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How can anyone who wears lycra and spandex bike shorts worry about what they look like in tights? At first, I was mildly embarrassed to go out in public like that, but there is no way you can ride any distances in comfort without real bike clothes. We are so spoiled here in Florida, especially...

Can I have your wheels? I went 25 today, just about 10 weeks after surgery.

Excellent discussion. It is different for everyone. I had no problems with the bed, chair, etc. For 8 weeks, I didn't put a bit of stress on my sternum. At 6 weeks, I started going to the gym and doing some light weights. By 8 weeks, I was able to do a regular weight workout, although with...

Check Nashbar or Performance Bike, both online merchants. If it isn't like freezing, you can get by with knee warmers, elbow warmers, a long sleeve tee shirt under your shirt or jersey and something on your head under your helmet. In South Florida, cold is anything under 60 or so. I make it...

10 weeks after my surgery, I did 20.9 miles on my bike today. So far, it is coming along better than I expected. They told me I could give the bike a try after 8 weeks. That first ride was 2 weeks ago today. I rode out for 15 minutes and back for 15 minutes, for about 7.5 miles. It felt...

Tina, I'm 10 weeks out from surgery tomorrow. I went back to work after 4 weeks. This week is the first week my dress shirts didn't irritate the incision scar. Wearing ties was awful because I had to button the shirt all the way up. When I wake up in the morning, the very top part of my scar...

Including the pre-surgery cath to make sure my coronary ateries were okay, and also including an extra 5 days in the local hospital when I got home from surgery, the bills are right at $200,000. That was for the valve, the aortic graft and a maze procedure. My out of pocket has been around...

Tina, I was riding the stationary bike at the gym for a few weeks and it was really boring. I couldn't get my HR up over about 85 on the stationary, because of the metatoprol they still have me on. Once I got on the real bike, it was much better. Your strength will come back really fast. I...

Eddie, you're killing me! 30 miles at 17 mph just 3 months after OHS is pretty impressive. However, it is incredible how quickly it comes back. I rode 4 days in a row after getting the surgeon's approval and each day was better than the day before. I took a day off and rode 14 miles...

Shelly, welcome. You should get your husband to read some of these posts. I'm 57 and very active. 2 months ago, I got a treated bovine valve. Based on my own research of medical journal articles and what I could find here, I'm guessing it should go over 20 years. It could need replacing...

Tina, I got on the stationary bike at a gym at 6 weeks. There was no sternum pain or discomfort. I got on my road bike last Saturday, 8 weeks after surgery. I think I would have been good to ride at 6 weeks. However, the surgeon told me the sternum isn't healed until 8 weeks, so I patiently...

Lyn, thank you for the documentation. The answer appears to be a 4 to 5 times greater mortality risk from head trauma as a result of being anticoagulated with wayfarin. That doesn't mean coumadin should stop you from doing things. If you are aware of the risk and take the precautions you...

Sounds like you would be very hard pressed to "overdo it". You're doing too well. If you take good care of your sternum, you should be back on the mountain bike at 8 weeks. They told me 8 weeks, and at 8 weeks and 1 day, I was on my road bike. It felt weird, but the only real discomfort I...

Part of my decision to have a tissue valve rather than a mechanical valve was coumadin. I understand what you guys are saying. I respect it. But, there is a risk of closed head injury from a header while bike riding. That risk is higher on coumadin than it is without coumadin. The risk of...

Mike, it won't be a big deal. You are prepared for it. I think the ones who freak out don't expect it. I knew from this forum that it would be there and it did not freak me out. You know it is there, but because you expect it to be there, it isn't a big shock. You will know to breath with...

Sweet ride, Mark! How many miles do you get in for a typical month? I got to dust my bike off just yesterday in honor of my 8 week anniversary from surgery. I went 7.5 yesterday and 9.5 today. Now, I need a nap! Mine is a Specialized Roubaix Pro carbon frame with 105 components. When I...

You've done your homework and well prepared. Congrats. If you've kept up on your biking and workouts, this will be a breeze for you. You will be amazed at how fast you recovery and how little pain you have. I had some complications and spent an extra 5 days in the local hospital after...

The surgeon said to wait 8 weeks before I rode or lifted anything, etc. Yesterday was 8 weeks and this morning I got on the bike! It went surprisingly well. I limited the time to 30 minutes, and actually went 33. It was tempting to go further, but I didn't. It seemed that my HR responded...

Dave, did they put you on the study med for kidney issues? When Dr. Beaver used his cleaver (rhymes, doesn't it?) on me, they asked me to participate in some trial of a med to help kidney function after OHS. I was #92 or 93 and they needed 100. It was a blind trial with a med or a placebo...

This side of the mountain is a wonderful place to be! You will be amazed at your progress. Just take it slow. After 6 weeks, I went back to the gym and started doing some lower body weights and even some curls. It's now in my 7th week and I've been sort of jogging a bit when I walk--it's...