AVR this week

[kevin young]

I am new to this forum and I'm scheduled for AVR on 6/29/07. I have a bicuspid valve due to a congenital defect and have reached the point of severe regurgitation and am showing signs of strain on my heart.

My background is very active. I'm 36 y/o and have competed in numerous endurance events including 6 IM triathlons, 3 stand alone marathons and numerous road races and triathlons.

Any advice as the day approaches.

What to expect in the recovery process?

Anybody else here not only return to endurance sport but done an IM post surgery?

Also I'm 99% sold on going with the mechanical valve but I am hesitant due to going on coumadin and what it will mean to my life style.

These final days are nerve raking and any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome, Kevin. I'm glad you found us and hope you can get many of your questions answered here in the next few days. There are many active runners and other athletes in this forum- check out the active lifestyles section. Also you should be reading the sections on Coumadin and you will find posts on what to take to the hospital and how to prepare for homecoming. I will try to find and post those links for you. In the meantime, I have put you on our calendar and wish you the best. You will be fine- you are young and in good shape and will be back running again before you know it!

 

[Phyllis]

Here's a good thread on preparing for the hospital: http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13283&highlight=hospital+list

 

[Phyllis]

One more Kevin- hope these help: http://valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20975&highlight=expect+home

 

[Ross]

Kevin what sort of lifestyle changes were you expecting being on Coumadin? How would you feel if I told you that you don't have make any, only be somewhat fairly consistent with what you eat?

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17116

 

[geebee]

Welcome Kevin,

Lots of info here and Phyllis has given you some great links.

Not sure what you have heard about coumadin but you do not need to make any lifestyle changes unless you participate in something that might cause constant blows to the head without a helmet.

Based on the activities you mentioned, coumadin will not affect any of that if I understand the sports.

The only thing that needs to be considered with coumadin is that you have to go through a couple of things should you need major surgery but day to day there is nothing you cannot do or eat or use.

I wish you all the best and, if you have any other questions once you have read through the posts on the links, let us know.

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome to the VR community, Kevin. You've got lots of good info to sift through already so I'll leave it at that. Don't be shy about asking more questions if you need to. Best wishes. Glad you found us.

 

[Ross]

The only thing that needs to be considered with coumadin is that you have to go through a couple of things should you need major surgery but day to day there is nothing you cannot do or eat or use.

Well.........that's not entirely true. We should probably keep him away from Karlynn since she's throwing knives into herself, she might try for someone else.

 

[tprice54]

welcome

welcome

Kevin, I know some local Central New Yorkers who have returned to marathoning after valve replacement. I am looking forward to New York this November....10 months post op. I'll give a bit of advice...stay in as good a shape as you can pre op...it can make recovery easier. As stated check in to the active lifetsyles forum.

 

[Mary]

Kevin,
Try searching some threads over in the Active Lifestyles forum. There are a bunch of members, who have left thoughts of their valve replacement far behind, as they returned to endurance events.
Good luck on the 29th; we'll have a surgery thread up and running for you tomorrow.

 

[67walkon]

Kevin, good luck. I'm 20 years older than you and have been doing endurance type sports-running, basketball and lately biking-my whole life. They tell me I won't have any restrictions on my post surgery activities except no "heavy, heavy weight lifting", whatever that means.

I think a lot of us are goal oriented--that first 10 mile run was a goal, then the first 20 and the first marathon. Pre-surgery, I'm not quite as restricted as a lot of folks here, but I can't push myself and have to take it pretty easy.

I'm trying to focus on post surgery goals, with the thought that the first walk after surgery, the first mile walk, etc., are all going to get me closer to my goal. Just one little step at a time, and then you're there. Set a goal--the surgery is just the first step toward getting there, which makes it not quite so bad.

John

 

[Cooker]

Good luck with your surgery. This is a great place for information.

Cooker

 

[kevin young]

Thanks to everyone for all the great info and support.

I'm really glad I fund this forum.