Can someone go back to their normal activities after mitral valve repair surgery?

[AJC62]

Hi
I posted yesterday about my boyfriend who is going to need repair surgery. Right now he can't drink, exercise, have relations, drink coffee, etc. Has anyone else been informed by their doctor that they cannot have or do these things while they were on meds and before they had surgery? After surgery, were you able to go back to these things/activities?
Thanks,
AJC62

 

[hook]

I still have to take some meds, but I carry on like normal folks. Mind you the smokes and beer area thing of the distant past, but you can live a normal life with some modifications. I can not coment on the coffee and relations, but after I healed and got past the rythm issues I am back to two cups a day, and other things.

 

[Jkm7]

I had mitral valve replacement, am still on meds and have absolutely no restrictions. My doctors have not named one thing that any sensible, reasonable person would do that I cannot. I'm not a heavy drinker but have wine at will, I don't smoke and drink decaf coffee only because that is my choice NOT because any doctor instructed I should.... quite the opposite.

You can count on him returning to 'himself' after his surgery assuming all goes well.
This is a hugely successful surgery. It seems so overwhelming and almost all of us get very unsettled and shaken up to hear we have no choice but to submit to it if we wish to live but for those who do these surgeries for us...... it's another day at the office. They have seen everything and know how to handle it.

You live close to two of the very best heart centers in the U.S.
Urge your boyfriend to consider making an appointment with a cardio and/or surgeon at one of them.

He needs someone to instill confidence in him that this surgery is overwhelmingly successful and for a young, otherwise healthy man, he will pick up his life and be better than ever.

 

[AJC62]

Hi Hook,
Thank you for your response. I am happy that you are back to drinking coffee, among other things.
I will pass this info along to him.
Thanks,
AJC62

 

[AJC62]

Hi Jkm7
What type of meds are you on and when did you have your surgery and how soon after were you able to go back to having no restrictions? He isn't a heavy drinker either and I think the hard part for him now is that he can't have coffee, which he loves, or beer.

He has a doctor's appt. next Tues and hopefully they will be able to set up surgery soon since he is not feeling well at all. Yes, I know we have the best hospitals here in Boston and I already suggested that but I can only suggest it to him - he has to be the one to either stay where he is - which I think is what he will do - or go into Boston. I just pray that they can do the surgery non-invasively. Is this usually the case?

Thanks again - I do appreciate it!

AJC62

 

[Mom2izzy]

I think some of the answers may depend on whether he has a repair or a replacement, and if it is a replacement what type of valve he chooses (mechanical or tissue).

 

[Jkm7]

I had no restrictions except driving and that was lifted at under 3 weeks. I was permitted to add all acitivities back into my routine as I felt up to it. I would say that within 3 months, I was back to doing most of my usual activities. Sure, I got tired and needed to rest but we learn to listen to our bodies and our strength returns to all of us at individual rate.
My valve replacement surgery four year anniversary is next week.

My cardio was specific in saying coffee was fine though I didn't even ask. I was drinking decaf before my surgery so no issue. If he has a mitral valve repair, the chances of his being permitted to drink beer are extremely high.

I don't know what You mean by non-invasively but his valve repair/replacement will require a chest incision in one form or another. There are some options as to style of surgery but they all involve a chest incision of various size/location/type.

I prefer to not list the medications I take on a public forum. Hope you don't mind.

 

[AJC62]

Hi Mom2izzy
I think he mentioned valve repair.
Thanks,
AJC62

 

[ejc61]

After my MV repair, I continued to cycle, ski, kayak, hike, walk our dogs, etc. It is done so routinely by amazing surgeons, it's magical. My only pre-surgery concern was if they had to go with Plan B and replace with a mechanical valve in my case. I asked my cardiologist a few months prior to surgery about a mechanical valve. He said that I can do the same things I was doing before. I asked him about drinking. He said don't binge and wear a helmet when skiing and cycling. So I bought a ski helmet. I already wear a cycling helmet.

Keep in mind that prior to surgery, he'll probably have a heart cath, TEE, CT Angiogram, so that they go in with a pretty good understanding of all his issues if any. It'll probably be after the heart cath, that they'll have a better understanding of the best way approach this. The reason I bring this up is that it's probably a good idea to choose a hospital before you start having all these procedures.

Btw, thanks for the reassurance jkm7 regarding the valve replacement.

 

[AJC62]

Hi Jkm7,

That is great! I think he mentioned valve repair and I;m sure he will be able to drink beer and coffee again.

I meant if they do it by not opening the whole chest. He is petrified and doesn't really ask his cardiologist too many questions - I've probably looked into finding out answers more often than he has - he hasn't been in touch with me as much as he used to be and I haven;t seen him in over a month and I'm sure it is because he is very depressed.

