Steven's Posts

Hi all, I am 4 months post aortic valve replacement and I just finished my 9 weeks of the Ornish Lifestyle program. For the program, I did need to make a great deal of changes to my diet and lifestyle but at the completion of the program my weight was done by 22 lbs. and my cholesterol dropped over 60 points. So all in all a big win. I really didn't think that I could go 100% to a plant based diet but I did and I continue to do so. I may loosen up some of the added oil and egg restrictions, but right now I intend to stick with it. We will see what comes during the colder months. I am going to continue with the maintenance program for at least a month to help me build up some strength in the chest. I am a little more comfortable with working with the medical team there to come up with a weight program versus someone at a local gym. Not that they couldn't help, but coming off surgery I just feel like I would want to work with a team that is focused on cardio rehab. Plus, I am still a bit nervous about getting my heart rate up too high. In the cardio program I do well and my heart rate and blood pressure stay low. But last week I was traveling and I tried a bit of running on the hotel treadmill and became a little unsure of myself so I stopped. Then yesterday I had a stress test and as soon as I got on there my blood pressure jumped up to 200/120 which is way higher than at rehab where it only would go to 130/80 or so. Has anyone else gotten nervous coming off surgery and starting to run or do things that elevate the heart rate? I did not think it would bother me so much but obviously it does. Thanks for reading and if anyone has any questions about the Ornish program just let me know I would be glad to talk to you about it. steve

It has been almost 2 months since my surgery and things are progressing well. I am walking about 4 or 5 miles at a time and averaging around 19 minutes per mile. A little slower than before the surgery but the doctors want me to keep my heart rate below 120. I still ache a little when I sneeze but nothing as bad as those first few weeks. In two weeks I will be starting the Cardio rehab program. I signed up the Ornish Intensive Cardiac Rehab program. This program meets for twice a week for 4 hours and the program lasts 9 weeks. It includes exercise, menu planning, stress management and group therapy. It also requires a plant based diet. (I am not sure how this Italian boy is going to give up meat but I am going to try.) I hope everyone is doing well and I will post updates about the program as it goes along. Thank you for all of your support these past few months. It really was helpful to talk with people that are going through the same ordeal.

I had my final meeting with the surgical PA yesterday. She asked me how I was doing and I told her I am walking about 3-4 miles a day and that I am starting Cardio rehab next week. She looked me over and gave me some discouraging news. I guess I should have expected it, I thought everything was going well. She told me I could go back to work soon. She told me I could go to July 9th if I wanted, but seeing as I am feeling well we set the date for June 11th. I am really getting used to the getting up when I want, doing what I want and napping whenever I feel like it. But I guess that is the next stage of my recovery.