Recent content by tjay

Yes, many world class athletes and champions were born with BAV. No hindrance to elite level athletic performance until it becomes an issue at "some point". As everyone knows, Arnold Schwarzenegger is another such athlete. I find it even more amazing considering what he did (bodybuilding...

This additional background helps a lot. Rest assured that many of us (myself included) experience some form of anxiety at some point (before or after surgery) for different reasons related to the state of our heart, and it impacts our daily life and not to mention physical activity. For...

I completely agree, and had similar experience. I was doing 5k around the same time, and then ran a couple of 10k races around 4 month mark. I was doing cardiac rehab too, but as I've stated in other responses above, most of my cardiovascular training and recovery was on my own. Sternum felt a...

hi 3mm, we're having a cordial discussion, not arguing of course. Thanks for saying that. I apologize too if I came across as such. For sure, everyone must pursue cardia rehab. You did, and I did too. I was just saying that trained individuals (like Jeff in this string) can (and probably often...

Do you have background in jogging/running, or this's the first time you're attempting it? If latter, congratulations. Running will do you good. If you only started running in Nov'24 or 2 months back, how would you know what to compare to, if you don't have prior performance metric (as far as HR...

I went thru the same thing and felt the same way Jeff is reporting, and I'm so glad I did. Not only I was able to get back to my pre-surgery state within 4-6 months, even my EF went back to 60% from 35%. I'm now 6.5 months post-op, and started lifting weights 2 weeks ago. So far, so good (with...

Cardiac rehab works around least common denominator :)... Doesn't work for people like Jeff very well. I did my own rehab and glad I did. I still went to the assigned cardiac rehab because they did good stretching exercises with lighter weights. But when I would try running on treadmill there...

Jeff, I think you're getting too worried for nothing :-) What I read is good stuff stuff in your post. For example, "ONLY 13 weeks or 3 months" and you're able to do what you were doing before surgery in terms of (longer) distance, even if at a bit slower pace. And you're not talking about walk...

Good job with your recovery. I'm now 6 months post-op (Bentall procedure with On-X mechanical valve) and have been enjoying running. You can review my previous post at the link below. Unlike your cardiologist, my surgeon actually urged me to resume running after 5-6 weeks. Cardiologist does not...

Well, I think you're fine especially if your cardiologist told you so. As far this paper you referenced: - looks like you would fall in Group II which is much-much-much better than Group III. - then this 2% difference in EF may be within the margin of error of this technique (radionuclide...

I do remember wheeled into the OR very well, and have fond memories of those moments :) Minutes before being wheeled into the OR, as I was getting prepped (shaving etc) in a bay nearby, anesthesiologist and his student/intern came over, introduced themselves and asked basic questions. I told...

65% and 62% in echo is the same. It's not a drop. Perhaps your cardiologist told you that. Echo results could be +/- 5%, depending on who does it, who reads it, etc etc. Looks like your Ejection Fraction is great, both at rest and at stress. Congratulations.

Point was that modern mechanical valves may have more tolerance than we probably assume. In any case, it wasn't too important to discuss here.

The paragraph above the one you tagged provided the context: Then I wonder what patients in the developing and underdeveloped world do in terms of INR management. They probably get mechanical valve (mostly), and I wonder if they are assigned INR management teams, home-meters or readily access...

I actually have no INR related concerns at this time. I was just responding to someone else's concerns/questions. I was trying to say that we may overthink INR at times, and tend to doubt our own prescribed or well researched numbers :) I'm cool with my own INR situation for now, and will seek...