No problem - I understand - he is on beta blockers now and it seems like they aren't agreeing with him at all...

Thanks,
AJC62

 

[Jkm7]

My surgeon wanted to try a repair though he knew I was 'queasy' about that. He tried a repair but in the end knew my valve was too far gone and honored my wishes to replace with a tissue valve when he knew it was best to do a replacement. I was relieved when I woke. The point I'm trying to make is we are never assured a repair is possible until they can actually see the valve. Your boyfriend should have a conversation with his surgeon telling him/her his choice for Plan B(what style valve he wants) in the event while he is on the table, they decide a repair is not working.

 

[AJC62]

Hi ejc61

That is great - I keep telling him he will be fine and will be able to do the things he enjoyed doing previously but I think he is just so scared that he doesn't believe it.

He has already had two angiographs and the doc put him on beta blockers and he has tried two different ones but he is still having side effects and I believe the doc should have suggested surgery before this.

Thanks for the information.

AJC

 

[Boston Tiger]

I had a repair, and the doctors really haven't restricted me from anything. I'm still taking my beta blocker, and decided to give up caffeine because I figured that I didn't need to have one stimulant trying to boost my heart rate while the pills were trying to slow it.

I did have to decide before the surgery what type of valve the surgeon should use if the repair didn't work. That was one of several papers I had to sign while in the bed getting ready to go into surgery.

 

[AJC62]

Hi Jkm7

Thank you for this information and I'm sure the surgeon will discuss this with him.

 

[AJC62]

Thanks Ken

That is good to know. I'm sure the surgeon will explain everything to him before surgery.

AJC62

 

[Freddie]

Hi
I posted yesterday about my boyfriend who is going to need repair surgery. Right now he can't drink, exercise, have relations, drink coffee, etc. Has anyone else been informed by their doctor that they cannot have or do these things while they were on meds and before they had surgery? After surgery, were you able to go back to these things/activities?
Thanks,
Mackie57

I can only speak for myself, but prior to surgery I was not told to stop drinking, exercise, have relations, etc. I don't recall the medications I was on, but I know I wasn't given any restrictions.

Start from the beginning and ask the doctor about these restrictions and Google the meds.
Never to be afraid to ask questions, you have to be your advocate when it comes to health concerns.

After surgery, in time everything should be back to normal. Time heals.

 

[epstns]

mackie,

I didn't have time to read all the responses, so if I'm duplicating another, I apologize.

One thing to consider - your young man should, all going as planned, be able to physically return to all normal human activities. He may, depending upon post-op meds, need to watch his alcohol consumption, but even that can be managed. The thing to watch for is post-op depression, which can affect the patient's interest in doing the things he now can. Some patients are not affected, some just a little, and some so profoundly that they need medical attention for the depression. I do not predict that your guy will have negative consequences, I'm just mentioning it so that if it does occur, you both can know it is not you as people who have issues. It is a common occurrence and can be helped. So - don't worry about it happening, but if it does, go for help quickly and all will be well.

Good luck. You're young and should have long, wonderful lives ahead.

 

[AJC62]

Hi Freddie,

He was told to stop drinking, exercise, coffee, etc. since he was still having chest pains. I'm hoping that he will be able to go back to normal activities after his surgery.

Thanks so much!
AJC62

 

[AJC62]

Hi epstns,

No worries.

That is reassuring. I know he is depressed now so hopefully once he is recovered he will be back to his normal self - he is usually happy, outgoing, likes to joke, etc. He has not been himself at all. He is young and I just hope things will work out.

Thanks again!
AJC62

 

[Jkm7]

Get him to the best doctor/facility you can and he will almost assuredly do just fine and live a long, full, happy life.

I have had two OHS and can tell you...... the anticipation is awful and most of us agree the wait for the surgery is the worst part. You have the surgery and we all feel varying levels of a truck slammed us down to gee it wasn't so bad at all. We all heal at different rate and some have a few complications (that all can be managed with medical help) and some have bump free recoveries. While definitely not always true, many of us have seen a pattern that the best facilities are rated so high for a reason. NOT to say there aren't some EXCELLENT cardiothoracic surgeons in all different hospital. The whole surgical team is important, including nurses, techs, therapist, PA's etc

How about printing out some of these threads for him and mail them to him to read. If you haven't seen him much, he will open a large manilla envelope you send him and while he may not read it all immediately, he will in time. Hopefully they can help him see how many of us have had these conditions and this surgery and we are back to full, active lives.
He eventually will thank you for helping him in that way IMO