As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance.”
I think you will equal, or exceed, your pre-surgery performance......that's why we go to all the trouble getting the problem fixed LOL.
As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance.”
Well, in addition to not dying quite so soon...that's why we go to all the trouble getting the problem fixed LOL
April (will be 68) will be 11 yrs since my AVR with Edwards Bovine Pericardial Valve. Have been playing competitive racquetball and pickleball, mountain climbing and hiking every year and many other recreational activities. Just had my yearly echo and all is good, starting to slow down some but I think its due to age and body jointsHi all - I'm 49 and 5 weeks post AVR and aortic aneurysm replacement (Bentall procedure) surgery and recovering well. Prior to surgery, I was in strong cardiovascular shape, primarily as a recreational road cyclist. I rode 25 miles two days before surgery and had ridden over 100 miles in a MS Society fundraiser weekend ride just two weeks prior. Anyway, point is, my resting heart rate was consistently in the low 60s prior to surgery. Professional athletes have a resting HR in the 40-60 range, so I wasn't at that level, but still....in good shape. Since surgery, I've noticed a much higher resting HR. I've been monitoring resting heart rate and it's been in the upper 70s since surgery. So, I've gone from a pre-surgery average around 61 to post-surgery around 76. When I asked my surgeon and NP about this, they assured me it was a normal change due to my surgery and the heart reacting to that trauma. Fair enough, but....the NP said, "it will come down, but it may never get back down to your pre-surgery level".
She didn't offer an explanation for that statement, so I'm curious if others here have experience or know - is it possible I will simply never get back into the same cardiovascular shape I was in pre-surgery? If so, I'm curious why. In my simple mind, I've gone from an extremely leaky and inefficient native bi-cuspid valve to a very efficient (albeit bio-prosthetic) aortic valve and root. As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance. Thanks!
A little OT but it's good to find kindred spirits. Sounds like something I would do before heart surgery but to a lesser extent since I'm almost 71. I'm glad to have found this group.Hi all - I'm 49 and 5 weeks post AVR and aortic aneurysm replacement (Bentall procedure) surgery and recovering well. Prior to surgery, I was in strong cardiovascular shape, primarily as a recreational road cyclist. I rode 25 miles two days before surgery and had ridden over 100 miles in a MS Society fundraiser weekend ride just two weeks prior.
Thanks Gloria - I feel incredibly blessed to have led such an active lifestyle with this birth defect/disease, and even more blessed to have come through my 10/25 BAVR / Bentall procedure as well as I have. I should be back on the bike soon. It’s actually weather, not my heart, keeping me on the peloton in the basement for now.A little OT but it's good to find kindred spirits. Sounds like something I would do before heart surgery but to a lesser extent since I'm almost 71. I'm glad to have found this group.
Sounds about right.The first 80% of the OHS recovery happens in the first 3 months or so. But then you know that the last 20% takes 80% of the time.
the only thing I'd add is that depending on your age pre-surgery you may indeed uncover that you were capped before surgery by the illnessThe first 80% of the OHS recovery happens in the first 3 months or so. But then you know that the last 20% takes 80% of the time.
Notwithstanding the resting heart rate, how are you feeling, and how is your fitness compared to before surgery? That's what matters!Mine never returned to pre-survey levels. Surgery was over 2 years ago. I was 58bpm prior to surgery. I’m averaging 66-68bpm now.
Notwithstanding the resting heart rate, how are you feeling, and how is your fitness compared to before surgery? That's what matters!
one of the things I often say is that a mechanical valve gives you a useful amplification of your knowledge of your heart beat. Its like having a clear bio-feedback indicator built right in without the need to carry around or wear additional equipment.Can’t do that anymore or else the heart has PVCs and enters into a super thumpy mode with about 10 extra BPM. I get exhausted for about a week or two until I recover.
I’ve gotten out of the habit of checking it regularly. It’s a good reminder to be doing that more often.@HokieHaden, how's your resting heart rate doing?
It took about a year for mine to return to pre-surgery levels. Mine was 54 before surgery, up to 62 for the first months after surgery, drifted down to 56 at six months, and back to 54 a year later.
Hi , All I can say is what my progress is since getting home on the 26th July 2024 . 2/3 days after getting home I started my recovery, 30 minutes a day on a treadmill, 3mph 12 incline not letting my heart rate go much above 100bpm . I wear a Polar heart monitor and keep an on my heart rate . I took a vo2 max a couple of weeks ago and it was moderate, after 3.5 weeks it’s at good . I’m having to increase incline and speed to keep heart rate at around 100bmp so I know what I’m doing is definitely making me fitter . My lung and breathing capacity has reduced since surgery but that’s the next thing I’m going to tackle . I too had a bicuspid valve which was replaced with a bio prosthetic inspiris model , I caught staph at a jiu jitsu gym , I’m 59 yrs old . I’d say the recovery process is a slow slog but from what I’ve been doing is making me feel stronger mentally and physically!Hi all - I'm 49 and 5 weeks post AVR and aortic aneurysm replacement (Bentall procedure) surgery and recovering well. Prior to surgery, I was in strong cardiovascular shape, primarily as a recreational road cyclist. I rode 25 miles two days before surgery and had ridden over 100 miles in a MS Society fundraiser weekend ride just two weeks prior. Anyway, point is, my resting heart rate was consistently in the low 60s prior to surgery. Professional athletes have a resting HR in the 40-60 range, so I wasn't at that level, but still....in good shape. Since surgery, I've noticed a much higher resting HR. I've been monitoring resting heart rate and it's been in the upper 70s since surgery. So, I've gone from a pre-surgery average around 61 to post-surgery around 76. When I asked my surgeon and NP about this, they assured me it was a normal change due to my surgery and the heart reacting to that trauma. Fair enough, but....the NP said, "it will come down, but it may never get back down to your pre-surgery level".
She didn't offer an explanation for that statement, so I'm curious if others here have experience or know - is it possible I will simply never get back into the same cardiovascular shape I was in pre-surgery? If so, I'm curious why. In my simple mind, I've gone from an extremely leaky and inefficient native bi-cuspid valve to a very efficient (albeit bio-prosthetic) aortic valve and root. As such, I was actually reasoning I might even see improved cardiovascular performance. Thanks!
"30 minutes a day on a treadmill" Super. Your breathing will come back when your chest heals!Hi , All I can say is what my progress is since getting home on the 26th July 2024 . 2/3 days after getting home I started my recovery, 30 minutes a day on a treadmill, 3mph 12 incline not letting my heart rate go much above 100bpm . I wear a Polar heart monitor and keep an on my heart rate . I took a vo2 max a couple of weeks ago and it was moderate, after 3.5 weeks it’s at good . I’m having to increase incline and speed to keep heart rate at around 100bmp so I know what I’m doing is definitely making me fitter . My lung and breathing capacity has reduced since surgery but that’s the next thing I’m going to tackle . I too had a bicuspid valve which was replaced with a bio prosthetic inspiris model , I caught staph at a jiu jitsu gym , I’m 59 yrs old . I’d say the recovery process is a slow slog but from what I’ve been doing is making me feel stronger mentally and physically!
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