Stephen Berry - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

12 days ago

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7/5/25 Update:

It is now almost 4 years since my mitral valve repair. Just wanted to share that my aerobic endurance continues to very, very ...Read more

7/5/25 Update:

It is now almost 4 years since my mitral valve repair. Just wanted to share that my aerobic endurance continues to very, very slowly improve each year. I can now do fairly vigorous hiking and can bicycle up steep hills. My cardiologist thinks it may just take a very long time to get back to the high level of physical activity I could to before my diagnosis and surgery.

Of possible interest, I stopped taking daily mini aspirin (with the approval of my cardiologist and primary care doctors) 6 months ago. Within 2 months I felt so much better.... much more energy, less shortness of breath, and more ability to tolerate vigorous exercise. It is possible I may have had micro bleeding. Might be something to talk with your health care provider if you are having difficulty returning to pre surgery activity levels.

Best wishes to all fellow heart valve folks and thanks to Adam for creating this helpful site.

Stephen

J Alexander Lassally Which cardiologist are you seeing in Seattle? I am currently at UW and keeping an eye on great recom ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Which cardiologist are you seeing in Seattle? I am currently at UW and keeping an eye on great recommendations.

Stephen Berry My cardiologist is Dr. Tina Shah at Kaiser Seattle Capitol Hill. She is outstanding. Clinically ski ... Read more

Stephen Berry My cardiologist is Dr. Tina Shah at Kaiser Seattle Capitol Hill. She is outstanding. Clinically skilled and also friendly and compassionate.

J Alexander Lassally Thank you ! I've yet to find a cardiologist in Seattle who has that combo...

J Alexander Lassally appreciate your comments about slow progress. I definitely feel like I only make slow progress with m ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally appreciate your comments about slow progress. I definitely feel like I only make slow progress with more rigorous activity. Tried inline skating and biking again this summer ! It is an exercise in humility and patience for sure. happy summer

Robert Miller I haven't heard of mini aspirins having such side effects but that doesn't mean it cannot. At some po ... Read more

Robert Miller I haven't heard of mini aspirins having such side effects but that doesn't mean it cannot. At some point I was on mini aspirin and Xeralto. The bruising is a bit a pain. Well, not literarily because I usually don't feel a thing but just see the blue and black spots. I think it was about half a year after surgery when I walked 14 miles with probably a height difference of about 5,000 feet up and another 5,000 down, which was hard on my knees. The meds didn't seem to affect me but then again, I wasn't doing a triathlon.

John Cook That’s really interesting. I’m just barely hitting my 5 week post-op and I can’t get my heart ... Read more

John Cook That’s really interesting. I’m just barely hitting my 5 week post-op and I can’t get my heart rate much over 100bpm yet without getting out of breath.

My surgeon took me off aspirin right after surgery. I think it might be because something else I’m on is making me slightly anemic.

Stephen Berry It is hard to be a "patient" patient, but that is the best advice I can give other than not giving u... Read more

Stephen Berry It is hard to be a "patient" patient, but that is the best advice I can give other than not giving up. We are all different and will progress at different paces. I was honestly depressed one and two years after surgery at my poor aerobic ability. But I listened to my cardiologist and kept pushing the aerobic exercise. Finally, I am seeing some significant improvement at almost 4 years out. Don't give up and try to be hopeful.

Robert Miller @John Cook, the heart rate can be higher after surgery but I don't think it should be 100bpm 5 weeks ... Read more

Robert Miller @John Cook, the heart rate can be higher after surgery but I don't think it should be 100bpm 5 weeks after surgery. Are you measuring it at rest? Also do you have Afib? Afib can throw off some heart monitors. I somewhat frequently take my heartrate on my throat when I don't believe the monitor. Though my Karia 6L does a pretty good job.

John Cook When I’m hitting over 100bpm, it’s on hills during my daily walks.

My resting heart rate i ... Read more

John Cook When I’m hitting over 100bpm, it’s on hills during my daily walks.

My resting heart rate is in the mid-60s to mid-70s. Generally when it’s lower on that range, I’m having better days. I’m still amazed my resting heart rate is that high because it was in the mid-50s pre-surgery and I was on almost 1/10th the betablocker dosage.

John Cook I should also mention I have not had afib. I did have v-tach when I was still in the hospital and my ... Read more

John Cook I should also mention I have not had afib. I did have v-tach when I was still in the hospital and my electrolytes dropped too low.

Stephen Berry My HR was also elevated for several months after mitral valve repair surgery. My surgeon said this w ... Read more

Stephen Berry My HR was also elevated for several months after mitral valve repair surgery. My surgeon said this was normal and would improve. Sure enough, I am back to my low pre surgery HR now. I recommend talking with your surgeon or cardiologist about this, if you have not already done so. Best wishes.

Robert Miller I think you are doing fine. A heart rate in the mid 60s to mid 70s during rest is fine. It's my exper ... Read more

Robert Miller I think you are doing fine. A heart rate in the mid 60s to mid 70s during rest is fine. It's my experience that it can increase a bit after hear surgery. So if you were in the mid 50s before and now are in the mid 60s, I think you are doing ok. But check with your cardiologist.

John Cook I’m not too worried about the resting heart rate, although I have noticed I feel worse when my watc ... Read more

John Cook I’m not too worried about the resting heart rate, although I have noticed I feel worse when my watch tells me it’s in the mid-70s vs mid-60s.

I am going to talk to them at my 5-week appointment tomorrow about the feeling I get when I walk up hills and it gets up around 105bpm.

Robert Miller My Samsung Galaxy watch always gives me wrong measurements. It only gives accurate measurements when ... Read more

Robert Miller My Samsung Galaxy watch always gives me wrong measurements. It only gives accurate measurements when doing an EKG but both the Apple and Samsung watches are bad when it comes to accurate measurements without using an EKG. In any case, a resting heart rate of 60-70 isn't bad. 105 going up hills seems low. When I exercise I easily go up to 130+ or so. It drops very quickly after I stop, though. So climbing up a hill and have a 105bpm sounds pretty reasonable. But as always, you might want to discuss with cardiologist.

Stephen Berryposted a journal

1104 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 Z 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 Z 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.