold

You will be fine Stephen, sometimes it takes time to get back to normal. You have the right attitude ... Read more

You will be fine Stephen, sometimes it takes time to get back to normal. You have the right attitude and just take it one day at a time. Running and mountain climbing has not been my thing but I do walk and use the Gubii. I think you are doing great. Welcome to our site. Yes, Richard just can’t help himself but we love his humor. Keep writing heart warrior and God bless you 🙏❤️

Thomas Brusstar I’m 4 years post mitral valve repair. I had an echo last month and my valve does not leak, so that ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar I’m 4 years post mitral valve repair. I had an echo last month and my valve does not leak, so that’s good. I am experiencing shortness of breath, especially on stairs, and I do think the severe regurgitation period before surgery created lung damage. A recent chest CT (looking for other things) showed little pockets of damages to lungs (I guess like mini collapse of individual bits of the lung, sorry, I’m. It an expert yet). There is some pulmonary hypertension noted coming from the right side of the heart, and some enlargement on the right side, which is new. I am not sure why my lungs are causing trouble. The testing has just begun and I’m reading narrative reports before I talk with the doctor. I don’t like the pulmonary hypertension finding, as I think that causes more lung damage.I don’t think anybody really worries about lung damage stemming from the period of mitral valve failure before repair, because there is nothing really to do about it. But it seems like my shortness of breath is getting worse. Does anybody else have experience with lung damage, and is there anything they do about it?

Iggy I Hi, I was 32 and used to alternate between running and swimming every other day, excellent shape. I'v ... Read more

Iggy I Hi, I was 32 and used to alternate between running and swimming every other day, excellent shape. I've never gotten back to the pre-op levels of endurance. Sometimes its just what it is. I'm grateful for what I've got.