Cleared to Run 15 Days Post Op!!!

[jpattillo]

I had my follow up with the surgeon yesterday. He said everything went exactly the way it was supposed to. He said "you can start running, just don't go crazy and ease into it." So I did 5 miles of walk 4 minutes/run 1 minute. According to the Garmin GPS that amounted to 1.4 miles of running around a 9:15 pace. I had no pain when I woke up this morning either! So relieved to get that check up behind me and get back to running!

 

[neil]

bloody hell thats amazing, 15 days cricky i was still at the shuffling stage lol

 

[tprice54]

WOW! I believe that is a new VR record! Congrats and do EASE back into it!

 

[jpattillo]

Definitely easing into it. I'll do a majority of walking the next few weeks and very gradually pick up the running. I credit the quick return in large part to the fact that my incision was a right anterior minithoracotomy and not a mini-sternotomy (i.e. no broken bones for an AVR).

 

[ElectLive]

Great to hear. It's hard work keeping up with GymGuy...but you are doing a stellar job.

 

[Bean Counter]

Amazing! Do you monitor your HR or just go by feel? If you do monitor your HR, do you find that it is a lot more sensitive? It took me 2 months post-op before I could run and found that my HR was extremely sensitive....meaning if there was the slightest incline, it would bump up a few beats. Becasue of that, I limited my running to the indoor track in the begining because the grade (or lack of) and temperature would be consistent each day.

 

[jpattillo]

I do run by HR monitor but have not noticed any major fluctuation as you describe. I do understand the beta blockers can limit the max HR for some people. I haven't run hard enough to be able to tell. Here are my splits, Avg HR and max HR for my first run/walk:


Split Time Dist. Avg Pace Avg HR Max HR
1 04:54.4 0.33 14:55 99 106
2 :52.9 0.09 10:03 113 125
3 04:13.6 0.29 14:43 113 126
4 :59.2 0.1 9:30 123 134
5 03:59.1 0.28 14:26 120 134
6 01:01.6 0.11 9:16 126 136
7 04:00.6 0.29 14:04 128 149
8 :59.8 0.11 9:28 134 139
9 04:24.0 0.3 14:29 123 138
10 01:01.6 0.11 9:24 131 143
11 03:35.9 0.22 16:06 123 144
12 01:00.1 0.11 9:21 128 140
13 04:25.1 0.28 15:53 122 141
14 01:03.3 0.11 9:35 131 139
15 03:30.2 0.23 15:11 124 141
16 01:00.2 0.11 9:11 131 139
17 04:00.9 0.28 14:28 126 143
18 :57.8 0.11 8:48 133 144
19 04:00.6 0.26 15:09 131 146
20 01:01.1 0.11 9:00 132 148
21 03:59.4 0.28 14:27 129 149
22 01:00.3 0.12 8:37 135 146
23 04:03.5 0.28 14:28 129 148
24 :59.3 0.11 8:42 136 147
25 03:57.9 0.27 14:35 129 148
26 01:00.8 0.12 8:11 135 149

TOT 1:06:05.8 5.01 13:12 124 150

 

[jpattillo]

Here is a better version:

 

[pnarciso]

I thought I was back running pretty quick with 6 weeks, but you beat me by miles (I did have a full sternotomy, though).

My HR used to be high before surgery, I would run 15 km above 175, all the time, feeling Ok. I always blamed it on my BAV. A year after surgery, surprise: nothing changed, I still run above 170 even on the long runs (14-17 km). My doctor say he expected it to come down after AVR (mechanic), but if it didn't, no big deal. My heart's hypertrophy has gone down, and if I am feeling good, it is just my "characteristic" to have a high HR.

I had to stay out of aerobic exercises for 20 months counting between pre and post surgery. I am finally getting back to the same fitness level I had before it all started. Feels good!

 

[jpattillo]

No aerobic exercise for 20 months? What was the reason for that?

 

[TheGymGuy]

I like the split of 4 minute walk + 1 minute run. Your 1 minute speed is pretty nice for 15 days out. Then again, you are a runner so no surprise there.

By around week 5 I was doing 30 seconds run, 1 minute speed walk, rinse-repeat for 1 hour. That amounted to about 5 miles in 1 hour 1 minute. I am much more of a sprinter, short intervals high intensity in real life

Here is that post, in case you want to beat me next week: http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/showthread.php?40226-Runners-and-Joggers-5-miles-today-week-5

 

[Rachel]

WOW - I'm so happy for you!!!! Great times too by the way!

Feels good to be able to go out and run again doesn't it - and SO SOON after surgery - WOW!!!!

Rachel

 

[jpattillo]

Thanks GymGuy! I have this delusional fantasy that, in about 3 months, I'll be able to crank out multiple miles between 6:00 and 6:15 with no trouble. That's probably not a reality since I was only doing 7:15 miles the week before surgery. But hey, at least I have a goal right? LOL... I am heading common sense (and the advice of many here) to take it easy since I'm only 2 weeks and 2 days post op. My surgeon said it's "probably" ok to run now, just "don't go crazy."

 

[H.E.pumper]

Thanks GymGuy! I have this delusional fantasy that, in about 3 months, I'll be able to crank out multiple miles between 6:00 and 6:15 with no trouble. That's probably not a reality since I was only doing 7:15 miles the week before surgery. But hey, at least I have a goal right? LOL... I am heading common sense (and the advice of many here) to take it easy since I'm only 2 weeks and 2 days post op. My surgeon said it's "probably" ok to run now, just "don't go crazy."

What kind of valve did you get? Tissue or mechanical.

I have a bunch of Polar heart rate monitor data on a spreadsheet from 2008 and 2009. I'm a serious road cyclist and mountain hiker so I will be comparing my new heart's performance with my old data.

Have you compared your historical hrm data with your new performance data yet....I guess it's kind of early for you though.


Tom

 

[jpattillo]

It is a bit early to tell. I'll be able to do that in about 3-4 months or whenever I feel like I can max myself out in a short race. I have a Medtronic Open Pivot mechanical valve. I'm 38 years old though so it was an easy decision.

 

[pnarciso]

No aerobic exercise for 20 months? What was the reason for that?

The BAV was too bad for me to run or do any aerobic workout, not bad enough to send me to the OR yet. When the aorta started to grow in diameter at a consistent rate, then I was bad enough to get surgery. 16 months between the two events, then shopping for a surgeon and setting everything up, finally recovering - 20 months went by.

 

[H.E.pumper]

The BAV was too bad for me to run or do any aerobic workout, not bad enough to send me to the OR yet. When the aorta started to grow in diameter at a consistent rate, then I was bad enough to get surgery. 16 months between the two events, then shopping for a surgeon and setting everything up, finally recovering - 20 months went by.

I have an appointment with a couple of 14,000'+ mountain peaks in Colorado in August, I guess I'm kidding myself.....:frown2: But I'll see what happens and go from there.



Tom

 

[Luana]

Definitely easing into it. I'll do a majority of walking the next few weeks and very gradually pick up the running. I credit the quick return in large part to the fact that my incision was a right anterior minithoracotomy and not a mini-sternotomy (i.e. no broken bones for an AVR).

I think you're right. The first thing I saw when I saw the title of this thread was that running would be awful as far as jarring the sternum. You shouldn't have a problem with your incision. Just don't push yourself. Even though you're able to do more with the incision you had, your heart is still healing and remodeling itself with the new valve. I'm sure you're well enough aware not to go crazy. If you do have any irregular beats or SOB, let your doc know.